Senior Project Officer – Grants

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. For nearly 60 years, CRS has taken the lead in responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia’s most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS’ disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance. CRS’s humanitarian work in Ethiopia also provides livelihoods support to farmers and entrepreneurs, promotes equality and inclusion, and mitigates the impact of COVID-19.

As part of CRS family, you will join the more than 5000 strong and vibrant individuals working globally to accomplish the mission of CRS. CRS/Ethiopia invites you, the qualified candidate, to apply for the following position.

Job Title:                     Senior Project Officer – Grants

Band:                           VIII

Required number:        One

Department:                 JEOP

Employment Term:      Definite term (i.e., up to August 31, 2027)

Reports To:                 Program Manager I- Grant

Country/Location:        CRS Ethiopia/Addis Abba

Application Deadline:   August 31, 2023

Job Summary:

The Senior Project Officer – Grants is the financial management liaison for the Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) between Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and principally its local partners, the Hararghe Catholic Secretariat (HCS), the Meki Catholic Secretariat (MCS), Relief Society of Tigray (REST) and Organization for Relief and Development in Amhara (ORDA). Activities include managing Title II cash and in-kind resources  for  local partners with the PM-Grant, regular monitoring of JEOP partners’ financial utilization, and reporting to various departments on utilization of funds and appropriate implementation and ensure that program resources are used for the intended purposes.

The Senior Project Officer – Grants is also responsible for building the capacity of consortium partners with the PM-Grants based on identified financial capacity gaps/needs identified from SRFMP, field trips, review of financial reports, and other input.

The Senior Project Officer – Grants will closely work with partner program and finance staff and follow up and support the on time clearing of liquidation and reimbursement documents, advance requests and quarterly cash forecast requests.  S/he will strengthen partner’s grant management capacity, improve communication, and enhance effective delivery of JEOP implementation to meet the level of donor expectations.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develops and maintains strong collaborative relationships and serves as a financial point between JEOP partners and CRS/Ethiopia
• Liaises between JEOP partners and CRS Supply Chain, Program and Finance Departments to coordinate smooth financial management and utilization.
• Ensures that JEOP implementation meets Government of Ethiopia – National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC), USAID/BHA, and CRS planning, programming, monitoring, reporting and financial requirements.
• Facilitates development of JEOP annual budget plans and quarterly cash forecast plans with JEOP partners.
• Liaises with JEOP partners and relevant government offices to support and facilitate information exchange and compliance with government requirements.
• Proactively manages all funding under any projects that are allocated to JEOP partners` (as one programmatic budget)
• Work closely with JEOP partners to review and explain budget levels, timelines, allocability, and plan quarterly/yearly expenditures; supports JEOP local partners to prepare financial documents and verify whether they are accurate, valid, and are supported required attachments.
• Ensures that all advances to JEOP partners are released on time.
• Reviews Accounts/Fund balances of all related projects of JEOP partners using the monthly BCR.
• Process routine grant management documents, including periodic reports and payment requests following applicable rules and procedures.
• Responds to issues that arise during grant agreements and program implementation including financial reporting, issuing modifications, oversight of compliance with terms and conditions and resolution of disputes, and resolving audit findings.
• Oversees project budget development and undertake regular analysis of project expenditure and lead the preparation of budget amendments/modification.
• Maintains separate files for each partner complete with all the necessary documents including approved project budget, budget amendments, grant agreements, grant modifications, information on opening and closing dates of projects)
• Work closely with partners to ensure the timely, accurate liquidation of project advances and reimbursements in accordance with approved budgets and USAID requirements.
• Coordinates grant closure activities with the respective project/grant manager and ensures that expired grants are fully closed out within 90 days limit
• Coordinate with the D/CoP to ensure that all expenditure requests are consistent with budget allocations, quarterly planning with CRS policy and USAID requirements, and bring any irregularities to the attention of requesting staff and the D/COP
• In collaboration with CRS Finance, handle all audit related activities for the JEOP, and follow up with partners to ensure timely closure of findings
• Support and train all JEOP partners in the overall financial management and supervision, budget planning and utilization, documentation and reporting as required/needed.
• Participates and actively engages in the financial management technical working group.
• Devise and install simple financial utilization tracking systems to allow for tracking and reporting expenses.
• Coordinate and participate in the SFRMP (Sub-Recipient Financial Monitoring Process) to conduct regular monitoring on JEOP partners’ internal control system, support partners to develop internal control improvement plans and make a close follow up and support for the actual implementation of these plans
• Monitors the financial management of partners to ensure that finance related activities are performed to a high professional standard and effectively implemented to fulfill CRS/Ethiopia requirements.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Finance, Accounting, or other relevant field. Masters preferred.
• 2 years’ experience for 2nd Degree or 5 years for 1st Degree ideally in the field of Business Administration or Finance, with an NGO.
• Additional education may substitute for some experience; additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Experience working USAID funded project preferably in JEOP program,
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Experience using Insight Budgeting and Planning,

Personal Skills

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

 Required/Desired Foreign Language: English

Travel Required: Up to 40% field travel 

 Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: JEOP Program Manager – Grant

Internal: JEOP Chief of Party, JEOP DCOP Operation, JEOP PM-Grant, JEOP PM-Operation, and other staffs,

External:  JEOP partner; MCS, HCS, REST, ORDA, FH, CARE, and WV

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.

• Trusting Relationships
• Professional Growth
• Partnership
• Accountability

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.