Head of Programming I – Cambodia & Vietnam

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.

Country Backgrounds:

CRS returned to Cambodia in 1991. Since then, CRS has been a key actor working with national and sub-national government actors, the private sector, and local NGOs, to address critical challenges in Cambodia focusing specifically on areas where it can provide added value through its programming and operations, and technical expertise in the sectors of health and disaster risk reduction. CRS supports government actors to strengthen systems and provide strong and inclusive public services to local communities, particularly to marginalized and vulnerable groups, and actively learns with government and partners to promote sustainable development.

CRS began working in Vietnam in 1992 and established an office in Hanoi in 1994. CRS Vietnam assists local counterparts including government partners and civil society organizations to build capacity in the areas of inclusion of people with disabilities, Mine Risk Education and victim assistance, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and emergency response. 

Job Summary:

As a member of the Cambodia and Vietnam Country Program (CP) Senior Management Teams, you will provide strategic direction, leadership, and management of the CP’s programming to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. Your leadership, management and knowledge will ensure that the CP 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.                                                                                                            

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the Country Representative (CR) for Mekong Sub-region and Country Manager for Vietnam, provide strategic direction for the design of the CP 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 tailor individual development plans, and complete performance assessment for direct reports. Contribute to developing staffing plans for projects and to the recruitment process of senior program quality staff. 
• Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management overseeing implementation of the MEAL policy, including facilitating opportunities for cross-sectoral and cross-CP learning in collaboration with Technical Advisors (TAs).
• Coordinate with CP operations leads to ensure 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. 
• 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 curricula and deliver trainings.

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.
• Experience in the development of successful proposals, reports, strategic alliances, project design, project management, a