(01) Program Manager II-Food for Education II Project Director, Bénin

Job Title: Program Manager II-Food for Education II Project Director

Requisition Number: I3282

Area of Interest: To Be Assigned

Position Type: To Be Assigned

Hours Per Week: 40

Full Time or Part Time: FT

Regular, Short Term OR Temporary: Regular

Department Name: Benin

Post Location: International – please see job description

Telework – Part Time Considered: No

Telework – Full Time Considered: No

Job Description: 

Job Title: Program Manager II- Food for Education II, Project Director 

Division/Location: Benin

Band: D

FLSA: Exempt

Reports To: Head of Programming, Benin

BACKGROUND:

Catholic
Relief Services began working in Benin in 1958. CRS’ has implemented
significant education programming in Benin through previous Food for
Education and Food for Peace grants. The country program’s strengths,
particularly working at the community level, have allowed the program
team to undertake additional programs in the health and micro-finance
sectors.

CRS is seeking a four-year U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Education (FFE) grant. The project will follow the currently implemented FFE project implemented by CRS and continue to promote primary education and reduce the incidence of hunger for approximately 44,000 primary school children in 144 schools across four districts in northern Benin. The project will ensure success by coupling increased access to food with quality improvements that strengthen the overall educational system and environment for primary school children, with an explicit focus on strengthening early reading and literacy for all children. The project will be aligned with the Ministry of Education’s strategy and on-going canteen program and work to systematically increase government capacity. Additionally, the project will work with approximately 500 teachers and administrators in literacy methodologies. The project incorporates the strengths of World Education’s literacy-specific programming in Benin.

The
project will be based in Kandi. While the USDA grant officially begins
in September 2017, CRS Benin expects the in-coming PM II to support
project start up activities–including recruitment, establishing
management systems (supply chain management, logistics, procurement,
technology-based M&E, etc), and close coordination with the
government at all levels.

Primary Responsibility: 

Under
the supervision of the Head of Programming for Benin and with close
support of an experienced national program manager, the PM II will be
responsible for the overall management of the program. This includes
warehousing; transportation; school feeding activities; education
activities, including trainings; coordination with partners including
sub-partners, national and local authorities and strategic partners;
timely start-up of activities; close financial and commodity management;
office management; and staff supervision. It is anticipated that the PM
II will directly supervise 6 staff with a total team of 24 to
successfully implement the program.

The PM II
will be responsible for ensuring that the final program results are
achieved, including strategies for phase over to the Benin Government.

It
is anticipated that the PM II will spend approximately 50% of his/her
time on program quality and 50% of management quality. Thus CRS Benin is
looking for an applicant with prior experience managing school feeding,
or similar, programs.

Job Responsibilities:

Leadership and Program Quality

• Provide a clear vision and plans for an innovative, integrated and comprehensive program 

• Lead CRS and contracted partners staff and other stakeholders to ensure the project’s strategic objectives and results are fully accomplished and meet expected technical quality standards especially the CRS Project Standards;

• Lead the planning of project activities in line with program targets; work with the project team and partners to develop annual implementation plans; track progress on a regular basis to ensure timely completion of activities

• Ensure program activities and approaches document lessons learned, adopt best practices in gender-responsiveness, protection, governance, and participant accountability;

• Use appropriate management tools, including IT solutions, to plan, review and track progress on project implementation as well as the utilization of project resources

• Plan for and seek technical assistance from region and HQ 

• Oversee the project’s monitoring and evaluation system ensuring it is compliant with the CRS MEAL policy, including regular technical reviews, and using data analysis as the basis for measuring performance and decision making. 

• Ensure that M&E data/results are integrally linked with learning and programmatic adjustment as program plans evolve;

• Ensure integration and coordination of program interventions with other USG funded programs in the geographic target areas, and with other stakeholders for consistency and to avoid duplication;

• Ensure the delivery of quality training, technical assistance, and administrative and financial support to all partner agencies and government, including the selection and coordination of sub-grantees and consultants.

