Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Job Title: Regional Director, Southern Africa Region (SARO)
Reports to: Executive Vice-President, Overseas Operations (EVP OverOps)
Department: Overseas Operations, Salary Grade: 13
As part of the recruitment process, each eligible candidate will be invited to articulate their future vision for the SARO region (succinctly – 3 pages maximum). This brief statement should include priorities related to programming, geography, finances, and operations. The statement should also include the candidate’s ideas about potential changes to and evolution of the region.

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.

Background
The SARO Regional Director oversees and supports the work of approximately 1,100 colleagues and dozens of partners responding to the needs of local communities and internally displaced people through the country programs and offices in Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as outreach programs in Eswatini, Botswana, Angola and Namibia. SARO’s main programming areas are Health, Agriculture/Livelihoods, Resilience Monitoring, Youth and Humanitarian Response with an annual budget in the range of $60-80M. SARO has led the agency in the development of the innovative resilience monitoring tool MIRA, as well as the important Church Lands revitalization collaboration with diocesan Church partners. SARO also actively hosts and supports several of the agency’s flagship initiatives within its Strategic Change Platforms.

Job Summary
The Regional Director (RD) exemplifies integrity while providing strategic leadership to all programs and staff in a specific geographic region, advancing the mission and objectives of CRS, providing a strategic vision, and acting as a key external representative with local governments, donor organizations, partner organizations and the Catholic Church. Responsibilities includes mentoring and developing senior field staff, exploring and pursuing strategic opportunities for growth, managing and advancing key relationships, as well as monitoring and mitigating risks and liabilities across the region.

Roles and Key Responsibilities
• Monitor the work environment and culture to ensure staff actions reflect CRS guiding principles, where dignity, diversity, community, and rights and responsibilities of all are understood, promoted, valued and upheld.
• Effectively manage and develop country program and regional leadership talent. Manage team dynamics, engagement, and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring. Proactively manage a regional talent pipeline, strategically developing future leaders, including international assignee and local country program staff in line with our diversity strategy.
• Develop long-term strategic plans sufficiently aligned with organizational strategies that leverage existing and potential resources and build upon current and past experience and reputation. Ensure that country programs are aligned with agency priorities and projects meet and exceed donor expectations.
• Coordinate closely with the Humanitarian Response Department, overseeing emergency responses and mobilizing appropriate resources.
• Continually monitor regional political, security, and business environments, sharing key contextual factors that may affect CRS staffing and programs, including government and donor policies and regulations.
• Identify, assess, and pursue appropriate opportunities for growth, aligned with CRS programmatic and donor strategy, meeting specific business development targets.
• Ensure country programs remain compliant with local laws and CRS policies and practices; ensure country program staff are aware of agency policies and procedures; and ensure policies and systems are in place to support adherence and compliance.
• Ensure resources are managed efficiently, effectively, and with stewardship as a guiding principle.
• Support and advance CRS relationships with the local Catholic Bishops Conference and local partners, as well as key partners from the local government and donor agencies, informed and guided by CRS partnership principles.
• Seeks opportunities to raise the profile of the work of CRS and its partners, as well as the needs and challenges of our beneficiaries, through media outlets, policy forum, donors, etc.; including the development of US constituency relationships.
• As an active and collaborative member of the Overseas Operations leadership team, advise the EVP OverOps on issues and lead OverOps-wide initiatives beyond his/her specific region.
Required Languages – English. Preference for proficiency in French.
Travel – Frequent travel required (30-40%) within the region and occasional travel to the United States and other CRS locations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 
• Excellent critical thinking skills, judgment, and emotional intelligence
• Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Excellent relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally and manage relationships strategically.
• Excellent team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Strong coaching/mentoring skills.
• Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
Preferred Qualifications
• Strong preference for experience managing US Government-funded programs and familiarity with diverse donor regulations.
• Strong preference for deep familiarity with the social development function of the Catholic Church.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Seven Country Representatives/Managers; Deputy Regional Director -Programming; Deputy Regional Director – Operations, Regional Finance Officer (RFO).

Key Working Relationships: 
Internal: Executive Advisory Council (EAC), Directors of Domestic OverOps Departments, other Baltimore-based Department Heads, other RDs, RFO, and senior Country Program and Expatriate colleagues supporting the Region.
External: Catholic Bishops and clergy from the region, Host country governments, representatives of Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO), international organizations, US government, local partners and other donors.

QUALIFICATIONS
Basic Qualifications
• Master’s degree in International Development or a relevant field
• 10 or more years of senior-level management experience in complex development and relief programs in developing countries
• Proven staff management skills, including supervision, mentoring, performance management, and staff development
• Proven experience managing staff security, safety and safeguarding in complex environments
• Proven integrity and exemplary reputation for ensuring and promoting fairness and equity
• Proven business development skills with a track record of meeting aggressive targets
• Strong English language skills—both written and oral.
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.
• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 
Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.
Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 
CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 120

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

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