Deputy County Head of Office – Marsabit Location: Marsabit, Kenya (On-site)

Job Description

Reports To: County Head of Office

Length of Contract: Two years

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 are accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

Background

Catholic Relief Services (CRS), in collaboration with a consortium of seven development agencies, is executing a five-year research and development program called Nawiri, funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). This program is focused on addressing global acute malnutrition in Isiolo and Marsabit counties of Northern Kenya. Nawiri aims to sustainably reduce malnutrition levels among vulnerable populations in these areas. In our consortium, CRS is leading in institutional capacity strengthening, gender and youth integration, strategic learning, and livelihood-focused interventions.

Job Summary

The Deputy County Head of Office – Marsabit will play a pivotal role in achieving project objectives. This role involves coordinating and reporting on all project activities, providing technical guidance to staff, and collaborating with partners to advance Catholic Relief Services’ mission of serving the poor and vulnerable. Strong coordination and relationship management skills are essential to ensure the Nawiri project adheres to best practices and continually enhances its impact on the communities it serves.

The Deputy County Head of Office will work closely with the County Head of Office and collaborate with Technical Leads and Deputy Chief of Parties to ensure effective management systems and high-quality program implementation.

Job Responsibilities

Operational Roles and Responsibilities

1. Coordination of Project Stakeholders

• Serve as the primary project liaison between Nawiri technical teams, county officials, and local actors at sub-county and ward levels.
• Act as an alternate Partnership for Resilience and Economic Growth (PREG) focal point for the project.

2. Implementation Leadership

• Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities at sub-county and ward levels as per the detailed implementation plan, adhering to CRS program quality standards and donor requirements.
• Collaborate with the Head of Office to ensure logistics coordination in line with CRS policy and standards.
• Build capacity and support Nawiri LIP-Caritas in resource tracking and budget compliance.
• Analyze implementation challenges and report inconsistencies to inform adjustments.

3. Team Management

• Supervise and conduct onboarding for new hires within the county and sub-county teams.
• Facilitate timely procurement processes for goods and services to support project activities.
• Approve project expenses following CRS policy and approval matrix.
• Effectively manage and supervise team members, fostering team dynamics and staff well-being.

Programmatic Roles and Responsibilities

4. Program Implementation

• Ensure quality programmatic implementation through coordinated project activity sequencing, layering, and integration.
• Coordinate project reporting and documentation according to agency and donor requirements.
• Facilitate program team planning processes and reflection sessions.
• Analyze project outcomes and guide teams for quality programming.
• Collaborate with the Head of Office on field-level visits by donors and partners.

5. Networking and Representation

• Represent Nawiri at lower administrative units: sub-counties, wards, and community levels.
• Provide program and operational support based on emerging needs.
• Act as a representative at County level and external meetings as required.

Personal Skills

• Strong relationship management abilities.
• Effective team leadership skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.
• Adaptability to an environment with limited everyday comforts.
• Commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion, including gender equality.

Required/Desired Foreign Language

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including report drafting and editing.
• Excellent verbal communication skills in Kiswahili.
• Knowledge of local dialects in Marsabit County is a plus.

Travel Required: 50% of the time.

Supervisory: None

Key Working Relationships

Internal:

• Chief of Party Nawiri
• Head of Programs
• Head of Operations
• Head of County Office
• DCOP Operations/Programs-Nawiri
• System Strengthening Specialist Marsabit
• County Research Coordinator
• Nawiri Program team
• Nairobi based operations staff

External:

• Local government officials
• Local/international NGO offices
• UN agencies operating in the project area

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in development studies or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years working experience in a non-profit, development, and/or humanitarian organization with progressive responsibilities.
• Staff management experience and abilities conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience working with projects funded by multiple donors, including USAID.
• Experience in stakeholder management and establishing/strengthening community partnerships.
• Knowledge of procurement and general office administrative/management issues.
• Proficiency in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information management systems.
• Experience working and/or living in Marsabit County is a plus.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

• Personal Accountability
• Acts with Integrity
• Builds and Maintains Trust
• Collaborates with Others
• Open to Learn

Agency Leadership Competencies

• Lead Change
• Develops and Recognizes Others
• Strategic Mindset

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 a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Expert Tips To Be A Successful Applicant

1. Tailor Your Application: Customize your cover letter and resume to highlight relevant experience and skills that align with the job requirements.
2. Showcase Leadership: Provide examples of times when you demonstrated strong leadership, coordination, and relationship management skills.
3. Highlight Diversity and Inclusion: Emphasize your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how you’ve promoted these values in previous roles.
4. Language Proficiency: If applicable, discuss your language skills, especially proficiency in English, Kiswahili, or local dialects.
5. Procurement and Administrative Skills: Mention any experience with procurement and general office administrative/management tasks.
6. Flexibility and Adaptability: Stress your ability to work in challenging environments where everyday comforts may be limited.
7. Stakeholder Engagement: Describe your experience in stakeholder management and community partnership building.
8. Multiple Donor Experience: If applicable, discuss your experience working with projects funded by multiple donors, particularly USAID.
9. MS Office Proficiency: Highlight your proficiency in MS Office and other relevant software applications.
10. Demonstrate Agency Competencies: In your application, demonstrate CRS’s core competencies, including personal accountability, integrity, trust-building, collaboration, and a willingness to learn.

By following these tips, you can make a strong impression and increase your chances of success in the application process. Good luck!

About Us

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 are accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

About the Team

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.

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.

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CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

APPLY NOW JOB INFO

• Job Identification: 3000968
• Job Category: Program Management
• Posting Date: 10/06/2023, 12:24 AM
• Apply Before: 10/19/2023, 03:59 PM
• Degree Level: Bachelor’s Degree
• Job Schedule: Full-time
• Job Shift: Day
• Locations: APHIA IMARISHA Project Field Office, MARSABIT, Marsabit, KE (On-site)