About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services (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 in Afghanistan is accomplished through programs of emergency response, agriculture/livelihoods, education, and WASH.

Background:

More than four (4) decades of conflict and natural disasters, particularly droughts, have resulted in persistent poverty in Afghanistan, especially in rural areas, as well as high levels of displacement to urban areas. The country’s long conflict has left many families displaced and impoverished, but the war’s end in 2021 has opened the exciting possibility of reaching many previously inaccessible communities. Nonetheless, the level of humanitarian and development needs in Afghanistan continues to grow.

CRS began supporting humanitarian and development efforts through local partners in Afghanistan in 1998 and expanded its presence and programs on behalf of Afghan families since 2002, with hundreds of experienced Afghan staff working in offices across the country. We provide emergency relief, WASH, inclusive education, improved agricultural techniques, and other life‐enriching services to tens of thousands of households.

CRS is currently implementing programs in the provinces of Bamiyan, Daykundi, Ghor, Herat, and Kabul. CRS maintains five (5) main offices in the country as well as several sub-offices that support the direct implementation of program activities. There are over 300 CRS-Afghanistan staff and nine (9) expatriates. The country program is growing to meet new needs throughout the country.

CRS strategic plan for Afghanistan focuses on poverty and risk reduction, human development, and emergency response in rural areas in western and central Afghanistan. CRS works to:

• Support people, especially girls and women from marginalized communities, to gain basic education.
• Support poor rural and peri-urban households to have increased livelihood security.
• Support vulnerable communities to survive shocks without long-term negative impact on their livelihoods.

Job Summary:

As Country Representative you will lead, manage and advance the programming and operations objectives and the mission of CRS to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your strategic leadership will enable you to advance CRS’ reputation and impact while you proactively manage security and mitigate security risks and liabilities.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Champion and lead the vision, mission and strategy. Lead the design of medium and long-term goals. Ensure program and operations leads coordinate their objectives in alignment with the strategy.
• Ensure that all projects meet and exceed donor expectations and are designed and implemented for maximum impact and reach. Ensure the CRS' program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
• Effectively manage senior programming and operations talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring for HOP and Head of Operations. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Oversee the development of staffing plans for large and complex projects and the recruitment process of senior staff.
• Lead the development of strategic partnerships with national and international organizations that leverages resources, reputation, and expertise in line with CRS' partnership principles. Ensure strong representation to key stakeholders, including local partners and national government, US government and international donors.
• Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS' staff safety and security policies and plans and ensure the updating of such plans.
• Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Ensure compliance in operations functions. Provide oversight and analysis regarding monthly expenditures.
• Lead and direct the pursuit of strategic growth opportunities, prepositioning and capture planning.
• 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 application of the MEAL policy, as well as cross-sectoral and cross-department learning.

Required Languages - Excellent written and oral English language skills and knowledge of Dari or Pashto a plus.

Travel - Position is based in Kabul, but must be willing and able to travel up to 60-70 % of the time between CRS’ main office in Herat and Provincial offices in Ghor, Daykundi and Bamiyan

Supervisory Responsibilities: Directly supervise eight senior managers including five Heads of Offices, the Head of Programs, the Head of Operations and the Country Program Health and Staff Safety Coordinator.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: EMECA Regional Director; Head of Operations; Head of Programs; Heads of Offices; Finance Manager; Risk and Compliance Officer; Supply Chain Manager; IT Manager; Human Resource Manager; all International Project Managers; Regional Staff; HQ Staff Safety colleagues; colleagues in Overops departments; USOps; Finance; HR; Audit and Charitable Giving.

External: Donor agencies including UNICEF, USAID, BHA, Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF), ACBAR and different consortiums including FRAMES, LNGB+, etc., host country government agencies, international and national non-governmental organizations, CI agencies, and UN agencies.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Excellent relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching/mentoring skills.
• Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience successfully managing a variety of complex, high-value projects from multiple international donors, including USAID, DFID, and UN agencies; understanding of relevant donor regulations.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching and mentoring senior program staff.
• Ability to represent the agency at high levels.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

· Master’s degree in international development, International Relations or a related field.

· 10 or more years’ experience managing complex relief and development programs.

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.

***CRS 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.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer