Head of Programming I, Senegal and the Gambia

Job Summary

As a member of the Senegal and The Gambia Program Offices Senior Management Teams, you will provide strategic direction, leadership, and management of programming across Senegal, The Gambia, and the outreach or special-circumstances countries of Mauritania, Cape Verde, and Guinea-Bissau to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of quality, large, and complex programs serving the poor and vulnerable. 

Based in Dakar, Senegal, and situated within the Senegal organizational structure, the position directly manages the Senegal Deputy Head of Programming and the Senegal programming team and provides matrix management to the Deputy Head of Programming in The Gambia. Through these direct and matrix management relationships, the position provides program quality leadership across Senegal, The Gambia, Mauritania, Cape Verde, and Guinea-Bissau. Your leadership, management and knowledge will ensure that these program offices deliver high-quality programming and continuously work towards improving the impact of their programming. As part of the Senior Management Teams of Senegal and the Gambia you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• In collaboration with relevant Program Office leadership, provide strategic direction for the design of program office strategic frameworks and plans, including the development of resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of programming interventions in line with regional and agency strategic priorities.
• Lead high-quality project design, incorporating innovative approaches, project management standards and MEAL methods appropriate to the scope, context and technical requirements of projects. Coordinate planning of activities across projects and sectors to ensure integration of program interventions and efficiency in implementation.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise the Senegal Deputy Head of Programming and the Senegal programming team, and provide matrix management and program quality guidance to the Deputy Head of Programming in The Gambia. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring to program staff, strategically tailored individual development plans, and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Contribute to developing staffing plans for projects and to the recruitment process of senior project staff.
• 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, cross-department, and cross-country learning.
• Coordinate with Senegal and The Gambia operations leads to ensure appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project material resources.
• In coordination with resource mobilization staff oversee the business development cycle to ensure prepositioning and quality proposals per agency and donor standards.  
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches. Liaise with partners in outreach and special circumstances countries as needed.
• 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.

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 with diverse and multidisciplinary teams, including coaching and mentoring skills.
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented

Required Languages: Full professional proficiency in English and French.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Direct supervision of the Senegal Deputy Head of Programming and the Senegal programming team, with matrix management of the Deputy Head of Programming in The Gambia.

Basic Qualifications

• 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 the 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 community development, community mobilization, or similar grassroots, self-help initiatives.
• Experience in project grants management, 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with Church partners a plus 
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships.
• Experience working across multiple country or program offices and providing matrix management or guidance to senior program staff.

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.