Country: Uganda
Closing date: 03 Nov 2016
Position Title: Project Director, 4Children Uganda
Department/Country: Kampala, Uganda
Band: D
FLSA: Exempt
Reports To: Head of Programs, CRS Uganda
This position is contingent on final USAID approval for activities in Uganda (currently pending).
About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome, as a part of our staff and as partners, people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. Catholic Relief Services has worked in Uganda since 1965, initially providing emergency assistance to Sudanese refugees living in the north. Over the years, CRS has expanded its programming to also address development needs in western, central and eastern Uganda. CRS’ projects in Uganda currently include agriculture, health (focus on childhood wellbeing/OVC and systems strengthening), microfinance, peacebuilding and youth. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including the Catholic Church, other faith-based organizations and community entities for maximum impact and sustainability. Programs are funded through numerous public and private donors such as USAID, USAID/DCOF, MasterCard Foundation, DFID, Gavi Alliance and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Corporation.
BACKGROUND:
Coordinating Comprehensive Care for Children (4Children) is a five year USAID funded project implemented by a consortium of organizations led by Catholic Relief Services with partners IntraHealth, Maestral, Pact, Plan and Westat. 4Children is designed to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) affected by HIV and AIDS and other adversities. 4Children’s work utilizes global evidence establishing that HIV and other adversities are best prevented and addressed when families and children have access to both high quality health and social welfare services. The project supports systems and structures at country and regional levels to implement evidence-based interventions that protect against risk, interrupt cycles of vulnerability, and build pathways to resilience leading to an AIDS Free Generation and contributing to overall improvements in quality of life and productivity for vulnerable children and their families.
From September 2016, 4Children will implement two closely linked initiatives in Uganda:
- Keeping Children in Healthy and Protective Families (KCHPF), is an operations research project funded by USAID/Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF) that will support the reintegration of approximately 600 children living in residential care back into family-based care in order to evaluate the impact of a package of family support interventions on successful reintegration. The package to be tested will include reintegration case management support, a one-time reunification cash grant, and a parenting training intervention. KCHPF will implement a two-arm Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to specifically measure the impact of the parenting program on reintegration success. During the main study phase, half of the enrolled families (i.e., 300) will receive the Sinovuyo reintegration parenting training while the control group will not receive this service. Both the control and intervention groups will receive case management support delivered by dedicated case workers along with the cash grant. KCHPF Uganda will partner with local implementing partners to implement the case management and parenting training interventions as well as support research activities. The cash grant will be delivered by CRS Uganda. KCHPF program activities are anticipated to start in September 2016 lasting through June 2019.
- Social Welfare Systems Strengthening (SWSS) will reinforce Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development (MGLSD) ownership and oversight of services for children and families, strengthening MGLSD capacity to lead, manage, and coordinate the national response. 4Children will provide support to MGLSD’s development of the national policy for children, a 10 year strategic plan for children, and operational planning, as well as critical institutional capacity strengthening initiatives. In addition, SWSS will support the strengthening of the social welfare service workshop, in particular systemizing the training and engagement of para-social workers. Programming for children will be prioritized, informed, monitored, and evaluated on the basis of an expanded and effectively utilized evidence base, including development of a comprehensive information system, secondary data analyses, and primary research and evaluation. Under this project, 4Children will focus on strengthening the capacity of MGLSD, local government, and civil society to implement programs addressing childhood vulnerability. This initiative will be implemented in Uganda between October 2016 and September 2019.
JOB SUMMARY
The 4Children Uganda Project Director will be responsible for overall leadership, management, and oversight of the two projects’ activities. This includes monitoring of timelines and outputs, ensuring adherence to technical and financial policies, guidelines, and standards of excellence, overseeing local implementing partner grant compliance, control and monitoring of project activities and expenses, compliance with donor requirements, project reporting and external representation of the project. S/he will ensure project resources are managed according to USG and CRS rules and regulations, and that processes and results are documented in a timely manner. The Project Director will support the daily management and coordination of project staff, manage partner relations, oversee communication and collaboration with the global 4Children team, USAID/Uganda and USAID/DCOF, Government of Uganda (GoU) entities, short-term consultants, as well as project implementing and research partners. This position will oversee the technical, program, and operational set-up of 4Children’s presence in Uganda. Subsequently, the position will provide technical leadership in the design, development, implementation, and monitoring of activities to achieve the deliverables and outcomes of the project. The Project Director will directly supervise the KCHPF Technical Manager, the MGLSD Technical Manager, Social Welfare Workforce Technical Manager, Technical Manager for Evidence Building, the KCHPF MEAL Officer, and the ICT4D Officer. In addition, the Project Director will, provide technical oversight of the local implementing partners supporting case management and the parenting program.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Program Quality
• Ensure overall planning, implementation and management of both projects as well as the achievement of the goals and objectives of the projects in a timely and cost effectively manner.
• Lead the planning of project activities and set appropriate performance targets ensuring adherence to technical standards, best practices, reporting time lines and donor guidelines are respected.
