Head of Programming

Exciting Career Opportunities with CRS

CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS Nepal started has its operational presence in Nepal in response to the 2015 earthquake with emergency support to over 30,000 homes and communities to rebuild and recover across Gorkha, Palpa, Okhuldungha, Kavrepalanchok, Kaski, Chitwan, Tanahu, Makwanpur and Lamjung districts. CRS Nepal is leveraging its earthquake reconstruction track record to help inform longer-term Government of Nepal policies and strategies for Homes & Communities and Disaster Risk Reduction.  In partnership with the National Housing and Settlements Resilience Platform (NHSRP), CRS is helping build the capacity of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Agency (NDRRMA) at the national and provincial levels.

CRS Nepal Invites applications from eligible and interested candidates for the following position:

Head of Programming (1 Position- Based in Lalitpur, Country Office)

Job Summary:

As a member of the Nepal Country Program (CP) Senior Management Team, you will provide strategic direction, leadership, and management of the CP’s programming to establish strategic priorities and lead growth aligned with the Country Program Strategy as well as to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. You will play a critical role in ensuring the capacity of staff and local partners is strengthened to implement high quality programming. Your leadership, management and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the Country Representative (CR) for Nepal provide strategic direction for the design of the CP 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.
• In coordination with resource mobilization staff oversee the business development cycle to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards. Provide BD expertise in positioning, capture planning and proposal preparation for specific opportunities with institutional donors (government and inter-governmental award issuing organizations, as well as foundations, corporations and other awarding non-governmental organizations). Track and analyze new opportunities and CRS’ competitive position within the marketplace**
• 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.
• Ensure high quality documentation of learning and donor reports; including related processes to supporting learning including partnership reviews, program reflections and learning events.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor 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. 
• Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of 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. Coordinate with CP operations leads to ensure appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches. Support and guide identification of partners and negotiation of CRS’ role on proposal consortia, ensuring a competitive position for CRS that adheres to the agency’s partnership principles and strategic directions**.
• 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 or learning opportunities.
• Oversee DHoP to lead consistent streamlining of safeguarding, protection, gender and equity into all program activities, including staff recruitment and training. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Preferred Qualifications:

• Capacity to balance competing priorities and managing the needs of multiple teams/offices. 
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience and abilities in capacity strengthening - developing curricula and facilitating trainings.
• Previous experience with United States Government (USG) proposals/projects.
• Excellent English writing skills.
• Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge sharing networks.

Basic Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations or relevant field is required. 
• Minimum of five years of relevant field-based program management, at least three years of middle/senior management experience. 
• Experience in watershed management, carbon programming, disaster risk management and/or value chain Program expertise is preferred.
• Experience in overseas program management leading diverse teams is preferred. Previous Head of Programs experience is a plus.
• Experience in the development of successful proposals, reports, strategic alliances, project design, project management, and monitoring and evaluation. 
• Experience in partner capacity strengthening, training, and mentoring, as well as in team building and strategic planning initiatives. Experience working with Caritas Internationalis/Caritas Nepal and Private Sector partners is a plus.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching and workforce strategic development is a plus.
• Experience in community development, community mobilization, or similar grassroots, self-help 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, including USAID.
• Experience with successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding. Experience with successful private sector engagement is a plus.
• Knowledge of Government of Nepal operational context and experience with successful Government partnership, coordination and capacity/system strengthening is a plus.
• Candidates with GESI diversity is a plus, including gender (female, other); marginalized groups; persons with disability; and, origin from geographically marginalized location.
• Nepalese citizens preferred. Remote employees based in the ASIA region or in nearby time zone may be considered. CRS does not sponsor visas for remote employees. Other nationalities with the ability to independently secure a work permit in Nepal may apply.

Required Languages - Fluency in written and spoken English required. Fluency in written and spoken Nepali is preferred. Additional local languages are a plus.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel a minimum of 25% of the time to field offices and to communities where we work. Some limited regional international travel may be included for trainings or networking events.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• 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

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. 

• 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.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Deputy Head of Programs, Project Director, National Coordinator Project Managers, and Technical Advisors.

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal-Nepal: Country Manager, Business Development Specialist, Head of Operations, Finance Manager, Human Resources Manager and Communications Manager.

Internal-ASIA & HQ: Deputy Regional Director- Program Quality (DRD-PQ), Regional Business Development Manager (BDM), Regional Technical Advisors, and HQ Departments/Technical Advisor (TAs).

External:  Nepal-based donor representatives, partner staff, consultants, others as per situation.

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

To apply for above positions, please click on this link by 26 September 2023.

By applying to this job, you as the candidate, understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, you understand that if you are a successful candidate, you will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and your personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate your behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

CRS is an equal opportunity employer committed to a staff composition that reflects the social and ethnic diversity of Nepali Society. It encourages applicants from marginalized communities and geographically remote areas, persons with disabilities, women and other genders are encouraged to apply. CRS Nepal provides many benefits for its staff members including staff development opportunities, paid maternity and paternity leave, nursing hours for nursing mothers, per diems for the child of the staff when staff travel out of station on official business etc. 

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Reimbursement for lodging and transportation will be provided for the shortlisted candidates who travel from outside of Kathmandu Valley for written test and interview.