About CRS Senegal/Guinea-Bissau 

CRS has been present in Senegal for over 60 years and in Guinea Bissau for 34 years. Our dynamic, 3-country program has distinguished itself in several areas including health, social cohesion, peacebuilding, climate change, WASH, and youth entrepreneurship in agriculture and microfinance. These diverse interventions place a unique focus on local leadership and partnership. The exceptional Senegal & Guinea Bissau team strives to overcome the greatest challenges when it comes to restoring human dignity and improving the daily lives of people across all these sectors.

Please note: This position will be based in Guinea-Bissau/Bissau

Overview

CRS has been supporting activities continuously in Guinea-Bissau since 1994 and has long-standing relationships with partners and communities.   CRS has recently won the second phase of MGDFFE-MeREECE II Project, four (4) years project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture through their McGovern-Dole Food for Education program to assist the Government of Guinea-Bissau to expand the Home-Grown School Feeding program.  CRS is recruiting qualified staff to implement the project entitled “Melhorias de Rendimento Escolar e Economic as das Comunidades Educativas na Guiné-Bissau) MeREECE II in 350 schools in 5 regions in Guinea-Bissau focusing on improved literacy, teacher and school management structures capacity strengthening, Ministry of Education institutional capacity development, increased school attendance, especially for girls. This position will be based in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

Job Summary

You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the MeREECE Education programming, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable while achieving key project objectives in line with the agreement with the donor. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the project delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of MeREECE project in advancing education quality in Guinea-Bissau.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of all MeREECE project Education related activities throughout the project cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Effectively manage talent for Education and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Lead the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning, research and publications in the area of Education and implementation of MEAL policy.
• Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
• Developed approaches and strategies to strengthen attendance tracking and routine classroom monitoring and feedback systems to support teacher attendance and efficacy.
• Develop and facilitated the implementation of strategies to increase community awareness on the importance of Education, especially for girls for community leaders, religious leaders, parents/caregivers, and School Management Committees.
• Support the development of storybook lesson plans that use active learning strategies and can be adapted for use with any book.
• Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CP Education sector portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CP Education strategic priorities.
• In collaboration with experts from the National Institute of Education (INDE) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), will select inclusive, high-quality, and level-appropriate reading materials.
• In collaboration with Ministry of Education, develop and implement appropriate teacher capacity building strategy for teachers in the project target schools.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in Education for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to Education and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Ensure timely and appropriate implementation of Education related project activities and expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
• Facilitate, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the dynamization of the Local Education Group (GLE) at national level as well as the creation of GLE structures at regional level.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations or in the field of Education required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of Education.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.
• Proficiency in Portuguese and English

Preferred Qualifications

• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID and USDA.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• MEAL skills and experience required.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

• Required Languages – Portuguese and English
• Preferred Language – French
• Travel – 30 %.

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: five (5) field officers

Key Working Relationships: 

• Internal : CR, HoP, CoP, DCoP, MEAL Manager, Education/RTA, Operations team, etc.
• External: Ministry of Education, Partners, schoolteachers, etc.

***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

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  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 safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, 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 committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

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.

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

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

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

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements