Job Title:ย Deputy Country Representative-Operations Reports to: Country Representative Department: Field Leadership Salary Grade:ย 11
About CRS Madagascar
CRS has been operating in Madagascar since 1962 supporting relief and development operations in the country. Through local partners, CRS has implemented programs in all 22 of the countryโs regions, focusing on resilience, agricultural livelihood and land restoration, private sector engagement, education, health, WASH, Youth, and emergency response and recovery. CRS has also developed strong relationships with government line ministries, partners, and communities we serve in the country, implementing a multi-sectoral program portfolio. CRS has significant programming concentrated in the Southeast and the deep south of Madagascar, implementing, and supporting humanitarian response and recovery projects.ย
Job Summary
As a member of the Country Programโs (CP) Senior Leadership Team (SLT), you will provide leadership and management of the operational functions - Finance, Human Resources (HR), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Administration, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Health, Safety & Security - in support of CRSโ mission to serve the poor and vulnerable. You will promote stewardship of resources, ensure principled compliance, proactively manage risk, and lead operational improvements. Your strategic management skills will enable you to advance CRSโ reputation and impact while youย proactively manage security and mitigate risks and liabilities.
Roles and Key Responsibilities
Contribute to the CP strategic planning and programming on needed investments in operations capacity โ systems, processes and staffing โ that meet CRSโ standards, donor requirements, and local regulations and support high-quality programming.ย Represent CRS, as needed.ย Plan, integrate, coordinate, and monitor day-to-day operations to ensureย all support services are delivered with high-quality in an efficient manner. Address issues where operations support needs to be adapted for complex programming. Oversee the piloting of new operations initiatives that require the setting of new standards and systems Oversee financial processes in accordance with policies and ensure proactive service delivery, advice, and support to managers, staff, and subrecipients in relation to the project cycle (Design, Start-up, Implementation, Close-out). Ensure efficiency and compliance with CRSโ policies and procedures, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donorsโ rules and regulations, and legal requirements. Ensure effective and appropriate use of CRSโs finance and supply chain management systems and other technical solutions. Collaborate with programming leads to ensure appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and proper stewardship of material sources. Promote effective use of CRSโ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for budget management and general oversight. Anticipate, identify and address challenges that affect the proper stewardship, risk, and optimal utilization of program assets and resources (financial, human, and material).ย Lead the operational aspects of a CPโs Climate Action strategy with support from the SMT including: implement action plans and monitor progress, prioritize entry points and investments for operational efficiency and the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and waste.ย With the Country Representative, and other members of the SLT, oversee the preparation of annual budget plans and grant/project budgets to ensure they reflect maximum operational efficiency and budgetary compliance and mitigate risks. Set and provide technical oversight of internal processes for approving expenses, monitoring spending, and making budget adjustments in line with operational and programmatic needs and with donor requirements. Ensure the program is adequately staffed to meet CP needs and HR systems, policies and practices support a high-performance culture, staff development and retention. Ensure quality personnel administration and a work environment that truly reflects the agencyโs guiding principles. Oversee compliance with agency and donor requirements and local laws and regulations through periodic systems checks, review and assessment of CPโs operations policies and procedures. Act as lead contact and responder to issues that emerge from internal and external audits and provide recommendations and guidance to implement improvements. Promote safeguarding at the CP level. Ensure quality implementation of CRS safeguarding policy and principles across operations at both CRS and partner level. With support from technical advisors, ensure capacity building efforts and technical guidance to CRS staff and partners, in line with CRS principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. Oversee Health, Safety, and Security management. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security trainings, policies and plans and ensure the updating of such plans.ย Effectively manage and supervise talent. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity for successful support of high quality programming. 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. Provide capacity strengthening guidance for project teams and partners, which includes cross-departmental learning.Basic Qualifications
Master's degree in International Development, Business Administration, Finance or relevant field required. Minimum of 7 years work experience in a management position with progressive responsibilities with at least 4 years supervisory experience. Experience with an international NGO and experience outside country of origin preferred. Additional experience may substitute for some education; additional education may substitute for some experience. Understanding of financial systems, including budgeting and budget/expense analysis experience.Required Languagesย โ French and English required, Malagasy a plus.
Travelย โ Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% to CRS field locations and partner offices across Madagascar.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of Oracle ERP or similar financial reporting software. Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems. 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 work collaboratively. Team leadership abilities. Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics. Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.ย
Preferred Qualifications
Proven experience in managing operational support to complex and large-scale USG funded programs is highly preferred. Experience in engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Experience working with Church partners a plus. Knowledge of multiple public donorsโ regulations, including USAID, highly preferred. Knowledge of procurement and office administration/management issues. Ability to represent the agency at high levels.Supervisory Responsibilities:ย Head of Operations, Finance Manager, Head of Human Resources, Supply Chain Manager, Admin Manager, ICT Manager and Safety & Security Advisor.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal:ย Country Representative, Deputy Country Representative for Programming, Head of Programming, Chiefs of Party, Head of Offices, Department Managers, Project Managers and Program Coordinators, Regional Office (particularly DRD-Ops); Overseas Finance, GPR, GSCM, GKIM, GRC, Internal Audit and OGC.ย
External:ย Church partners; CRS implementing partners; operational partners and colleague organizations; USAID Mission; EU/ECHO, and other international donors; Local Government; auditors; banking and insurance Institutions; service providers and vendors.ย
Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Personal Accountability โ Consistently takes responsibility for oneโs own actions.ย Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.ย Is considered honest. Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions. Collaborates with Others โ Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams. Open to Learn โ Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.Agency Leadership Competencies:
Lead Change โ Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation. Develops and Recognizes Others โ Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance. Strategic Mindset โ Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.ย
What we offer
CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
ย
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.ย Catholic Relief Servicesย works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. ย Catholic Relief Servicesโย relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.ย 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. CRSโ 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 or global telecommuter, 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.ย The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRSยด 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:ย This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.ย
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
General Requirements
CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidateโs ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.ย ย 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.