• Ensure that technical assistance needs are met through collaboration with regional and headquarters support staff.
• Ensure program quality through appropriate and needs-based capacity strengthening plans for 4Children staff and partners.
• Ensure that activities are compatible and in compliance with CRS guiding principles, and ensure that staff are trained accordingly.
B. Program Quality and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
• Ensure that both projects have strong MEAL systems, using CRS tools and resources to maximize impact on project participants in alignment with USAID M&E policies and CRS MEAL policies and procedures.
• Ensure timely submission of high quality project narrative reports, quarterly performance data, as well as other reports needed/required by the local government, donors, the region or headquarters.
• Oversee the in-country management of the KCHPF research component by liaising regularly with the KCHPF Research and Learning Advisor, Westat, and the local research partner to ensure data collection and analysis is completed on time and is of high quality.
• Oversee the identification, documentation and dissemination of project results in various forms, including media, lessons learned, case studies, etc., and support learning exchanges among USG implementing partners, GoU entities, and other programs both within and outside of Uganda.
C. Partnership and Representation
• In collaboration with the CRS Uganda Country Representative, Head of Programs and the 4Children Consortium, act as primary program contact to USAID/Uganda and USAID/DCOF and other local and international stakeholders responsible for addressing all program matters.
• Engage 4Children consortium partners as well as local implementing and research partners as appropriate, during key stages in the project cycle for their insights on the appropriateness of program approaches and interventions and to support program quality.
• Manage dynamic partnerships with the GoU, project implementing and research partners, other USG development projects, civil society, learning institutions, UN agencies, and the donor community in Uganda and externally as need arises.
• Ensure and foster effective alignment of activities and smooth coordination and between all project implementing partners.
• Oversee the relevant scopes of work, associated budgets, sub-agreements and grant management of all local implementing partners. In conjunction with the finance and administration teams, develop, implement and monitor capacity building plans to address any organizational capacity gaps for local implementing partners, as needed.
D. Management and Administration
• Oversee the project’s financial management, as per the project budget, including review and analysis of monthly budget comparison reports, preparation of quarterly forecasts, local partner grant management, and timely submission of annual expenditure analysis reports.
• Ensure staff and project compliance with all CRS administrative, operational, and financial procedures and policies, as well as applicable to the donor regulations.
• Coordinate with operations staff for purchasing and inventory control as per CRS/donor requirements.
• Lead, manage and supervise staff to meet project objectives; mentor and coach staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
• Ensure Performance and Development Planning, coaching and appraisals of staff performance are conducted in keeping with CRS’ performance management system, addressing any issues of underperformance as appropriate.
• Participate in the recruitment of project staff and the selection and coordination of consultants, and support to project implementing partners as needed on project-related recruitment.
• Work closely with local implementing partners to ensure timely and quality advance tracking and liquidation.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
• Internal: 4Children/KCHPF Core Leadership and Technical Advisors; CRS Uganda County Representative, Head of Programs, Finance, Procurement, and HR/Administration; Department of Program Impact and Quality Assurance Technical Advisors, and EARO Regional Technical Advisors.
• 4Children Consortium and Implementing Partners: Maestral, Westat, IntraHealth, Child’s i Foundation, Clowns without Boarders South Africa TPO Uganda, MGLSD, Makerere University, and other partners yet to be determined.
• External: Donors, research institutions, Ugandan government ministries at the national, state and local levels, other USAID implementers, and child protection and OVC networks
• Supervisory Responsibility: The Chief of Party will directly the KCHPF Technical Manager, the MGLSD Technical Manager, Social Welfare Workforce Technical Manager, Technical Manager for Evidence Building, the KCHPF MEAL Officer, and the ICT4D Officer. and national and international and/or national consultants.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff): These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
• Master’s degree in Sociology, Social Work, Public Health, International Development, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in programs focused on OVC and/or child protection programming; experience with parenting/family strengthening programs, case management approaches and social service systems strengthening strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge and technical capacity in systems strengthening, child protection programming, including an understanding of the issues facing separated children and families in vulnerable contexts.
• Experience managing or conducting operational research a plus, including both quantitative, and qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Familiarity with USG rules and regulations and experience managing USAID projects in Africa.
• Excellent project management skills with the demonstrated ability to successfully supervise, manage and coordinate staff and consultants to meet and report on project objectives in a timely manner.
• Excellent administrative, planning, budgeting and financial management skills, including the ability to prepare and analyze work plans and budgets.
• Experience with grant management, institutional strengthening, and capacity building - particularly of local implementing partners - as well as working in partnership or consortia.
• Strong critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in native-level English required.
• Demonstrated proactive leadership ability in diverse environments and under pressure, as well as supervisory and personnel management experience.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Ability to travel within Uganda on a regular basis (estimated 25-30 percent). Willingness to travel outside of Uganda to attend conferences, workshops or other related activities.
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.
Equal Opportunity Employer
How to apply:
Apply online: http://bit.ly/2dBUZsv