Acting Head of Programming (surge support, 3-month special assignment)

As a member of the Afghanistan Senior Management Team, you will provide strategic direction, leadership, and management of the programming portfolio to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. Your leadership, management and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming. As part of the Senior Management Team, you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

• →In collaboration with the Country Representative provide strategic direction for design of CP strategic frameworks and plans, including resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of programming interventions in line with regional and agency strategic priorities.
• →Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailored individual development plans, and complete performance assessment for direct reports. Contribute to developing staffing plans for projects and to the recruitment process of senior project staff. 
• →Support identification, assessment, accompaniment and strengthening of local partners to design and deliver quality programming, applying CRS partnership principles, tools and approaches, and promoting sustainable local leadership. 
• →Collaborate with operations leads to ensuring appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
• →Ensure technical assistance and capacity strengthening for project teams and partners in project management standards and related MEAL, business development and operational activities. Identify training opportunities, develop training curriculums, and deliver trainings.
• →Lead high-quality project design incorporating project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope, context and technical requirements of projects. Coordinate planning of activities across various projects from different sectors to ensure integration of program interventions and efficiency in implementation.
• →Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management overseeing implementation of the MEAL policy, as well as cross-sectoral and cross-department learning.
• →In coordination with resource mobilization staff oversee the business development cycle to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• →Excellent English writing skills.
• →Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• →Experience and abilities in capacity strengthening - developing curricula and facilitating trainings.
• →Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge sharing networks.
• →Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• →Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• →Team leadership abilities
• →Presentation and facilitation skills
• →Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented

Required Languages: English

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% in-country Afghanistan

Supervisory Responsibilities: Program Managers, Technical Advisors 

• Bachelor's Degree in International Development, International Relations or relevant field.
• Minimum 5-8 years of relevant field-based program management, at least 2 years of senior management experience. 
• Experience in development of successful proposals, reports, strategic alliances, project design, project management, and monitoring and evaluation. Experience in partner capacity strengthening, staff development, training, and mentoring, as well as in team building and strategic planning initiatives. 
• Experience in project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc., preferably for projects funded by multiple public donors.
• Experience with successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding.

• Experience with emergency proposals and strategy design. Familiarity with policies, procedures, and priorities of US Government, the EU, FCDO, UN agencies and Caritas agencies preferred.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions. 
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.