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.

Job Summary:

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the most populous, vast and resource rich countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Decades of conflict and other challenges over the past decades have left the Congo with 73% of its population living under the internationally recognized poverty rate of $1.90 per day and 43% of children are malnourished due to inadequate social and health services. Given its fragility and weak institutions, the country is susceptible to health crises, including recent outbreaks of Ebola, measles, cholera and potentially COVID-19.

CRS has operated in the DRC since 1961, successfully implementing programs in nutrition, agriculture livelihoods, emergency, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health, microfinance, and peacebuilding throughout the country. CRS/DRC currently has around 190 staff operating out of 5 offices in Kinshasa, Goma (North Kivu), Kananga (Kasai Central), Mbuji Mayi (Kasai Oriental), and Kalemie (Tanganyika).

You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of agriculture and livelihoods programming for an anticipated Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA), ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its RFSA programming.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of development and implementation of agriculture and livelihood interventions under the DRC RFSA throughout the project cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation, and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Effectively manage talent contributing to agriculture and livelihoods interventions and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Lead the development of program learning - identify opportunities for learning, research and publications in the area of agriculture and livelihoods and implementation of MEAL policy. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in for staff and partner organizations involved in RFSA livelihood and agriculture programming to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to RFSA agriculture and livelihoods programming and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools, and approaches.
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications

• Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations, Agrobusiness, Agronomy or a relevant field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of agriculture and livelihoods.
• Experience in managing large-scale, complex projects preferably with an international NGO.
• Experience in all components of livelihoods programming (creation and support of small businesses, livelihood resilience, market development, private sector development), and themes of savings and capital, income-generating activities, and agricultural production. Experience should include on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm livelihoods.
• Significant experience in agriculture programming including crop and livestock, seed systems, market systems and value chains, and environment.

Required Languages– English, French. Proficiency in Congolese languages is desirable.

Travel– Field-based position based in the D.R. Congo. Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations and managing relationships with external stakeholders including private sector actors and government structures.
• MEAL skills and experience required.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

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.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisory Responsibilities (if none, state none): Project staff supporting agriculture and livelihood interventions.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Program Managers, Head of Office, Regional Technical Advisors.

External: Donor, partner INGOs and local NGOs, peer agencies, community and local authorities, state technical services.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. 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. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

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