Head of Programming, Afghanistan

Job Title: Head of Programming I, Afghanistan
Reports to: Country Representative, Afghanistan
Department: Afghanistan, EMECA, Overseas Operations
Salary Grade: 11

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.
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 opening of the Intra-Afghan Negotiations in September 2020 between the Afghan government and the Taliban has created renewed hopes for peace in the country, but also brought in uncertainties with the progressive withdrawal of international military forces and continued insecurity in many parts of the country. 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 launched its own direct program operations in 2002. CRS is currently implementing programs in the provinces of Bamiyan, Daykundi, Ghor, Herat, and Kabul, maintaining five (5) main offices in the country in Kabul, Bamiyan, Chaghcharan, Lal, and Herat cities, as well as sub-offices on a district level that support the direct implementation of program activities. Main program areas are education; agriculture and natural resource management; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), implemented by over 350 CRS national staff and eight (8) expatriates.
The CRS strategic plan for Afghanistan focuses on poverty and risk reduction, human development and emergency response in rural areas in western and central Af ghanistan. 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent English writing skills.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience and abilities in capacity strengthening: developing curricula and facilitating trainings.
• Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge sharing networks.

Education and Experience

• Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations or relevant field.
• Minimum of five years of relevant field-based program management, at least three years of middle/senior management experience.
• Experience in development of successful proposals, reports, strategic alliances, project design, project management, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in partner capacity strengthening, staff development, training, and mentoring, as well as in team building and strategic planning initiatives.
• Experience in community development, community mobilization, or similar grassroots, self-help initiatives.
• Experience in project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc., preferably for projects funded by multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Experience with successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
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.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

*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 is an Equal Opportunity Employer**

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

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