Provincial Coordinator - Sindh (Re-advertised, open until hired)

About CRS:

CRS is an international NGO based in the United States that works in over 100 countries to promote human development by responding to major emergencies, fighting disease and poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies. CRS was established in 1943 to help war-torn Europe and its refugees recover. Today, we continually seek to help those most in need, without regard to race, creed or nationality.

Job Summary:

CRS is seeking Provincial Coordinator for Sindh for an anticipated five-year USAID-funded Education Resilience Activity (ERA) project in Pakistan. This program will support the Ministries of Education (MoE) to improve the education systems for climate resilience and inclusiveness of marginalized populations, particularly girls and children with disabilities. The Provincial Coordinators will be senior-level educational professionals, embedded in the DoE, and will co-chair the Technical Advisory Group and Sub Advisory Group (TAG). The Provincial Coordinators will provide the overall leadership with technical support from the Inclusive Development Partner (IDP) at the provincial level. The Provincial Coordinators will lead and meaningfully engage all the relevant departments in the project. He/she will advocate for inclusive and resilient education and catalyze the support for policy implementation. The Provincial Coordinators will also provide strategic and technical advice to CRS and partners on the role of education institutions.

Roles and Key Responsibilities: The position holders will perform the following functions,

Project planning and implementation:

• Work in close coordination with the project team’s consortium members and partner organizations (NGOs) to achieve the project objectives, committed deliverables, and ensure that donors' compliances are adhered to at the field level.
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings to refine the project design, confirm roles and responsibilities, and project targeting.
• Work with local stakeholders in targeted districts, identifying local CBOs, DPOs, and private sector actors that can be engaged during the project period to achieve the results.
• Lead the capacity assessment processes of partners, provincial, District, and Tehsil Education Officials, PITE staff, and school leaders/Teacher Guides with technical assistance for the technical partner.
• Support lead and provide inputs in the design and implementation of different assessments and studies.
• Provide management and technical support to the partners in the development/updating of the work plan for the project with clear objectives, achievement benchmarks, and short and long-term priorities, in line with programmatic vision and strategies.
• Identify the venues for community participation in the planned districts and contribute to the program strategies development.
• Keep oversight of results and deliverables, and ensure respective monitoring, coordination, and information flows.

Management Responsibilities:

• Coordinate with relevant departments, and partners to provide technical assistance and ensure effective support in the field.
• Track project deliverables and financial targets in their respective provinces. Ensure that the project is managed as per the CRS program and financial systems.
• Monitor project performance in assigned geographic areas and propose necessary adjustments.
• Ensure financial management and timely consumption of resources.
• Ensure that HR, Logistic, Admin, and Security concerns are incorporated in the project implementation plans by all including consortium members and implementing partners.
• Ensure the functioning of the project’ MEAL system, including the Complaint Response Mechanism and risk analysis.
• Frequent travel to the field to monitor program implementation and extend meaningful assistance to partners in the field.
• As relevant, serve as the main point of contact for partner institutions at the provincial level.
• Represent the consortium at meetings, conferences, and workshops, as needed.
• Provide updates, reports, and critical analysis of the field and report to the DCOP and technical advisor, MEAL, and program support departments.
• Support and ensure high-quality communication and visibility in the project activities.
• Monitor project budgets and prepare spending plans in consultation with partners, DCOP, and director plans.
• Analyze project expenditures against budget, and coordinate with relevant department/staff on payments to vendors and services providers.
• Analyze pro-frame and work plans against project deliverables, report challenges, and propose solutions.

Coordination and Representation:

• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with consortium members, partners and counterparts’ government departments, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors working in project areas
• Maintain a productive working relationship with key stakeholders working in the education sector.
• Ensure key field concerns are brought to the CRS and consortium team with proposed solutions.
• Ensure the smooth functioning of the consortium structure and promote cooperation among partners.

Reporting:

• Support partners in producing high-quality progress reports and document rationale for under achievement of project targets.
• Prepare, review, and/or edit project narrative and financial partner reports (monthly, quarterly, annual, etc.) to ensure quality, and work with supervisor and field team to revise target goals if necessary.
• Apprise supervisor/management of any critical issues as they arise.
• Ensure that ad-hoc information requests from the donor and CRS management are provided on time with quality.

Basic Qualifications

• A master’s degree in education development or relevant discipline from an accredited, recognized university.
  • Minimum of five years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of inclusive and resilient education. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
  • Demonstrated ability to engage and mobilize diverse partners, develop stakeholder networks, and successfully communicate and coordinate among key stakeholders.
  • Sound understanding of the education landscape of the region or Pakistan.
  • Technical understanding and experience in the IE, education resilience with a basic understanding of UDL.

Required Languages – English, Urdu, and any local languages are preferable.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50 %. In the field.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Very good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to see the big picture and the ability to make sound judgments and decisions.
• Very good relations management abilities.
• Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
• Strategic in approach especially for relationship building.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience to maintain relationships with key staff of consortium partner organizations regarding areas of responsibility.
• Experience to coordination on the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations during implementation in line with CRS partnership principles.
• Experience to establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze, and respond quickly to deficiencies.
• Experience to Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for partner staff and recommend training and technical assistance during project implementation.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and are 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

Supervisory Responsibilities (if none, state none)

No direct supervision but dotted line with Partner Project Managers.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Country Manager, Country Finance Manager, Director Finance and Operations, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Advisor, Field Managers, Communication Officer, Education Technical teams

External: USAID, Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Education, Consortium members leadership, other donors ‘and communities.

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.

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 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.