Chief of Party I , Vietnam

Note: This position is contingent on donor approval and award.

Job Summary:

As Chief of Party I you will provide overall leadership, management and strategic direction for an anticipated five-year U.S. Department of State cooperative agreement to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities in Ca Mau and Quang Ngai. The project will expand medical and rehabilitation services, strengthen social services and participation, improve implementation of disability-inclusive policies and reduce barriers, and strengthen institutional capacity for sustainable delivery. You will be the primary liaison with the U.S. Government and Government of Vietnam counterparts and will lead a decentralized, multi-partner program operating at individual, facility, provincial and national levels.

The project will integrate holistic approaches to improve the quality and accessibility of services at all levels of intervention – individual, facility, provincial and national level.  Your leadership, management and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and advance the position of CRS as a leading agency in Vietnam. As a senior leader you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks and contribute to Country Program leadership discussions related to the project.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for technical, operational, financial and administrative performance and ensure delivery against Department of State objectives, targets, budget and compliance requirements.
• Lead senior staff performance, team culture, safeguarding, duty of care, security and staff development across project locations.
• Drive sustainability and transition planning by strengthening government, service-provider and partner capacity and supporting approaches that can continue beyond project funding.
• Ensure a robust MEAL and adaptive-management system that uses disability-disaggregated and case-management data, participant feedback and learning to improve quality and demonstrate results.
• Ensure strong stewardship of the anticipated $28.5 million award, including financial oversight, resource allocation, compliance, budget monitoring and value-for-money decisions.
• Oversee consortium governance and performance, including partner roles, subaward management, technical quality, risk management and timely corrective action.
• Lead the decentralized management model across Ca Mau and Quang Ngai, ensuring effective coordination between national functions, provincial teams, direct CRS implementation and subrecipient delivery.
• Lead coordination of the project’s four interconnected objectives, ensuring person-centered case management links rehabilitation, social services and participation and that policy, capacity strengthening and sustainability are integrated across implementation.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with the U.S. Government and senior Government of Vietnam counterparts and represent the project with national and provincial authorities, consortium partners, organizations of persons with disabilities and other stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Strong 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 with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching skills.
• Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Required Languages: Fluency in English required. Fluency or high level of proficiency in Vietnamese strongly preferred.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum eight years of relevant management and technical experience. Experience with rehabilitation, health systems strengthening, public health and inclusive programming highly valued.
• Minimum five years experience managing donor funds, including consortium grants. Strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
• Minimum two years of staff-management experience and demonstrated ability to coach senior program staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in International Development, International Relations or a relevant technical area, such as Health Systems, Public Health, Rehabilitation, Disability or Medicine. PhD preferred.
• Five years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching senior program staff.
• Recognized leader in disability inclusion as demonstrated by peer reviewed publications, conference presentations etc.
• Demonstrated experience of successful program management, including management of complex, high-value, multi-activity projects, with complicated logistics. US Government funding management experience highly preferred.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
• Ability to represent and present at high levels.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

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.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.