Project Manager II (MEAL Manager), STaR Project

JOB DESCRIPTION

NOTE: This is a telecommuter position; CRS will give preference to candidates who are based in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, 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, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

Project Summary:

Since 2019, CRS has been implementing a €25m, 5-1/2 year recovery and resilience project entitled Stabilization and Reconciliation in the Lake Chad Region (STaR), funded by the German Government’s Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development through KfW, its federal development bank. The STaR project has contributed to community recovery and resilience in four critical regions affected by the ongoing Lake Chad Basin Crisis: Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States in Nigeria; Diffa Province in Niger; the Extreme North in Cameroon; and the Lake Region in Chad. Through a package of activities involving infrastructure rehabilitation, economic revitalization, social cohesion, and local governance capacity-building, STaR enables targeted communities and individuals across the region to have renewed access to basic services, to feel more secure and cohesive; to improve their livelihoods; to be more resilient in facing shocks; and to use non-violent means to address conflicts.

Job Summary:

The MEAL Manager provides leadership in ensuring high-quality monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) within the STaR project across the four target countries (Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad) in support of the achievement of project objectives and in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. The MEAL Manager plays a key role in strengthening local staff and partners’ capacity to ensure robust MEAL practices across the project. The MEAL Manager reports to the STaR Chief of Party while coordinating directly with local MEAL staff in the four country program teams. S/he is accountable for all MEAL activities and leads project documentation of activities, results, and program quality.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead MEAL-related technical, budget management, monitoring, reporting, and capacity strengthening activities through the project cycle – start-up, implementation, and close-out – in line with CRS program quality standards, MEAL Policies, Procedures, and Practices (MPPs), and donor requirements. In addition, the MEAL Manager ensures compliance with auditable requirements and implements good practices.
• Lead the development, management, and periodic review of project-level MEAL systems, including MEAL documents and donor deliverables such as Performance Monitoring Plans, Performance Indicator Reference Sheets, Indicator Performance Tracking Tables, data collection instruments, and Detailed Implementation Plans.
• In coordination with the externally-contracted MEAL consultancy, lead the baseline, annual survey, and endline evaluation processes, including developing quantitative and qualitative tools; training data collectors across the three countries; and data analysis and reporting. Ensure broad dissemination of study results to key stakeholders and use of study results to inform implementation strategies.
• In coordination with program leadership, project staff, and partners, regularly analyze and evaluate project performance data to inform decision-making and identify lessons learned. Ensure the quality of monitoring data through regular data quality assessments. Coordinate with the Chief of Party to lead the preparation of donor reporting, dissemination of results, learning-to-action discussions (LADs), and reflection events to improve program performance.
• Provide technical leadership and management oversight in developing and using ICT4MEAL systems, processes, and tools for data collection, analysis, visualization, and reporting. Ensure strong collaboration and coordination with STaR teams and GKIM in developing and refining the ICT-enabled Remote Management/Management Information System for infrastructure activities (i.e., the STaR ArcGIS Story Maps tool).
• Champion learning with project staff and partner teams. Promote the application of learning to improve program quality and strengthen Agency influence among external stakeholders. Ensure effective documentation of learning in line with the project’s Learning Agenda and facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the Agency’s knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of MEAL-related innovations and best practices.
• Strengthen program and partner staff capacities in MEAL. Optimize partner participation and capacity development in the implementation of MEAL systems.
• Lead the design and monitor the project-wide feedback and response mechanism (FRM) implementation across the four countries. Co-coordinate the roll-out and implementation of the FRM and other accountability activities for the project. Ensure country teams’ timely response to feedback from program participants, communities, and other stakeholders. In particular, ensure robust Grievance Mechanisms are incorporated within the infrastructure Environmental and Social Management Plans, harmonized with project-wide FRM systems, and effectively monitored by project Environmental, Social, Health & Safety Officers.
• Effectively support talent management through on-site and remote coaching of project MEAL staff across the four countries. Provide coaching and support performance management and professional development of MEAL staff. Contribute to the recruitment process of project MEAL staff.
• Coordinate with the Chief of Party to represent MEAL-related issues to the donor, host governments, and the Lake Chad Basin Commission. Lead the preparation of high-quality learning documents to disseminate project results with the donor, host governments, multi-laterals, and other key stakeholders intervening in resilience/recovery projects in the Lake Chad Basin.
• Lead the STaR MEAL Community of Practice and ensure its effectiveness as a tool for sharing learning and strengthening the capacity of project and partner MEAL staff.

Basic Qualifications (BQs):

Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Statistics, Health, Agriculture, or related MEAL field required.
• Minimum of 7 years of work experience in MEAL technical or managerial positions.
• Strong background in recovery/resilience program implementation; experience in supervising and providing MEAL technical assistance for agriculture, access to finance, infrastructure, social cohesion and/or governance programs a plus.
• 3 to 5 years of supervisory experience, excellent partnership, and interpersonal skills to work effectively in a multi-country/multi-lingual team environment with the ability to dialogue, network, and work effectively with senior managers of local and international institutions.
• Proven ability to coach, mentor, and provide effective capacity strengthening to peers, direct reports, and partner staff.
• Experience analyzing data using statistical software and data visualization packages and providing compelling graphics to summarize/present data to various audiences.
• Experience using and strengthening the capacity of staff/partners in ICT4MEAL data collection and cloud-based database and data visualization platforms (Commcare, PowerBI, ArcGIS Story Maps, etc.)

Required/Desired Foreign Language Strong written and oral proficiency in both French and English required

Travel Required: 25% travel within the Lake Chad Basin region (Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Critical thinking and strong logical reasoning skills.
• Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound judgments.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with local stakeholders. Representation abilities.
• Ability to contribute to written reports.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Able to adapt to change quickly and respond with effective strategies.
• Attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• 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.

MEAL Competencies (for CRS MEAL Program Staff):

Each staff member in this position is expected to have solid knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies with minimal or no guidance in the full range of typical situations while requiring guidance to handle novel or more complex situations:

• Monitoring
• Evaluation
• Accountability
• Learning
• Analysis and Critical Thinking
• ICT4MEAL
• MEAL in Management

In addition, each staff member in this position is expected to have basic knowledge and ability and, with guidance, be able to apply the following competencies in common situations that present limited difficulties:

• MEAL in Design

Key Working Relationships:

Reports to: Chief of Party, STaR

Internal: STaR Program Managers (Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad); STaR MEAL Officers (Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad); STaR Award Management Officer; CARO RTA MEAL

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

External: KfW, Lake Chad Basin Commission, government and multi-lateral stakeholders in the Lake Chad Basin; local implementing partners’ MEAL staff

***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.