Senior Project Officer – Portfolio and Investment at Catholic Relief Services | May 2024

JOB VACANCY
Job Title: Senior Project Officer – Portfolio and Investment Reports to: Project Manager
Location: Kigoma Salary Grade: 8

*This position is contingent on receipt of donor funding*

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 are accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

Background:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and its country-based partners Caritas Kigoma in Tanzania and Caritas Kasama in Zambia will implement the Vitalizing Opportunities in Circular Economy and Sustainable Solutions in Lake Tanganyika (VOICES) project to improve water quality in the basin of Lake Tanganyika through sustainable and inclusive economic practices funded by the European Union (EU). VOICES will support communities in Kigoma Region in Tanzania and in Mpulungu Region in Zambia to increase knowledge of the potential benefits of the circular economy among policymakers, businesses, consumers, and civil society. VOICES will support the objectives of the EU and building upon successes from other projects in the area. CRS will collaborate with ongoing projects in Tanzania and Zambia and advance cross border knowledge sharing among countries that border the Lake Tanganyika.

Job Summary:
Portfolio and Investment Senior Officer, you will work as part of a team and provide oversight of a key function of the Vitalizing Opportunities in Circular Economy and Sustainable Solutions in Lake Tanganyika (VOICES) project. You will lead the design, marketing, and management of the Circular Economy Challenge Fund (CECF), a grant mechanism that will catalyze private sector investments in value chains, develop new circular economyrelated businesses, and reduce risks associated with acquiring assets and skills required in watershed protection and environmental sustainability programs. Your management and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

Manage the development, implementation, and consolidation of Challenge Fund under the VOICES Project. Serve as a point of contact on area of responsibility with public, private, and non-government stakeholders, when needed.
Manage Challenge Fund to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget. Ensure compliance with EU regulations, the award objectives, and requirements. Contribute to ensuring coordination between program and operations leads. Contribute to ensuring the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
Establish, implement, and monitor the Challenge Fund grant management process, such as designing scoping studies, developing technical materials, facilitating selection process, preparing grant agreements and negotiation memos, overseeing due diligence assessments, overseeing monitoring and technical assistance for recipients, and overseeing grant closeout processes in line with CRS grant management guidance and donor rules and regulations.
Coordinate with Project Manager, Technical Advisors, and Finance staff on grant design and selection to ensure activities stimulate economic opportunities in watershed protection value chains are feasible, economically viable, and compliant with all relevant EU and CRS policies and procedures.
Promote, uphold, and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Help ensure compliance with EU grants, including financial tracking and oversight of grant budgets, finance, administration and reporting to EU. Ensure financial and programmatic compliance of the grant to contractual obligations, donor requirements, and CRS policies.
Maintain relationships with key staff of partner organizations in area of responsibility. Contribute to coordination of the roles and activities of staff from other partner organizations in implementation in line with CRS partnership principles.
Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Contribute to generation and documentation of learning drawn from the grant mechanism.

Basic Qualifications

Master’s degree in finance, project management, economics, or a related field; advanced degree (e.g., MBA, CPA) preferred.
Proven experience in portfolio management, investment analysis, and financial modeling, preferably in a financial institution, asset management company, or economics institution.
Strong understanding of financial markets, investment principles, and portfolio construction techniques. Proficiency in financial analysis tools and software’s
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex financial concepts to diverse audiences.
Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Required Languages – English and Kiswahili will be preferred.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 50 %.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions.
Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
Strong technical writing skills and good presentation and facilitation skills
Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with EU government supported projects and knowledge of financial rules and regulations, including fiscal controls and fund accounting procedures.
Recognized technical experience and qualifications in grantmaking and private sector engagement.
Grants management training experience highly preferred.
Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships, especially on grant management and reporting. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical reports.
MEAL skills and experience required.
Abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Agency REDI 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.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Investment Officer.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: County Manager, Head of ProgramS, Head of Operations, Finance Manager, Project Manager, Head of Office-Kigoma, Technical Advisors, Operations staff.

External: Project Implementing Partners; Ministries, NEMC, Research Institutions, other NGO, and other relevant working groups.

***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.

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.

HOW TO APPLY:
Interested qualified candidates should submit their letter of application together with their CV in PDF or Word format in a single attachment which outlines their experience and sustainability of the position applied to email address TZ_HR@crs.org not later than 17th May 2024.
The applicants should clearly state the Job title applied for in the subject line of the email.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Female candidates, people with disability and people from other recognized marginalized backgrounds, are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. CRS Tanzania recognizes many people do not have access to university education, limited capacity to travel, women take career breaks to care for family, and physical access for people with disability is limited in some workplaces including in the field. In all recruitments, CRS Tanzania uses a competency-based selection process. This ensures that if a candidate does not have a university degree or many years of experience, their competencies and existing expertise is assessed and valued.