Head of Office – Ghor, Afghanistan At Catholic Relief Services

About 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, health, agriculture, education, and peacebuilding.

Background:

CRS has been working on behalf of Afghan communities since 2002 and is currently implementing programs in the provinces of Bamiyan, Daykundi, Ghor, Herat, and Kabul. CRS maintains five main offices in the country as well as several sub-offices that support the direct implementation of program activities. With over 200 staff, the Country Program is growing to meet new needs throughout the country.

Job Summary:

As a Head of Office for Ghor province, you will manage and represent CRS activities operating through sub-offices in Ghor, Afghanistan to ensure implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. You will ensure the development and effective management of operational systems and resources and the delivery of high-quality programming in Ghor in coordination with the CRS main office in Herat.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Manage strategic planning for Ghor that can help inform how we approach new funding opportunities and partnerships and implementation of all key activities at the sub-office level ensuring alignment with Country Program (CP) and agency strategic programming and operations excellence priorities and standards.
Manage budgets, approve expenses, monitor spending, and make budget adjustments in line with operational and programmatic needs and donor requirements.
Serve as the main security focal point for the province. Proactively manage security and mitigate security risks. Ensure a safe work and living environment through leading implementation of safety and security protocols and staff care and well-being best practices.
Effectively manage talent and supervise staff. Manage team dynamics and staff wellbeing. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity. Contribute to staffing plans and recruitment process of senior staff.
Create and maintain the proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for the sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to small deficiencies. Identify capacity strengthening needs for staff and partners and coordinate with CRS Afghanistan program and operations teams to address capacity strengthening.
As the primary representative of CRS in Ghor province, strengthen existing and develop new relationships with local partners, government, and community organizations.
Proactively and effectively manage resources and promote stewardship, ensuring program and operations teams and partner staff have and optimize the appropriate human, financial, and material resources and tools.
Ensure high-quality project implementation, management, and compliance with programmatic standards, policies and procedures through project review systems and quality control (comprehensive M&E systems, budget review and analysis). Promote documentation of program reviews, success stories, and lessons learned.
Monitor day-to-day operations to ensure all operational services (HR, Finance, Supply Chain, Admin, ICT) are delivered with high quality in an efficient manner and adhere to policies. Manage risk and address challenges that affect the proper stewardship, optimal utilization and maintenance of program assets and resources (financial, human, and material).
Provide business development support in project report writing and 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).
As needed, coordinate proposal development processes to ensure timely submission of high-quality proposals and donor reports that are responsive to donor requirements, applicable regulations, and CRS’ technical and cost standards. Lead and support proposal budget processes and propose recommendations to develop a competitive proposal.
Train and mentor staff, as needed, to improve their skills in report writing and proposal development, representation to donor and partner organizations, intelligence-gathering, and marketing within their country program or portfolio.
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. Research, track and analyze new opportunities and CRS’ competitive position within the marketplace.
Support senior management to cultivate and strengthen institutional relationships with institutional donors, partner organizations and other stakeholders.
Work with appropriate staff to maintain data on past performance and corporate capacity, in order to provide timely information for proposal submissions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture.
Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
Excellent negotiation skills.
Excellent supervisory skills.
Strong communications and presentation skills.
Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
Able to live in an environment where everyday comforts may not be readily available.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated experience utilizing diverse, proactive strategies to competitively position for new funding and productive institutional relationships.
Exceptional writer with expert command of English grammar and AP style.
Demonstrated experience leading and producing competitive proposals in programming contexts similar to CRS.
Comprehensive familiarity with a broad range of institutional donor technical and cost requirements.
Familiarity with relevant institutional donor regulations, policies, procedures and priorities.
Demonstrated experience managing teams and processes, leading teams to produce deliverables under tight deadlines and at exceptional quality.
Experience in stakeholder management and establishing and strengthening community partnerships.
Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
Knowledge of procurement and general office administrative/management issues
Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Required Languages – English fluency (reading, writing, speaking and listening), with Dari and/or Pashto a plus.

Travel– Position is based in Ghor but must be willing and able to travel up to 50% within Ghor province and to other CRS offices in Afghanistan.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Sub-office operations teams: Administrative Officer(s), ICT Focal Points, Procurement Officer, Finance Officer and Human Resources Officer

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: CRS Head Quarters Business Development staff, Regional Director for Program Quality, Country Management Team including: Country Representative, Head of Operations, Head of Programs, Deputy Head of Programs, Supply Chain Manager, ICT Manager, Health & Safety Advisor and Access & Liaison Officer as well as other Heads of Offices, Security Focal Points, Program Managers and program staff.

External: Regional UNOCHA focal points, regional cluster focal points, Ghor INGO and NGO staff, International NGO Safety Organization (INSO) focal points, Donors and other stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Business Administration, International Relations, or relevant field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
Minimum of 5 years work experience in a non-profit, development, and/or humanitarian organization with progressive responsibilities and some project management experience. Experience with an international organization a plus.

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.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Protection Acknowledgment: CRS prohibits all forms of abuse and exploitation towards children and vulnerable adults. As a professional candidate, you commit to adhering to the Agency’s policy on protection, rights and dignity of children and vulnerable adults and to safeguard them from abuse and exploitation as defined in CRS’ Safeguarding Policy.