Deputy Chief of Party II - Operations

CRS is recruiting in anticipation of an award – recruitment for all candidates is contingent upon successful award of the project.

About the role

The Deputy Chief of Party II - Operations will provide strategic operational, financial, administrative, and compliance leadership for a large, complex, multi-country child development, care and protection project to serve vulnerable children, families, and communities. The role will oversee project operations across participating countries, ensuring efficient and compliant management of finance, awards, contracts, procurement, human resources, security, information technology, logistics, and administrative functions.

Working closely with the Chief of Party, the Deputy Chief of Party II - Operations will ensure effective coordination between programmatic and operational teams, support achievement of project milestones, strengthen partner operational capacity, and promote the efficient stewardship of donor and agency resources. The position will serve as a key liaison with consortium partners and country teams to ensure operational excellence and compliance with donor and CRS requirements, and the timely delivery of project objectives. As a senior project leader, the Deputy Chief of Party II - Operations will proactively manage operational risks.

Responsibilities

• Under the guidance of the Chief of Party, manage key aspects of the development, implementation, and consolidation of assigned projects.
• Serve as a secondary point of contact to the donor as well as public, private, and non-government stakeholders.
• Manage key functions of the project to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results, milestones, and budget.
• Contribute to ensuring coordination between program and operations leads and adherence to CRS program quality standards.
• Provide leadership and oversight for multi-country operational implementation, ensuring effective coordination, accountability, and support across participating countries, consortium partners, and project teams.
• Oversee project operations, including finance, contracts, procurement, administration, human resources, information technology, logistics, and security functions, ensuring compliance with donor and CRS requirements.
• Support achievement, monitoring, and verification of milestone-based deliverables by establishing effective operational systems, processes, and controls.
• Effectively manage and supervise talent, including team dynamics, staff well-being, coaching, mentoring, and performance assessments for direct reports.
• Contribute to 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, ensuring adherence to CRS safety and security policies.
• Lead operational risk management efforts and strengthen internal controls to ensure efficient, compliant, and accountable project operations across all participating countries.
• Promote and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources, ensuring compliance with donor grants, financial tracking, and oversight of partner budgets.
• Strengthen partner operational capacity and systems to support compliant and effective implementation of project activities and subawards.
• Maintain relationships with key staff of consortium partner organizations and coordinate roles and activities in line with CRS partnership principles.
• Create and maintain a learning environment, fostering idea-sharing, problem-solving, and rapid response to deficiencies.
• Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff, recommending trainings and technical assistance.
• Oversee all subaward and vendor management functions, including partner due diligence, award administration, procurement, performance monitoring, compliance oversight, and supervision of grants and compliance staff.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, International Relations, or a relevant technical area.
• Minimum of 5 years’ relevant management and technical experience.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience managing donor funds, including multi-country grants.
• Recognized technical experience and qualifications in the sector, as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, etc.
• Experience coaching and mentoring project staff.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, high-value, multi-activity projects and logistics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships.
• Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy.
• Experience managing operational functions for multi-country opportunities with high-profile donors.
• Experience managing complex USG awards in finance, procurement, HR, logistics, information technology, and administration.
• Experience working internationally in Latin America, Africa, or Asia.
• Experience working with and supporting capacity-building activities with local governments to strengthen national systems for scale and impact.

Skills

• Staff management experience and abilities conducive to a learning environment.
• Strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), web conferencing applications, and information and budget management systems.
• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to see the big picture and make sound judgments.
• Strong relationship management abilities, with the capacity to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented mindset.

Languages

Fluency in English required. Fluency in French or Spanish a plus.

Travel

Must be willing and able to travel up to 35%.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Yes, this role includes supervisory responsibilities.

Benefits

CRS offers U.S.-based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. For successful candidates employed outside the U.S., salary and benefits packages are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the role will be performed.

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

CRS’ work culture is collaborative, mission-driven, and committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world. CRS welcomes staff of all faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to serving those in need.