Openings at Catholic Relief

Job Summary:

The Program Quality Manager (PQM) reports to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) Programs and is responsible for co-developing strategies and plans, monitoring the quality implementation of project activities, and reporting, in collaboration with members of the consortium Senior Management Team (SMT).

The PQM will coordinate the development of harmonized consortium annual detailed implementation plans and PREP applications submitted to the donor. S/he will play a key role in tracking the progress of and monitoring project workplans by all consortium partners based on the annual and updated/ adapted quarterly workplans. S/he will collaborate with the consortium SMT to ensure the program’s adherence to program quality standards in line with CRS and BHA guidelines. S/he is also responsible for ensuring the coordinated collection, compilation and sharing of donor compliance reports.

Job Responsibilities:

• Assist in the preparation and submission of the PREP and Scopes of Work for the Nawiri consortium members.
• Ensure that the Nawiri Project meets CRS and BHA standards for program quality
• Coordinate with consortium partners on the implementation of Quality Assurance (QA) measures, including priority strategies, to improve the quality of Nawiri activities and to achieve project targets/ enhance impact.
• Work closely with MEAL team to strengthen the consortium’s timely use of data, information and learning to make more informed decisions to improve the quality of the program.
• Support the integration of innovations and best practices across Nawiri interventions
• Maintain Nawiri's reporting calendar and work with project teams to ensure high quality reports are submitted on time for internal reviews and to BHA.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in PQ for staff and partner organizations, to enhance program quality and impact.
• Design and deliver innovative on-the job training on Agency PQ standards.
• Collaborate with SMT and other staff to plan, support preparation for and co-facilitate Program Review meetings. Make frequent visits to the field to monitor the implementation of workplans and propose recommendations to the COP, DCOP/P and SMT for quality improvement.
• Coordinate the development, review, and submission of high-quality weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Lead the drafting and submission of documents formally requested of Nawiri from donors and government, including programmatic reports and funding applications.
• Analyze and disseminate trip and training reports from all consortium partners and follow up on action items.
• Contribute to strengthening local relationships, including with the local partner, local Church, County Governments, etc.
• Work with the COP and DCOP to prepare presentations on program issues and any other marketing materials as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong 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.
• Strong communications and presentation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
• Proven outstanding reporting skills in the English language.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in project design and evaluations, preferably for grants from multiple public donors.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Strategic level MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Relationship building and teamwork abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Proven demonstrated Workshop Facilitation Skills
• Familiarity with relevant institutional donor regulations, policies, procedures and priorities. Familiarity with USAID R&Rs an advantage.
• Knowledge of CRS program quality standards, programs, justice agenda and Catholic Social Teaching principles a plus.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, international relations, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum seven years of international development experience, with at least five years’ experience in a developing country.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.
• Demonstrated experience of successful management, including management of functions of complex, multi-stakeholder, and multi-activity projects. Consortium management experience a distinct advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to write and edit high quality program reports, including in conjunction with multi-sectoral and/ or multi-disciplinary teams.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a constructive learning environment.

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Job Summary:

As a lead for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation ECD Advocacy Project, the role holder will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all project activities and providing technical guidance and advice to implementing partner’s staff, advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work servin g the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the project applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of National ECD advocacy strategy in collaboration with other ECD actors
• Conduct sessions/trainings for Interfaith Leaders and other interfaith structures to inform understanding and influence on Early Childhood Development.
• Identify and participate in networks with relevant stakeholders and partners to build strategic relationships on key policy issues and advocacy opportunities including influencing existing National ECD Framework.
• Develop and continually update ECD advocacy briefs to provide updates to stakeholders on relevant activities and accomplishments.
• Represent CRS in relevant governance, planning and lobby meetings at County and National levels.
• Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Coordinate and oversee working relationships with all local project stakeholders and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact.
• Supervise and perform ad-hoc inspections of various processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures. Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner.
• Support and coordinate capacity building and technical support activities to ensure assigned project activities are implemented per project guidelines and standards.
• Coordinate provision of any logistical and administrative support to the partner(s).
• Ensure project documentation for assigned activities is complete with all required documents and is filed per agency and donor requirements. Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices
• Participate in business development initiatives to grow the ECD portfolio.

Required Languages - Excellent spoken and written English

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 30 %.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Staff supervision experience a plus.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Supervisory Responsibilities None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Program Manager-ECD, STA-Health, Deputy Head of Programming, Head of Programming

External: ED-IRCK, Head of Division of Neonatal and Child Health, Directorate of ECDE, ED-ECDNeK

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in in Early Childhood Development, Education, Social Work, Health or related field.
• Strong policy, advocacy and research skills and ability to negotiate and network with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Experience of developing advocacy strategies, knowledge and understanding of a range of advocacy techniques