Director, CASCADE Project (Chief of Party)

NOTE: This is a remote position; CRS will only consider candidates who are based in countries where we have existing offices. CRS does not sponsor visas for telecommuting employees.

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.

Job Summary

CRS’ agency strategy commits to catalyzing humanitarian and development outcomes at scale. To help institutionalize the capabilities and processes needed to catalyze scale, a foundation has awarded CRS the CASCADE (Catalyzing Scale through Evidence) project, which runs until 2030. As Director of this institutional strengthening project, you will provide vision, leadership and overall management of the CASCADE project. Your strategic leadership and technical knowledge will enable CRS to leverage its deep programmatic experience to convene, accompany and collaborate with governments, private sector actors, donors, peers, and partners within systems to achieve humanitarian and development outcomes that are equitable, inclusive, and at the scale that is appropriate for the size of the problem. You will manage a small team and collaborate closely across CRS units in headquarters, regions and country programs to strengthen capacities, institutionalize processes, guide teams, support Strategic Change Platforms, develop resource materials, and identify and share learning.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead all aspects of implementation of the CASCADE Project, including team management, engagement and collaboration with other CRS units, and contributions to thought leadership on catalyzing scale. Serve as the primary point of contact for CASCADE to the GHR Foundation as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders.
• Facilitate and foster CRS efforts to catalyze change at scale through scaling initiatives such as the Strategic Change Platforms (SCPs) and through scale-sensitive programming. Lead the development and implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices related to catalyzing scale.
• Manage the four CASCADE team members, fostering collaboration and providing coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments. As needed, oversee the development of staffing plans and recruitment.
• Create and maintain conditions conducive to learning. Foster a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and challenges and for identifying and responding quickly to problems. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for staff and ensure the design and delivery of high quality technical assistance.
• Represent CRS’ scaling work at conferences, communities of practice and other forums, presenting and publishing learning and results. Engage with external specialists to exchange learning, share CRS’ approaches and seek guidance for scaling efforts.
• Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Ensure compliance with GHR Foundation grants, including financial tracking and oversight of budgets, finance, administration and reporting to the foundation. Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
• Provide guidance and thought partnership to the six SCP teams to support their efforts to catalyze change at scale. Coordinate with SCPX colleagues working on communications, knowledge management, and business development to support SCP activities, develop communication materials, document learning, and mobilize resources for scaling activities.
• Support the CASCADE Senior Advisor, Regions to collaborate with and support regional teams in incorporating catalytic approaches and scaling objectives into program design, regional and country strategies, and partnerships.
• Support the CASCADE Senior Technical Advisor, Adaptive Systems for Scale to develop and apply methods for designing, managing and measuring programs with scaling objectives.
• Support the CASCADE Advisor II, Professional Development to understand the processes, needs and priorities of regions and country programs and to enhance the scaling-related skills of CRS staff through professional development activities, learning and training strategies, guidance and curriculums, and mentoring and coaching.
• Support the CASCADE Advisor, KML to identify, document and share lessons, promising approaches, instructive failures, and other insights CRS’ and other actors’ efforts to catalyze humanitarian and development outcomes at scale.
• Engage periodically with CRS executive leadership to update and discuss progress, learnings, and recommendations for the agency’s efforts to build capabilities and institutionalize approaches for catalyzing scale.
• Convene representatives from various CRS departments to develop and advance aligned approaches related to scale.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, development studies, or another relevant technical area.
• Experience applying the principles and concepts of influence and scaling, which may include evidence translation, advocacy, communication, partnership, or others.
• Experience with systems change, change management, supporting teams and organizations in undertaking organizational change and institutionalizing new ways of working.
• 10 or more years of relevant management and technical experience.
• 7 years of experience managing donor funds, ideally including multi country grants. Knowledge and experience in budget management.
• 5 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching and mentoring senior program staff.

Required Languages*:* French or Spanish preferred

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 15%

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, political and problem-solving skills, with sound judgement and capacity to see the big picture.
• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to relate effectively to individuals at all levels and in diverse geographical and cultural settings. Strategic in how relationships are approached.
• Strong influence capabilities with demonstrated ability to convene and facilitate engagement and buy-in from people not under direct supervision.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching/mentoring skills.
• Strong communications and presentation skills; active listening skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences, especially when communicating material that is new or nuanced.
• Strong organizational skills and comfortable managing multiple activities, prioritizing tasks and delegating among team members.
• Able to maintain effective communication and cohesion in a virtual workspace; able to coordinate and work effectively with team members across multiple time zones.
• Fosters team members to lead their respective areas independently.
• Able to listen, respond and adapt to information and opportunities while contributing specialized expertise.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recognized leader in the development and humanitarian sector as demonstrated by past leadership positions, publications, conference presentations, or other products.
• Demonstrated experience of successful program management.
• Experience influencing governments and/or the private sector in international development/humanitarian contexts.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships.
• Ability to represent and present at high levels.
• Ability to understand and develop various approaches to scale.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), MS Teams Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The position supervises four CASCADE team members: Senior Advisor, Regions; Senior Technical Advisor, Adaptive Systems for Scale; Advisor II, Professional Development; and Advisor, KML. The position also provides technical oversight of other colleagues contributing to CASCADE.

Key Working Relationships

Internal – Strategic Change Platform (SCP) teams, regional teams, sector and MEAL teams in Program Impact and Quality Assurance (PIQA) and Humanitarian Response Department (HRD), executive leaders, SCPX, headquarters units such as Institutional Donor Engagement and Advancement (IDEA), Charitable Giving (CG), Mission and Mobilization (M2), and Marketing and Communication (MarCom)

External –GHR Foundation, peer organizations, groups working on scaling such as the Scaling Up Community of Practice, donors, possibly local governments and partner organizations

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. 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. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

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.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer