Catholic Relief Services

Egypt

Job Description

Position Title:Management QualityOfficer

Functional Group:Programming Unit

Compensation Band: 3

Geographic Scope: Egypt

Location: Cairo, with significant travel to field locations

Reports to: Chief of Party

Supervisory Responsibilities:Procurement Officer, Finance Officer, M&E Officer for a specific project

*Note: This Position is Contingent on Funding

Context/Background

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is implementing a large-scale economic growth program designed to provide tens of thousands of vulnerable Egyptians with temporary jobs and opportunities for long term employment through cash-for-work coupled with private sector driven vocational training. To date, CRS has implemented this program in 20 slum areas of Cairo and Alexandria serving more than 10,000 individuals with plans to expand.

To support the effective and cost-efficient implementation of its work, CRS Egypt seeks a Management Quality Officer for this project. The Management Quality Officer (MQO) will ensure that the operational systems, processes and practices of the project are aligned to industry standards and best practice, donor regulations and requirements, and CRS’ own policies. The MQO will strengthenstaff and partner capacities and enhanceorganizational learning. This is a project-specific position, with opportunities to influence and enhance the country program’s norms for project operations.

Job Summary

As a member of the senior management of the Project, the MQO leads efforts to improve the overall quality and effectiveness of management practicesin the projectby promoting continuous improvements to systems, processes, policies, and procedures as these guide or affectproject operations and performance. In collaboration with the Chief of Party and Operations Manager of the Country Program, he/she oversees regular assessment and on-going improvement of management systems, including analysis, documentation and disclosure of risks and liabilities and removal of unnecessary activities, variations and process failures. This is achieved by ensuring implementation of CRS’ MQ principles and standards, provision of technical assistance in identifying critical management issues and remedying identified weaknesses, as well as talent management activities to enhance individual and organizational performance.

The project for which the MQO is hired includes tens of thousands of beneficiaries, millions of dollars of money disbursed both through the purchase of materials and as direct payments to beneficiaries, the management of multiple sub-offices, and a wide variety of human resources including staff, contractors, partners, allies, and government representatives. The MQO will ensure that all operations of this extensive project are implemented in a high-quality manner.

Primary Responsibilities

Supervision

  • Lead the hiring and development of a management quality cadre for this project including Finance Officer, Procurement Control Officer and M&E Officer
  • Closely oversee and manage the performance of the project MQ staff and provide them with needed support to achieve CRS management standards and best practices.
  • Provide training to MQ staff as well as other project staff in areas related to improving management quality.

Management / Administration

  • Ensure that the procurement of goods and services for cash-for-work projects and other project inputs, managed by a team of Procurement Assistants and a Procurement Officer, is implemented in a timely and transparent way, in accordance with CRS and donor requirements.
  • Oversee the project budget including monitoring and tracking of expenses, supervision of the project’s Finance Officer and subordinate Finance Assistants, and any necessary adjustments to the financial management of the project.
  • Oversee the M&E Officer of the project and ensure proper monitoring approaches and documentation throughout all aspects of the project.
  • Build the capacity of staff for contract administration for effective implementation and enforcement of sub-contracts in the project.
  • Serve as point of contact for the project on strategic issues related to compliance, risk, and operations.

Management Quality

  • Provide leadership and support in assessing the internal project controls and operations and managing internal change processes.
  • Participate in Management Quality Community of Practice so that approaches are current and represent best practice regarding policies, systems, HR, Finance, and Internal Audit.
  • Coordinate on a regular basis with project staff, partners, and management so that MQ principles are incorporated into decision-making and program activities.
  • Oversee and manage the implementation of management assessments throughout the project and provide technical assistance with implementation of recommendations. Monitor progress.
  • Oversee and lead activities that promote a culture of stewardship of resources and compliance with internal and external regulations through responsible fiscal and people management and supervision of MQ team members.
  • Ensure senior management are provided with necessary information to improve the project performance and quality of operations in the project and country program.
  • Oversee the deployment and implementation of an information and communication management system that meets industry standards.

Systems and Controls

  • Based on analysis of project trendsand monitoring of compliance with agency and donor requirements, ensure that new areas for systems and controls are identified and implemented.
  • Support the Project in development of an operational manual to clearly articulate and enforce project norms.

Key Working Relationships

Supervisory: Procurement Control Officer, Finance Officer, M&E Officer

Internal:Chief of Party, Operations Manager, Head of Programming, Regional MQ staff, Country Representative

External:Partners, Contractors, Government Representatives, Vendors

Technical/Professional Qualifications

  • Five or more years of progressively responsible professional experience, including staff supervision, overseeing project operations, systems, and controls.
  • Demonstrated understanding of industry standards in MQ principles and management best practices in development organizations.
  • Proficient in global standards and best practices for project procurement, financial management, and Monitoring and Evaluation.
  • Thorough understanding of organizational change issues, challenges, and options; experience in successfully facilitating organizational change desirable.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English; excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Skilled in MS Office Suite including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint

Education

Graduate degree in a directly related field, such as international development, management or organizational development; significant work experience in a directly related field will be considered in lieu of graduate degree.

Personal Competencies

  • Ability to work as a member of a multi-national team with operations extended to several locations in Egypt
  • Proven leadership skills; ability to mentor and provide guidance to staff
  • Ability to develop effective systems considering organizational effectiveness and impact on the project and beneficiaries.
  • Excellent analytical skills, especially as these pertain to compliance and efficiency.
  • Strong organizational ability and demonstrated experience in multi-task management
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively under pressure and to organize and prioritize competing demands
  • Demonstrated ability to transfer information and knowledge to diverse audiences.

Physical Requirements/Environment

Normal conditions of an office environment. Approximately 50% travel to project field sites in Cairo, Alexandria, or Upper Egypt. Position requires flexibility and the capacity to deal with ambiguity and change until systems and standards are in place.

Management Quality Coordinator - Aug 2012Page 1