Africa Geospatial Data Project Director

Job Title: Africa Geospatial Data Project Director
Department: Program Impact and Quality Assurance
Band: D
Reports to: Director of Global Grants, Program Impact and Quality Assurance
Country/Location: Baltimore, TBC based on donor requirements

Note: This position is contingent upon approved funding by the donor. CRS seeks a Project Director for an anticipated minimum 5-year spatial data infrastructure program expected to be announced in early CY2017.

About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Job Summary:

The Project Director provides oversight for the Africa Geospatial Data Project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, that aims to provide public goods for geospatial data with the goal to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of creating and using location-based analysis to accelerate the reduction of global inequities. Project activities are designed to overcome current barriers and inefficiencies in the sub-Saharan Africa context specifically, including: coordination of public and private sector, academic and other entities working in geospatial data systems; development of mapping strategies for long term sustainability; and building strong local leadership and business models to sustain systems over time. The Project Director will lead a consortium of technology and development partners to advance the quality, completeness and sustainability of geospatial data in sub-Saharan Africa through capacity building, systems-building and effective coordination with all types of stakeholders in the generation, storage, and utilization of geo-spatial information. The Project Director will ensure that consortium partners work together effectively to achieve agreed-upon deliverables, drawing upon the technical strengths across consortium and advisory board members to develop and implement project strategies, and will represent the project with key external stakeholders- including host governments, private sector entities, the international development community, and donors--to cultivate support for the project and thereby facilitate the successful achievement of outcomes.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide the vision and overall leadership for the project including strategic and budget oversight, and ensuring that consortium partners are collaborating effectively, and that external stakeholders are supportive of the project, particularly in the initial three focus countries of Ethiopia, Tanzania and Nigeria.
• Lead and coordinate the consortium’s Technical Advisory Board to provide strategic guidance and technical support to project initiatives, ensuring that the needed technical expertise is represented on the Advisory Board and that members are appropriately engaged in providing strategic input, connections and guidance.
• Serve as key Decision-Maker and Problem Solver, coordinating multiple implementing partner organizations and advisory board member input with complementary technical expertise to ensure operational and programmatic quality, efficiency and success.
• Convener and Systems Builder: Engage key sectors and institutions to ensure that the project’s approach on spatial data infrastructure is leading, respected and influential, as well as practical and effective.
• Team management: Supervise two team members directly; work effectively within a multi-disciplinary multi-stakeholder context to achieve project goals.
• External Communications and Advocacy: Serve as the principal liaison to donors, attracting new donors and resources, and communicating progress and obstacles in a proactive and accountable way.

Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in a relevant field such as geographic information systems, geography, environmental policy, development, or a closely related field.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience building and/or using spatial data infrastructure at a country level.
• At least 7 years of experience managing large scale development grants in sub-Saharan Africa, preferably related to spatial data infrastructure.
• Demonstrated knowledge of international development continuum and the cross-sectoral application of spatial data infrastructure to improve development goals.
• Technical proficiency in spatial data infrastructure program design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Proven track record of successful program management, including management of complex multi-activity projects, multi-disciplinary teams and large budgets.
• Prior experience managing multi country grants.
• At least 5 years of supervisory experience, including performance evaluation, coaching and mentoring.
• Demonstrated experience leading consortia, coordinating with and advocating among a broad set of diverse stakeholders including national governments, donors, INGOs, private sector and other partners.
• Knowledge and prior application of organizational development or systems-building approaches
• Excellent knowledge and experience in budget management and project management
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and experience with suite of ArcGIS tools.
• Network of spatial data infrastructure contacts among governments, private sector, civil society and other NGOs.

Personal Skills

• Proven leadership, and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams.
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, with demonstrated strength in relationship management.
• Proven strategic planning skills.
• Excellent organizational and facilitation skills including proven ability to convene/facilitate high profile meetings.
• Record of leading large complex projects and bringing complex projects to successful completion.
• Experience in working in a team-oriented, multi-cultural, collaborative environment.
• Ability to conform to shifting priorities, demands and timelines through analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including upper management, clients, government entities, donors, private sector partners, etc.
• Ability to make decisions which have significant impact on the organization’s credibility.

Required/Desired Foreign Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English required, with the ability to produce quality written reports; fluency in French highly desired.

Travel Required

Routine travel up to 30% including to conduct fundraising, donor cultivation, consortium coordination and high-level representation with country-level stakeholders.

Supervisory: Two overseas-based project staff

Key Working Relationships:

• *Internal***:** Program staff, country representatives, deputy regional directors for program and management quality, regional and HQ technical advisors, and other specialists from business development, program impact and information technology.
• External: Project implementing partners, technology vendors, government officials, donor representatives.

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.

• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

Competencies Relevant for the Specific Position:

These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each program manager to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results:

• Trusting relationships
• Accountability
• Managing talent
• Managing resources
• Managing risks and complexity
• Decision making
• Partner relationship management
• Strategic planning
• Project management

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

EOE

HOW TO APPLY:

Apply online: http://bit.ly/2gfyEpy