Project Director Non-profit Careers – Catholic Relief Services (CRS)



Job Title:      Project Director
Organization: Catholic
Relief Services (CRS)
Duty Station: Kampala,
Uganda
Reports to: Head of
Programs, CRS Uganda      
About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-profit
organization that carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States
(U.S) to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at
the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and
as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values
and our commitment to serving those in need.
About USAID 4Children Project:
Coordinating Comprehensive Care for Children (4Children) is a five year
USAID funded project implemented by a consortium of organizations led by
Catholic Relief Services with partners IntraHealth, Maestral, Pact, Plan and
Westat. 4Children is designed to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for
orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) affected by HIV and AIDS and other
adversities. 4Children’s work utilizes global evidence establishing that HIV
and other adversities are best prevented and addressed when families and
children have access to both high quality health and social welfare services.
The project supports systems and structures at country and regional levels to
implement evidence-based interventions that protect against risk, interrupt
cycles of vulnerability, and build pathways to resilience leading to an AIDS
Free Generation and contributing to overall improvements in quality of life and
productivity for vulnerable children and their families.
Job Summary: The 4Children
Uganda Project Director will be responsible for overall leadership, management,
and oversight of the two projects’ activities. This includes monitoring of
timelines and outputs, ensuring adherence to technical and financial policies,
guidelines, and standards of excellence, overseeing local implementing partner
grant compliance, control and monitoring of project activities and expenses,
compliance with donor requirements, project reporting and external
representation of the project. S/he will ensure project resources are managed
according to USG and CRS rules and regulations, and that processes and results
are documented in a timely manner. The Project Director will support the daily
management and coordination of project staff, manage partner relations, oversee
communication and collaboration with the global 4Children team, USAID/Uganda
and USAID/DCOF, Government of Uganda (GoU) entities, short-term consultants, as
well as project implementing and research partners. This position will oversee
the technical, program, and operational set-up of 4Children’s presence in
Uganda. Subsequently, the position will provide technical leadership in the
design, development, implementation, and monitoring of activities to achieve
the deliverables and outcomes of the project. The Project Director will
directly supervise the KCHPF Technical Manager, the MGLSD Technical Manager,
Social Welfare Workforce Technical Manager, Technical Manager for Evidence
Building, the KCHPF MEAL Officer, and the ICT4D Officer. In addition, the
Project Director will, provide technical oversight of the local implementing
partners supporting case management and the parenting program.
Key Duties and
Responsibilities: 
Program Quality:
·        
Ensure overall planning, implementation and
management of both projects as well as the achievement of the goals and
objectives of the projects in a timely and cost effectively manner.
·        
Take lead in the planning of project activities
and set appropriate performance targets ensuring adherence to technical
standards, best practices, reporting time lines and donor guidelines are
respected.
·        
Ensure that technical assistance needs are met
through collaboration with regional and headquarters support staff.
·        
Ensure program quality through appropriate and
needs-based capacity strengthening plans for 4Children staff and partners.  
·        
Ensure that activities are compatible and in
compliance with CRS guiding principles, and ensure that staff are trained
accordingly. 
Program Quality and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and
Learning (MEAL):
·        
Ensure that both projects have strong MEAL
systems, using CRS tools and resources to maximize impact on project
participants in alignment with USAID M&E policies and CRS MEAL policies and
procedures.  
·        
Prepare and submit timely submission of high
quality project narrative reports, quarterly performance data, as well as other
reports needed/required by the local government, donors, the region or
headquarters.
·        
Oversee the in-country management of the KCHPF
research component by liaising regularly with the KCHPF Research and Learning
Advisor, Westat, and the local research partner to ensure data collection and
analysis is completed on time and is of high quality.
·        
Manage the identification, documentation and
dissemination of project results in various forms, including media, lessons
learned, case studies, etc., and support learning exchanges among USG
implementing partners, GoU entities, and other programs both within and outside
of Uganda.
Partnership and Representation:
·        
Work in close collaboration with the CRS Uganda
Country Representative, Head of Programs and the 4Children Consortium, act as
primary program contact to USAID/Uganda and USAID/DCOF and other local and
international stakeholders responsible for addressing all program matters.
·        
Engage 4Children consortium partners as well as
local implementing and research partners as appropriate, during key stages in
the project cycle for their insights on the appropriateness of program
approaches and interventions and to support program quality.
·        
Build, strengthen and manage dynamic
partnerships with the GoU, project implementing and research partners, other
USG development projects, civil society, learning institutions, UN agencies,
and the donor community in Uganda and externally as need arises.
·        
Ensure and foster effective alignment of
activities and smooth coordination and between all project implementing
partners.
·        
Oversee the relevant scopes of work, associated
budgets, sub-agreements and grant management of all local implementing
partners. In conjunction with the finance and administration teams, develop,
implement and monitor capacity building plans to address any organizational
capacity gaps for local implementing partners, as needed.
 Management and Administration:
·        
Oversee the project’s financial management, as
per the project budget, including review and analysis of monthly budget
comparison reports, preparation of quarterly forecasts, local partner grant
management, and timely submission of annual expenditure analysis reports.
·        
Coordinate with operations staff for purchasing
and inventory control as per CRS/donor requirements.
·        
Ensure staff and project compliance with all CRS
administrative, operational, and financial procedures and policies, as well as
applicable to the donor regulations.
·        
Lead, manage and supervise staff to meet project
objectives; mentor and coach staff to ensure high levels of motivation,
commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
·        
Ensure Performance and Development Planning,
coaching and appraisals of staff performance are conducted in keeping with CRS’
performance management system, addressing any issues of underperformance as
appropriate.
·        
Actively participate in the recruitment of
project staff and the selection and coordination of consultants, and support to
project implementing partners as needed on project-related recruitment. 
·        
Work closely with local implementing partners to
ensure timely and quality advance tracking and liquidation.
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience: 
·        
The applicant for the USAID 4Children Uganda
Project Director should hold a Master’s degree in Sociology, Social Work,
Public Health, International Development, or a related field.
·        
At least ten years’ experience in programs
focused on OVC and/or child protection programming; experience with
parenting/family strengthening programs, case management approaches and social
service systems strengthening strongly preferred.
·        
Demonstrated knowledge and technical capacity in
systems strengthening, child protection programming, including an understanding
of the issues facing separated children and families in vulnerable contexts.
·        
Previous experience managing or conducting
operational research a plus, including both quantitative, and qualitative data
collection and analysis.
·        
Familiarity with USG rules and regulations and
experience managing USAID projects in Africa.
·        
Excellent project management skills with the
demonstrated ability to successfully supervise, manage and coordinate staff and
consultants to meet and report on project objectives in a timely manner.
·        
Excellent administrative, planning, budgeting
and financial management skills, including the ability to prepare and analyze
work plans and budgets.
·        
Previous experience with grant management,
institutional strengthening, and capacity building – particularly of local
implementing partners – as well as working in partnership or consortia.
·        
Strong critical thinking, creative
problem-solving, and organizational skills.
·        
Strong written and verbal communication skills
in native-level English required.
·        
Demonstrated proactive leadership ability in
diverse environments and under pressure, as well as supervisory and personnel
management experience.
·        
Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office
suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
·        
Ability to travel within Uganda on a regular
basis (estimated 25-30 percent).
·        
Willingness to travel outside of Uganda to
attend conferences, workshops or other related activities.
·        
Agency-Wide Competencies (for all CRS
Staff):
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS
and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to
achieve the desired results.
·        
Serves with Integrity
·        
Models Stewardship
·        
Cultivates Constructive Relationships
·        
Promotes Learning
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should apply online at
the web link below.

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