CRS Assistant Program Manager

Employment Opportunity

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is The Official Overseas Relief and Development Agency of United States Catholic Community. CRS assists people based on need and not creed, political affiliation or ethnicity.

CRS/TL is seeking qualified National Staff to fill the following position:

Job Title: Assistant Project Manager
Project: “Planning for Responsible Parenthood” (P4RP)
Reports to: Program Manager
Supervises: Monitoring and Evaluations Officer, Health Extension Officers (3, field-based)
Location: CRS/TL Baucau Office

Basic Responsibilities:
The Assistant Project Manager will support the Project Manager in managing the project titled “Planning for Responsible Parenthood” (P4RP), create outputs and activities that are necessary to reach the objectives of the project, and assure their successful completion through effective team leadership, to the satisfaction of
the beneficiaries, donors, and CRS management. The goal of the project is to increase improved health outcomes for mothers and children through natural family planning methods. This goal will be achieved through the following Strategic Objectives:

SO1: Increased utilization of Natural Family Planning services
SO2: Couples have increased access to high quality Natural Family Planning Services
CRS will work closely with its Catholic Church partner, Caritas/Baucau and the Ministry of Health in the implementation of this project. The employee will be based in Baucau, but must be able to travel regularly between Dili and Baucau, and to district project sites for a few days each month. The district project sites
include Baucau, Lautem and Viqueque.

Specific Duties:
Project Management:
Ensure achievement of all of the following tasks, either directly or through delegation:
1. The project is implemented effectively and according to schedule.
2. Supervision and support to one Monitoring and Evaluations Officer, and three Health Extension Officers based in Baucau, Lautem and Viqueque.
3. Effective and efficient communication and coordination with Caritas/Baucau senior management and project staff.
4. Completion and submission of semi-annual narrative progress reports, monthly financial reports, monthly narrative reports and final narrative and financial reports to supervisor, on time, and in accordance with CRS and donor regulations.
5. Development of workplans together with staff, Caritas/Baucau, MOH, beneficiaries, and CRS management.
6. Liaises with Caritas/Baucau management, local church representatives, District Health Centers (DHC) and Ministry of Health Family Planning Unit.
7. Assistance to personnel department in recruiting project staff as required.
8. Management and planning of expenses and budget, timely and accurate expense accounting and cash advance liquidations.
9. Development, implementation, and application of monitoring and evaluation systems.
10. Works closely with Behavior Change Communication (BCC) Technical Advisor in developing, implementing and monitoring BCC activities.
11. Guidance, mentoring, and training to Caritas/Baucau and MOH staff about project management.
12. Continuous donor and partner liaison, information sharing, and networking.
13. Compliance of activities and procurement with CRS and donor regulations.
14. Assist Head of Programming and Country Representative in development of proposals when necessary.
15. Obtain approval of all project expenses, and agreement for all major project activities, from supervisor.
16. Attendance at required staff meetings and monthly project meetings.
17. Maintenance of complete, up-to-date, and orderly records of project, correspondence, and documents.
18. Careful stewardship and maintenance of donor and CRS/TL assets.
19. Response to internal and external requests for information.
20. Other reasonable tasks as required by CRS/TL management.

Project Implementation:
Oversee, coordinate, and monitor the following major activities:
1. Situation assessment of national-level Natural Family Planning (NFP) program support needs.
2. Assist Project Manager in conducting research on current NFP services and utilization.
3. Analysis of research findings to develop Behavior Change Communication materials and strategy.
4. Identify and train Role Model Couples (RMCs), develop tools for training, outreach and overall supervision of RMCs.
5. Work with Project Manager to develop advocacy plan for sustainable NFP services.
6. Work with Church partners to increase quality of and access to NFP services.
7. Work with Church clinics and DHC to develop referral and counter-referral system for couples interested in family planning and birth spacing.

Capacity Building:
1. Provide guidance, mentoring, and training to all project staff for future management responsibilities.
2. Identify internal or external resources to provide, capacity building as needed.
3. Capacity building support for project staff and partner organizations.

Qualifications/Requirements and Experience:
Minimum
• Degree in public health, development, medical doctor, nurse, or related field.
• Minimum three years experience in family planning or reproductive health.
• Minimum three years experience in management, evaluation, design, and planning of development projects in Timor Leste.
• Experience in some of the following areas: BCC, health, health education, community development; research.
• Demonstrated ability to train, mentor, and build the capacity of staff.
• Budget management experience.
• Reasonable English written and verbal skills and experience.
• Attention to detail, and an ability to work effectively under tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills.
• Commitment to improving the quality of life for the people of Timor Leste, and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Desirable
• Knowledge of participatory assessment and participatory planning methods.
• Experience implementing USAID projects.
• Experience working in non-profit non-governmental charitable organizations.

Key Relationships:
All CRS/TL Internal mechanisms, External partners, government (local and/or national), authorities and other organisation’s, agencies and/or institutions.
Interested candidates should submit an Application Letter and Curriculum Vitae/Resumé to the Country Representative of CRS Timor Leste through the Human Resource Manager at CRS Dili Office in Rua Dom Aleixo Corte-Real, Mandarin – Dili. Applications accepted at the CRS Baucau Field Office in Rua Buibau, Samadigara, Buibau – Baucau will be sent directly to Dili.

All are encouraged to apply. Referees will be requested by CRS/TL for candidates under serious consideration. CRS/TL may close the opening earlier than the stated date if a suitable candidate is identified.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for interview

Dili Office
Rua: Dom Aleixo Corte Real, Mandarin - Dili
PO BOX 45 Dili, Timor Leste
Mobile: +(670) 723-0862
Office: +(670) 332-4641, Fax: + (670) 332-4640
E-mail: crsdili@tl.seapro.crs.org

Baucau Office
Rua: Buibau, Samadigara, Buibau - Baucau
Mobile: +(670) 723-0865
Email: crsbaucau@tl.seapro.crs.org