Program Manager II, Senior Behavior Change Specialist
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Closing date: 11 Mar 2011
Location: Rwanda – Kigali
I308
Position Pending Notice of Grant Submission Approval.
Job Summary:
Catholic Relief Service is seeking a Senior Behavioral Change Specialist for a USAID-funded integrated livelihoods and rural finance program in Rwanda. The program will focus on expanding economic opportunities through strengthening supply and demand of rural finance products and services, and increasing food consumption. The program will engage a wide array of partners, including rural savings groups, entrepreneurs, microfinance institutions, and other local and international NGO partners. The Senior Behavioral Change Specialist will oversee the behavioral change and social marketing component of the program and guide all program activities implemented by CRS, consortium members, and private partners for this component. S/he will serve as the primary point of contact to USAID/Rwanda, consortium partners, with respect to this program component. S/he will be responsible for effectively managing relationships with CRS and partner staff to lead this component.
Key Responsibilities:
A. Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation:
1. Lead the development and implementation of behavior change communication, and social marketing strategies for the program, focusing on creating demand for rural finance products and services
2. Work closely with M&E staff and partner organizations to conduct in-depth baseline survey on rural finance services and product utilization
3. Work with CRS and partner staff to develop monitoring tools that can effectively document and measure impacts
4. Give technical and management support to partner staff on behavior change and social marketing components
5. Supervise and strengthen the technical capacity of CRS and partner behavior change staff, though training, coaching, mentoring and learning opportunities
6. Provide CRS and Partner staff with the technical assistance needed to develop effective project monitoring systems for behavior change and social marketing project activities
7. Oversee the behavior change component to ensure good compliance of activities within the objectives of the program and USAID – this includes regular visits to the partners and participants in the field in order to evaluate achievements; to discuss the constraints encountered, the possible solutions and to make recommendations for current and future programs
8. Build strong linkages with relevant Government of Rwanda authorities working on rural finance behavior change at national and local levels
9. Liaise with CRS regional and HQ technical advisor for technical assistance and to ensure strategies follow best practices and lessons learned are captured
10. Collect and maintain appropriate technical resources
11. Develop quality reports and ensure timely reporting
12. Represent CRS on relevant committees and external meetings and functions when requested
B. Partner Relations:
1. Establish sound relationships, and work effectively and creatively with consortium partners and private sector partners
2. Conduct site visits with partners to monitor project progress
3. Work with relevant Government of Rwanda authorities to support capacity building for behavior change
4. Coordinate with CRS staff and consortium partners to develop effective behavior change project monitoring and evaluation systems
5. Work with partners to document the learning process and lessons learned during the implementation of project activities
6. Provide technical assistance needed to strengthen local partner capacity in project implementation, monitoring, and reporting
7. In collaboration with the COP, serve as the point of contact for all social marketing and behavior change activities to USAID, program consortium members, local government, private partners, and other external relations
8. Participate in all relevant meetings related to behavior change and social marketing, including meetings with donors, partners and governmental bodies, in coordination with the Chief of Party
C. Management and Administration:
1. Manage behavior change sub-awards and budgets for local partner(s), including tracking of financial and material resources
2. Ensure accurate and timely reporting of behavior change component; review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances on a regular basis.
3. Approve behavior change component expenditures, budget adjustments, and recommend cost modification requests as applicable
4. Work with finance and compliance team staff regarding project advances, liquidations, and reconciliations for behavior change component partners
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.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
Program Manager Competencies:
• Sets clear goals and manages toward them
• Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders
• Manages financial resources with integrity
• Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Chief of Party, Senior M&E Specialist, Country Representative, Head of Programs, Management Quality Coordinator, Unit Heads for M&E, Livelihoods, and Health/Nutrition
External: Private sector partners, USAID/Rwanda, local government, consortium partners, other local and international organizations
Qualifications:
1. Masters degree in rural finance, business, marketing, international development, communications, or a related field.
2. Minimum of 7 year’s work experience in the areas of social marketing and behavior change communications, experience in Rwanda or East Africa desirable.
3. Additional or concurrent experience working in multi-sectoral programs, including livelihoods, rural finance, micro-finance, agriculture, and nutrition, desirable.
4. Ability to think creatively with proven ability to coordinate efforts among a diverse group of consortium partners and private sector, as well a community level groups and partners.
5. Ability to work independently with little or no day-to-day supervision of activities and meet deadlines but also coordinate effectively as part of a team.
6. Proven excellent communication, writing, and representation skills and ability to function effectively as part of a multi-cultural team.
7. Demonstrated experience working on USAID funded programs.
8. Ability to travel nationally and internationally as required.
9. Excellent English language oral and written communication skills required.
10. Professional fluency in French or Kinyarwanda highly desirable.
11. Strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel, and Power Point).
12. Ability to travel 40% of time outside of Kigali, monitoring partner activities and field level impacts.
This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, efforts, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
EOE/M/F/D/V
How to apply
To apply, visit www.crs.org/about/careers
Reference Code: RW_8EJPWH-52