Country Manager, Burkina Faso (National Candidates Only)

Job Summary:

As Country Manager you will manage and represent the country program office, advancing programming and operations objectives and the mission of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your management and representation skills will enable you to advance CRS� strategy and raise critical resources to ensure the continuation of CRS� work to serve the poor and marginalized in Burkina Faso. Your leadership, management and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming. You will coordinate planning of activities across various projects from different sectors to ensure integration of program interventions and efficiency in implementation.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the Regional Director and her team, provide strategic direction for the Burkina Faso office, in line with regional and agency strategic priorities.
• Ensure the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable.
• Increase visibility of CRS in Liberia with multiple stakeholders, including donors, government, national and international partners and strategic alliances
• Provide oversight to project level operations, including accountability of financial resources, HR, risk and compliance, security and staff safety and safeguarding.
• Develop partnerships with and ensure strong representation to Catholic Church leadership, local and international humanitarian and development organizations, local and national government, US government, international donors, and strategic allies on a regular basis
• Continue to build strong, collaborative relationships with Catholic Church partner organizations and Church leadership
• Ensure that all projects meet and exceed donor expectations and are designed and implemented for maximum impact and reach. Ensure the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures. Ensure technical assistance and capacity strengthening for project teams and partners by collaborating with global TA resources.
• Effectively manage senior talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Manage the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior staff.
• Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security policies and plans and ensure the updating of such plans.
• Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Ensure compliance in operations functions. Provide oversight and analysis regarding monthly expenditures, and place focus on rigor of financial resources.
• 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 application of the MEAL policy, as well as cross-sectoral and cross-department learning.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in International Development, International Relations or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years experience managing high value relief and development programs.

Required Languages: Fluency in English and French.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 20 %.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong strategic and analytical systems thinking, with capacity to see the big picture.
• Emotional intelligence, problem solving and sound judgement.
• The ability to make decisions in a timely manner, with appropriate consultation and delegation.
• Excellent personal relationships, to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
• Ability to lead a team and serve as part of cross functional or regional teams
• Exceptional communications (oral and written) and presentation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented.
• Results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent in project management including strong budget management.
• Experience in complex development settings is preferred.
• Experience engaging partners, including local government and the private sector, and strengthening partners to become autonomous organizations.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Ability to represent the agency at all levels.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

Supervisory Responsibilities: The Country Manager supervises three Program Managers.

Key Working Relationships

Internal: West Africa Regional Director, West Africa Deputy Regional Directors for Program Quality and Deputy Regional Director for Management Quality, Regional Finance Officer WARO Regional Technical Advisors, OverOps HQ : HRD, IDEA and PIQA, Mission and Mobilization, Charitable Giving, Finance and Human Resources and other headquarter staff responsible for providing support to the Niger Program.

External : USAID, The CMM/Global Fund, OFDA, DFID, European Union, UN agencies, Liberia Senior Church Officials (Archbishop and Bishops, Caritas),other donor Representatives, Liberian Government, Partners (local and international).

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.

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

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.