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Job Summary: 

CRS is seeking a Chief of Party (CoP) for an anticipated project titled, “Strengthening immunization program implementation in sub-national consequential geographies,” which is funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC seeks to partner with to reach children in consequential geographies with routine immunizations and support health systems with capacity strengthening and resources for infectious disease surveillance. As Chief of Party, you will provide leadership and overall management of the CDC funded Immunization project. The CoP’s leadership, management and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and advance the position of CRS as a leading agency in the immunization field. As a senior leader you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

The CoP will be responsible for the successful implementation of the CDC-funded project to identify and vaccinate zero and under-dose children, support polio eradication, measles mortality reduction and regional measles and rubella elimination, hepatitis B and maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination, and other vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) surveillance; global laboratory networks for polio and measles/rubella; planning and implementation of supplemental immunization campaigns; and strengthening of immunization delivery systems and capacities in high priority countries.

The CoP is responsible for providing overall strategic leadership, oversight, and coordination for project activities and staff. S/he will possess both deep applied experience in immunization, surveillance, health system strengthening, and primary health care in fragile and conflict settings. S/he will have demonstrated abilities in leadership, strategic thinking, development of effective teams, and change management. S/he must also have a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively and efficiently with host country agencies, including national and local governments, development partners, civil society, and community-based organizations.

The CoP will provide leadership in the design and implementation of the project to ensure effective and streamlined management of program operations that are in alignment with the CDC’s goals, objectives, and requirements. The CoP will serve as a liaison between the CDC, project personnel, consortium partners, and key stakeholders; lead communications with supported states and develop Country Operating Plans (COP); plan annual targets; ensure appropriate use of resources with the support of the Leadership Team (LT); and supervise and mentor interdisciplinary teams. S/he will lead the project’s LT to identify areas of concern within the project and work with the program team to find viable solutions. S/he will work with the MEL team to ensure continuous quality improvement. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all aspects of the development, implementation, and consolidation of the project, including sharing how the project contributes to the thought leadership of the industry. Serve as the primary point of contact to CDC as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders. 
• Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget, including strategies for phase out and sustainability. Ensure coordination between program and operations leads. Ensure the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
• Effectively manage senior programming and operations talent. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Oversee the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior staff.
• 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 with CDC grants, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration, and reporting to CDC. Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
• Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and CRS’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
• Coordinate relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops. Contribute to coordination of the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in implementation in line with CRS partnership principles.
• 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. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff and ensure the design and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong 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 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 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

• Recognized leader in sector as demonstrated by peer reviewed publications, conference presentations etc.
• Demonstrated experience of successful program management, including management of complex, high-value, multi-activity projects, with complicated logistics.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
• Ability to represent and present at high levels.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations, or a relevant technical area. PhD preferred.
• 7 or more years’ relevant management and technical experience.
• 5 years’ experience managing donor funds, including multi country grants.  Strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
• Experience in health program implementation in fragile/conflict settings including experience in health systems strengthening, immunization, surveillance, supply chain management, and community mobilization.
• Experience as a chief of party of senior expert advisor required.
• 5 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching senior program staff.

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Job Summary:

CRS is seeking an Immunization Systems Strengthening Lead (ISS Lead) for an anticipated CDC-funded global childhood immunization project.  The project will reach zero- and under-immunized children with immunization services in Northern Nigeria in fragile and conflict settings. Project interventions will focus on: (a) Supporting immunization uptake for polio eradication, measles and rubella reduction and elimination, hepatitis B and maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination; (b) strengthening surveillance systems to improve preparedness and response to outbreaks of VPDs; (c) establishing global laboratory networks for polio and measles/rubella; (d) planning and implementing supplemental immunization campaigns, and (e) strengthening of immunization delivery systems and capacities. The ISS Lead will serve as a program manager for immunization – supporting the technical implementation of project interventions across targeted states (consequential geographies). Under the supervision of the DCoP, the ISS Lead’s management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming in the above areas and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and implement all immunization system strengthening activities throughout relevant project cycles – project design, start-up, implementation, and close-out – to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. Ensure the project team and partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Champion learning with project staff and partner teams. Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles. 
• Act as a key resource person in project design and proposal development in respective programming area, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.
• Coordinate the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation. 
• Help identify, assess, and strengthen partnerships relevant to immunization, applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools, and approaches.
• Ensure CRS’ commitment to safeguarding is upheld within the programming areas.
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Through planning and oversight ensure efficient use of project resources

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong critical thinking and creative critical thinking skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to draft reports.
• Initiative-taking, purposeful, and service-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Project management experience in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health or other related health projects is highly desirable.
• Experience working in Northern Nigeria or similar contexts a plus.
• Experience engaging in coordination meetings with donors, UN, and other international NGOs.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
• MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public health, International development, or related field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) projects required, preferably with an international NGO. 

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