About CRS
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) 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. CRSโ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, nutrition, health, agriculture, education, environment, microfinance and peacebuilding.
Job Summary
As a member of the Laos Country Office Senior Management Team, you will provide strategic direction, leadership, and management of the Country Officeโs programming to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable.ย Your leadership, management and knowledge will ensure that the Country Office delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming. As part of the Senior Management Team, you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Roles and Key Responsibilities
In collaboration with the Country Manager (CM), provide strategic direction for the design of the Country Office strategic frameworks and plans, including the development of resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of programming interventions in line with regional and agency strategic priorities. Lead high-quality project design incorporating project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope, context and technical requirements of projects. Coordinate planning of activities across various projects from different sectors to ensure integration of program interventions and efficiency in implementation. Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailored individual development plans, and complete performance assessment for direct reports. Contribute to developing staffing plans for projects and to the recruitment process of senior project staff.ย 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. Promoteย accountability, learning and knowledge management overseeing implementation of the MEAL policy, as well as cross-sectoral and cross-department learning. Coordinate with Country Office operations leads to ensuring appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources. In coordination with resource mobilization staff oversee the business development cycle to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards.ย Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches. Ensure technical assistance and capacity strengthening for project teams and partners in project management standards and related MEAL, business development and operational activities. Identify training opportunities, develop training curriculums, and deliver trainings.Required Languages: Fluency in English. Ability to work in Lao language highly valued.
Travel:ย Must be willing and able to travel up to 25% in Laos, regionally, and internationally as required.
Supervisory Responsibilities: 4-6 project and program managers depending on the size of the programming portfolio.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree in International Development, International Relations or relevant field. Minimum 5-8 years of relevant field-based program management, at least 2 years of senior management experience.ย Experience in the development of successful proposals, reports, strategic alliances, project design, project management, and monitoring and evaluation.ย Experience in partner capacity strengthening, staff development, training, and mentoring, as well as in team building and strategic planning initiatives.ย Experience in community development, community mobilization, or similar grassroots, self-help initiatives. Experience inย project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc., preferably forย projects funded by multiple public donors. Experience with successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding.Preferred Qualifications
Experience implementing/overseeing projects in Laos with a strong understanding of government regulations and partnerships. Experience working on strategic plans and programming strategies. Experience managing a diverse portfolio of projects across multiple sectors including education, environment, school meals, WASH, and/or local capacity building. Representation experience with donors, government, and peer agencies. Experience managing budgets both at a project level and for an overall portfolio.Knowledge, Skills and Abilitiesย
Excellent English writing skills. Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience and abilities in capacity strengthening - developing curricula and facilitating trainings. Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge sharing networks. 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 relate to people at all levels internally and externally.ย Strategic in how you approach each relationship. Team leadership abilities Presentation and facilitation skills Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-orientedAgency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
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.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.ย Salary and 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.ย CRSยด work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture 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, 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.