Management and Administration

• Manage project budgets, including tracking of financial and material resources; , including those of sub recipients and local partners; provide timely support to project partners to enable regular reporting and financial liquidations

• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of project finances and progress status, review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances on a regular basis;

• Ensure staff compliance with all USDA and CRS administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations;

• Oversee timely arrival, import, and delivery of food commodities; provide trouble shooting as and when needed to ensure no significant delays

• Approve project expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors. 

• Actively promote compliance with key CRS policies and procedures relevant for the effective operations of a CRS sub-office. For example, orientation training for new sub-office staff should address relevant internal controls. Particular attention should be paid to the CRS Internal Control Policy (POL-FIN-ICS-024), the Segregation-of-Duties Procedure (POL-FIN-ICS-024.02), the Financial Resource Control in Cash Environments Procedure (PRO-FIN-CAS-007.01), the Agency’s Procurement Manual, and the Staff Safety and Security Guidelines. 

• In coordination with the Head of Operations, take timely, concrete actions to resolve any recommendations arising from audits and from management’s own periodic monitoring of internal controls at the Country Program’s sub-office(s), including through the annual Internal Control Questionnaire (ICQ) process.

• Ensure coordination with Operations/Cotonou beyond commodity logistics including admin, HR, procurement etc.

Representation and Advocacy

• Provide leadership and oversight to the consortium, ensuring that sub-grantees or contractors accomplish their objectives and fully meet their sub-award or contract terms, and ensuring that all stakeholders work cooperatively and productively together;

• Serve as primary contact to World Education and USDA (via the HQ Donor Liaison) for the project, taking responsibility for addressing all project matters, collaborating with the CRS Country Representative and Head of Programs on overall donor relationships;

• Strengthen linkages with existing and potential partner agencies, and government of Benin, in collaboration with CRS Country Representative and Head of Programming;

• Closely coordinate with the Ministry of Education particularly on school feeding activities including commodity management and on inclusive education/teacher training activities; attend relevant meetings

• Oversee project communication strategies including compliance with donor’s branding and marketing requirements as well as CRS’ marketing and communication procedures.

• Regularly prepare and share reports, including success stories and use of ICT in programming

Human Resource Management

• Lead, manage, and supervise a team of CRS and partner staff to meet program objectives;

• Conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with CRS’ performance management system and mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork. 

• Manage recruitment portfolio for the program, in collaboration with CRS country program management, to ensure optimum service delivery through recruitment of competent and qualified staff.

Other

• Any other task requested by the supervisor

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

Program Manager Competencies

These
are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by
each program manager to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to
achieve the desired results.

• Sets clear goals and manages toward them

• Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders

• Manages financial resources with integrity

• Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning

MEAL Competencies

Within the agency’s MEAL Competencies Model, these are identified as key MEAL competencies related to the program manager’s roles and responsibilities.

= MEAL in Design

= ICT for MEAL

= Learning 

= Management in MEAL

Supervisory Responsibilities: Senior management project team

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal:
Head of Programming, Country Representative, Head of Operations,
Commodities Manager, Admin Manager/Cotonou, Human Resources, Procurement
Officer, Project Team, HQ Education Advisor, Regional Technical
Advisors (Financial Officer, RISA, Nutrition, WASH, Commodities)

External: Ministry of Education, World Education, INGO Education Working Group, US Embassy, USDA

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position

Qualifications

• Masters degree in Education, International Development, or related field

• Prior knowledge and experience in managing food aid programs highly desired

• Minimum of 5 years program management experience in a developing country

• Experience implementing ICT solutions (M&E and distance learning) highly desired

• Previous supervisory experience required

• Ability and willingness to work in remote areas

• Previous experience managing USG funds

• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team, but be self-motivated and accountable for program implementation 

• Ability to think and plan strategically; able to multi-task and prioritize

• Excellent written and spoken English and French

• Strong computer skills

Note: The
post is accompanied, however there is no international school in Kandi.
The position is based in Kandi, a remote area in northern Benin.

EOE/M/D/F/V