Chief of Party I – Ethiopian Seed Activity

About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. 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’s Agriculture and Livelihoods team supports farming communities using our Pathway to Prosperity approach, which enables rural families to increase their productivity within sustainable landscapes, achieve a living income and build more resilient communities.

Job Title:                            Chief of Party I – Ethiopian Seed Activity

Department                       CRS Ethiopia Country Program

Band:                                  11

Number Required:             One

Reports To:                        Deputy CR - Programs 

Country/Location:             Ethiopia/Addis Ababa

Application Deadline:        July 8, 2024

Job Summary:

CRS seeks a Chief of Party (COP) for the Feed the Future Ethiopia Seed activity, funded by USAID Ethiopia. This activity is an Associate Award under the Feed the Future Global Supporting Seed systems for Development activity (S34D) Leader with Associate. The activity will focus on inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth and strengthened resilience among people and systems in Ethiopia. The technical focus of the activity will be on forage seed and feed reserves. The COP will provide the vision and overall leadership to the program team. S/he will be responsible for overseeing the overall management of the project including the quality of programmatic implementation (including monitoring, evaluation and learning) and administrative elements of the project, including the coordination of all consortium partners, and monitoring the budget. The COP will serve as the primary point of contact to USAID as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders. S/he will be responsible for ensuring compliance, including oversight of partner budgets, finance and administration, and reporting to USAID. The COP will ensure that project results are achieved on time and on budget, including strategies for phase out and sustainability, and that the budget is consumed as planned.

The successful candidate will be a senior leader, responsible for leading all aspects of the development, implementation and consolidation of the activity, including ensuring that the project contributes to the thought leadership of the industry.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Program Quality

• Lead the design and implementation of the Feed the Future Ethiopia Seed activity with an innovative program lens, designing solutions to existing development issues.

• Ensure that all assistance provided under the award, whether by international or local experts/personnel, is technically sound and appropriate for the needs being addressed.

• With key program staff and stakeholders, ensure that strategic objectives and results are fully accomplished and meet expected technical quality standards.

• Ensure that vision and plans for the activity are innovative and are in line with CRS, country, and donor strategies. 

• Lead quarterly technical review of implementation plans for the project and ensure appropriate actions are taken to meet implementation timelines and commitments. 

• In collaboration with program staff, provide guidance and oversight to partners and other collaborating agencies to ensure that best practices and lessons learned are documented and disseminated. 

• Coordinate with the MEAL advisor to oversee the design and implementation of the program’s MEAL system, using appropriate forms, procedures, and tools for data collection and analysis as the basis for measuring, documenting and reporting of project performance and outcomes. 

• Ensure that lessons learned from results of program monitoring and evaluation are incorporated into the design and execution of program activities to meet stated objectives and needs of the beneficiary populations. 

Management

• Ensure staff compliance with all CRS administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as all applicable donor regulations. 

• Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donor. 

• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of program accruals, finances and progress status, review actual financial performance against the budget and take corrective action to ensure that program expenses match the execution of activity plans and accurate effort reporting.

• Proactively identify and address financial issues and concerns in concert with other staff and partners to ensure adherence to financial guidelines and maintain transparent systems and records.

• Build and manage relationships with partner organizations, ensure effective coordination, regular communication, and organization of review/planning workshops.

Representation and Communication

• Represent CRS and the activity at external meetings with international and domestic stakeholders. 

• Serve as primary project contact to donor and other local and international stakeholders and be responsible for addressing all project matters. 

• Form and/or strengthen linkages and relationships with existing and potential partner agencies and other key stakeholders. 

• Seek out opportunities to represent programming in international circles and highlight the innovative work under the Feed the Future Seed Activity.

• In specific instances, prepare and deliver presentations of the activity ongoing activities, challenges/opportunities, and results achieved. 

• Oversee the development and implementation of project communication strategies and materials, including compliance with USAID branding and marking requirements as well as CRS marketing and communication procedures.

• Publish on program results 

Human Resources

• Manage recruitment portfolio for the activity; in collaboration with Human Resources and CRS country program management, orient, and support the professional development of supervisees, providing timely, respectful feedback.

• Supervise and coach a team of CRS and consortium staff to meet program objectives

• Conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with CRS’ performance management system and mentor and coach staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork. 

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in management, agriculture, international development, or a related field required.

• At least 15 years’ experience successfully leading, managing and implementing large international projects, specifically with experience in two or more of the following areas: management, agriculture, natural resource management, ecology or food security, including at least 5 years’ experience on seed systems specific programming.

• At least 15 years’ experience demonstrating broad understanding of agriculture and food security as they relate to seed systems and should be knowledgeable about the relevant socioeconomic, institutional and policy issues that related to seed systems.

• Professional experience interacting with U.S. Government agencies, host country governments, and other relevant stakeholders.

• Demonstrated experience working in partnership with international donors and agencies.

• Professional experience working in nutrition programs in low or middle-income countries.

• Previous work experience in Ethiopia.

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.

• Excellent 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/mentoring skills.

• Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.

• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Established leader in sector 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.

• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.

• Ability to represent and present at high levels.

• Demonstrated ability in the concepts, principles, methods and techniques of delivering training, technical assistance and extension services for agricultural development.

• Demonstrated experience in projects related to (forage) seed systems (formal, informal and integrated).

• Demonstrated skills in effectively negotiating and collaborating with host governments, donors, other USAID projects, local organizations and partners.

• Ability to successfully manage and develop staff as part of a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team, as demonstrated by past experiences.

• Demonstrated experience managing a diverse and dispersed consortium through continuous engagement to bring about positive outcomes.

• Experience successfully managing cooperative agreements, including all reporting requirements; experience with Leader with Associate Awards and Associate Awards a plus.

• Ability to perform internal control functions necessary to manage day-to-day project operations.

• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 Required Language – English

Travel Required:  This position involves travel within Ethiopia (25%) and occasionally to the region or HQ office.

Supervisory responsibilities: Will directly supervise all key personnel and other staff on the Feed the Future Ethiopia Seed activity.

Key Relationships

Internal:  Country Representative (CR), Deputy CR Operation and Deputy CR Programs, CRS Ethiopia Operations team and CRS Ethiopia program team, S34D team, Regional Advisors, Director of Agriculture and Livelihoods and Senior Technical Advisors.

External: USAID Ethiopia, project implementing partners and activity consortium partners, government officials, donor agencies, other public and private sector actors working in seed systems.

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.

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

How To Apply

Are you interested in this job? If you meet the required qualifications, apply here before the application deadline July 8, 2024. You will be contacted only if selected for written exam/interview. Phone solicitations will not be accepted. These job opportunities are open to Ethiopian nationals only. CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking.  

** Qualified women are highly encouraged to apply** 

Qualified female and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer!