Title: Senior Project Officer – Private Sector Partnership Engagement
Department: Programming
Report to: Chief of Party
Job Location: Uganda/Kampala
Vacancies: One (1)
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 has been working in Uganda since 1965 and has a vibrant portfolio of projects, serving over a million vulnerable Ugandans and refugees each year through the Country Program 2030 Strategy. CRS programs in Uganda currently support five strategic priority areas, including Health and Social Services Systems Strengthening, Resilient Food Systems, Emergency Preparedness and Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Local Leadership. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including international and local NGOs, Ugandan government departments and ministries, the Catholic Church, and community-based organizations for maximum impact and sustainability
About the Project
The Vines Project, implemented by CRS Uganda, is a five-year, $13 million Food for Progress project that will make Uganda the world’s next leading supplier of high-quality vanilla. Adopting a market systems approach, Vines will leverage the expertise of CRS and its partners to enhance the production of safe, pure vanilla and develop sustainable market links with US vanilla companies, directly transforming the lives of 16,200 farmers, 836 supply chain actors and create 15,820 new jobs to reach 32,856 vanilla stakeholders. The Vines strategy reflects best practices in sustainable development and will leave Uganda with a robust vanilla farming community resilient to the boom/bust nature of the market and a cadre of private sector agricultural extensionists to support more sophisticated production, processing, and marketing needs.
Job Summary:
As the Senior Project Officer – Private Sector Partnership Engagement for vines project, you will be responsible for leading the management of administrative, financial, and technical issues related to the project’s partnerships with private sector (vanilla processors and other market actors under the Vines project) ensuring compliance with all CRS and donor regulations. You will be responsible for planning, implementation and coordination of activities involved in partnership engagement ranging from market scanning and scoping, partnership discussions, business case development, through to partnership management.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
Scoping and partnership development.
- Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
- Coordinate the scanning and scoping process for new market actors and partners in collaboration with the other Vines technical components.
- Manage and coordinate the Vines private sector partner selection process from business case development and evaluations through to award under the Vanilla Innovation and expansion fund (VIEF).
- Prepare all partnership agreements according to CRS policy and ensure they are signed by both parties, organize startups and ensure that all agreement partnership information is shared effectively with relevant staff.
- Ensure sustainability strategies are developed with all partners and each partner has effective monitoring systems in place.
Monitoring, Reporting and Information Management
- Monitor activities, processes and resources at partners project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures.
- Reviews partner reports, invoices, cost share and liquidations; and initiate reimbursement request based on milestone accomplishment for each partner.
- Develop and maintain accurate budget management tool for all partners and conduct quarterly reviews of budgets, accountability and cost share contribution and inform project leadership on any probable risk associated with the partnership
- Maintain proper system for documentation, filing and retrieval of private sector partnership documents in accordance with CRS policies and procedures to foster easy access to partner information
Coordination
- Liaise with MEAL/PCS colleagues to leverage results, document best practices and facilitate CP learning and cross-sharing along engagement with private sector actors and other partners.
- Coordinate and oversee working relationships with private sector partners and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact.
- Undertake periodic review of performance of VIEF partnerships and troubleshoot any gaps or challenges being encountered by the beneficiaries
- Support and coordinate capacity building, logistical and technical support activities to private sector partners to ensure partnership interventions are implemented per project guidelines and standards.
- Conduct a partnership portfolio assessment periodically for all partners, to identify the strength, potential risks of partners and develop improvement plans to avert any risks identified.
- Ensure proper closeout and learning meeting is executed for each partnership.
Basic qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree of Commerce, Business Administration, Development studies or other related fields.
- Experience in private sector engagement and portfolio management under a market systems approach.
- A minimum of 4 years’ experience in managing partnerships, grants, contracts & sub agreements with knowledge of major funders and guidelines (e.g. USDA, USAID, FCDO, etc.)
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and operational engagement.
- Experience monitoring project budgets and expenditure tracking.
- Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
Personal Skills
- Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment.
- Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely and collaborate with staff, partners and community members.
- Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
- Proactive, Analytical, results-oriented and service-oriented.
- Self – motivated and able to work independently.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings
- Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
- Good technical writing skills
- Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
- Proactive, resourceful and results oriented.
Required Languages: English fluency, including excellent oral and written skills.
Travel Requirement: This position is based in Kampala but will require occasional travel to other parts of Uganda. The successful applicant must be willing to travel up to 30% to provide field level technical support and mentorship.
Key Working Relationships
- Supervisory: None.
- Internal: CoP, Operations Manager, MEALS coordinator, component project managers.
- External: VIEF and other private sector partners.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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.
- Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
- Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
- Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
- Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
- Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.
Agency Leadership Competencies:
- Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
- Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
- Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.
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.
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.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
How to apply
By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding related topics.
All candidates who meet the requirements are encouraged to apply by following the provided instructions.
- This position is for Uganda Nationals only.
- The deadline for submitting applications is March 26, 2025, no later than 5:00pm.
- Applications are received electronically through this link https://form.jotform.com/250691800890560 only.
ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.
