Head of Operations at Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been working in Ghana since 1958 in Health, Agriculture, Peace Building, Water and Sanitation, Microfinance and Education programs.Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the CP strategic planning and programming by providing input on needed investments in operations capacity – systems, processes and staffing – that meet CRS’ standards, donor requirements, and local regulations and support high-quality programming. Represent CRS, as needed.
• In collaboration with the Head of Office in Tamale, plan, integrate, coordinate, and monitor day-to-day operations of the entire country program to ensure all support services are delivered with high-quality in an efficient manner. Address issues where operations support needs to be adapted for complex programming. Oversee the piloting of new operations initiatives that require the setting of new standards and systems
• Collaborate with programming leads and Head of office to ensure appropriate project expenditures are in line with financial plans and proper stewardship of material sources. Anticipate, identify and address challenges that affect the proper stewardship, risk, and optimal utilization of program assets and resources (financial, human, and material).
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Collaborate with Tamale Head of Office to manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity for successful support of high-quality programming. Contribute to staffing plans and recruitment process of senior staff.
• With the Country Representative oversee the preparation of annual budget plans and grant/project budgets to ensure they reflect maximum operational efficiency and budgetary compliance and mitigate risks.
• With the Country Representative and the Tamale Head of Office set and provide technical oversight of internal processes for approving expenses, monitoring spending, and making budget adjustments in line with operational and programmatic needs and with donor requirements.
• Collaborate with the Tamale Head of Office to ensure the program is adequately staffed to meet CP needs and HR systems, policies, and practices to support a high-performance culture, staff development and retention. Assure quality personnel administration and a work environment that truly reflects the agency’s guiding principles.
• Oversee compliance with agency and donor requirements and local laws and regulations through periodic systems checks, review and assessment of CP’s operations policies and procedures. Act as lead contact and responder to issues that emerge from internal and external audits and provide recommendations and guidance to implement improvements.
• Create and maintain the proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for the sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to small deficiencies. Provide capacity strengthening guidance for project teams and partners, which includes cross-departmental learning.

QUALIFICATIONS
Basic Qualifications

• Master\’s degree in International Development, Business Administration, Finance or relevant field required.
• Minimum of 10 years work experience in a management position with progressive responsibilities. Experience with an international NGO and experience outside country of origin preferred.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education; additional education may substitute for some experience.
• Understanding of financial systems, including budgeting and budget/expense analysis experience. Knowledge of financial reporting software highly preferred.

Required Languages  – English

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 25 %.

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.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to work collaboratively
• Team leadership abilities
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of multiple public donors’ regulations, including USAID, European donors, and private sector donors highly preferred.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience leading high-level engagement and capacity strengthening of Government, NGOs local Church partners.
• Knowledge of supply chain, procurement, logistics and office administration/management issues.
• Ability to represent the agency at high levels
• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.