Job Summary
As Chief of Party, you will lead and oversee the USDA Food for Peace (Title II) emergency food assistance program in Kenya, ensuring its delivery to food-insecure and vulnerable populations, including those in arid and semi-arid lands (Nasals). Your strategic leadership, program management, and technical expertise—particularly in commodity management and large-scale USG-funded initiatives—will drive the implementation of high-quality programming, reinforcing CRS’s prominence in emergency food assistance. In this senior role, you will also oversee proactive security management and risk mitigation strategies.
The role encompasses a comprehensive set of duties and key accountabilities essential for achieving organizational success. Duties involve executing strategic initiatives, overseeing project timelines, and ensuring alignment with company objectives. Responsibilities include managing cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration, and driving performance through measurable outcomes. Additionally, the position requires adherence to established policies, maintaining high standards of professionalism, and contributing to continuous improvement efforts. Proficiency in relevant tools, strong analytical skills, and effective communication are vital for fulfilling these obligations.
Oversee the entire development, implementation, and consolidation of the Food for Peace program in Kenya, ensuring strict adherence to emergency food security goals and USDA compliance requirements.
Act as the main liaison between your organization and key entities such as USDA/FAS, the U.S. Embassy, and domestic stakeholders, including the National Drought Management Authority (CDMA), relevant line ministries, and humanitarian coordination platforms.
Maintain collaborative relationships with public, private, and non-governmental partners to optimize outcomes while preventing redundant efforts.
Ensure the project’s design and execution align with donor expectations regarding timely, high-quality deliverables and budget adherence, incorporating strategies for phased transition and long-term sustainability. Additionally, prioritize beneficiary targeting, food distribution, and measurable nutrition outcomes throughout the process. Supervise the implementation of tailored interventions—such as general food distribution, targeted nutrition support, and recovery initiatives—to effectively address emergency needs.
Deliver strategic and technical oversight for all commodity management systems, encompassing procurement planning, call forwards, port clearance in Mombasa, inland transport, storage, and distribution.
Facilitate seamless collaboration between program and operations leads to maintain alignment and efficiency. Uphold CRS program quality standards by strictly following MEAL policy and procedures to ensure consistency and compliance.
Successfully lead and oversee highly skilled programming and operations professionals. Foster a positive team culture while prioritizing team member engagement and well-being. Offer guidance, mentorship, and career development support to cultivate talent. Develop and implement individualized growth strategies and conduct thorough performance evaluations for direct reports. Direct staffing initiatives and oversee the recruitment and onboarding of senior-level personnel.
Oversee risk management and mitigation efforts by continuously assessing national and regional developments that could affect personnel and programs. Facilitate staff comprehension and compliance with CRS safety and security policies while ensuring these guidelines remain current and effective.
Demonstrate and reinforce a dedication to maximizing the responsible allocation of agency and donor funds. Oversee adherence to USDA/FAS grant regulations—specifically 2 CFR 200—by monitoring financial tracking, partner budget management, fiscal operations, administrative processes, and reporting obligations to USDA. Authorize program-related spending, budget revisions, and donor requests for cost adjustments to ensure fiscal integrity and compliance.
Develop and implement communication strategies and materials that align with USDA branding and marking guidelines, ensuring all content adheres to regulatory standards. Verify that U.S. Government support is appropriately recognized in program materials and communications directed at beneficiaries.
Coordinate interactions with consortium partner organizations, focusing on the planning and execution of review/workshops. Assist in aligning the responsibilities and initiatives of staff from other consortium member organizations with implementation efforts, ensuring adherence to CRS partnership principles.
Create and uphold optimal learning conditions while fostering a secure space for open exchange of ideas, solutions, and challenges. Develop the ability to promptly recognize, assess, and address deficiencies. Evaluate performance gaps and training needs among CRS and partner staff, ensuring the development and implementation of high-quality training programs and technical support.
Qualifications
Seeking candidates with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least three years of professional experience in a comparable role. Proficiency in industry-standard software and tools is essential, along with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required to effectively collaborate with team members and stakeholders. The ideal applicant must demonstrate a proactive approach to work, a commitment to continuous learning, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
A Bachelor’s degree in International Development, International Relations, or a related technical discipline is required, with a Master’s degree preferred.
7+ years of progressive management and technical expertise, with at least 5 years in senior leadership capacities overseeing USDA or USG-funded initiatives.
Proven track record in overseeing expansive commodity-focused initiatives, such as Food for Peace or the USDA McGovern-Dole program, is required.
Demonstrated proficiency in managing commodity systems, logistics, and supply chain operations is essential.
Adept at handling intricate financial planning, ensuring donor compliance, and providing meticulous financial oversight.
Seeking a candidate with a minimum of two years of leadership experience in team management, complemented by a strong aptitude for fostering an environment that promotes continuous learning. The ideal applicant will have prior experience in mentoring and developing senior program staff.
Preferred Qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, along with 3–5 years of relevant experience in software development or a similar technical role. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or C++ is essential, and familiarity with frameworks like Django, Spring Boot, or .NET is highly desirable. Candidates should possess strong problem-solving abilities, excellent communication skills, and the capacity to collaborate effectively within a team environment. Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, as well as DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines, is considered a significant advantage. Knowledge of database systems, including SQL and NoSQL, and an understanding of agile methodologies are also preferred.
Established authority in the field, evidenced by contributions to peer-reviewed journals, as well as presentations at professional conferences and other scholarly forums.
Proficiency in working within Kenyan contexts or comparable environments, particularly in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (BASAL) or during emergency response operations, is essential.
With a proven track record in overseeing multipartner consortia and cultivating robust partnerships, you will drive collaboration and strategic alignment across diverse stakeholders. Your expertise in partnership strengthening will be instrumental in enhancing engagement, fostering long-term alliances, and maximizing collective impact.
Skilled in navigating Kenya’s governmental frameworks, including the National Disaster Management Authority (CDMA) and county-level administrative structures.
Demonstrated exceptional leadership in the realms of food security or humanitarian response.
Experienced in cultivating relationships and enhancing collaborative efforts with partners. Familiarity with CRS’s partnership strategy is advantageous.
Proven expertise in overseeing programs effectively, with a strong track record in directing intricate, high-value, multiphase projects that involve sophisticated logistical planning.
Professional rewrite:
Proven proficiency in commodity management and food aid logistics is essential.
Proven expertise in adhering to USG compliance frameworks and donor regulations is required.
Demonstrates exceptional aptitude for high-level representation and presentation.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Vision, as well as web conferencing platforms and systems for information and budget management.
Seeking a candidate with a strong foundation in theoretical and practical expertise relevant to the position. The ideal applicant will demonstrate proficiency in key competencies aligned with the role’s demands, including analytical thinking, technical acumen, and effective communication. Additionally, the person should exhibit adaptability, problem-solving capabilities, and a commitment to continuous learning to thrive in a dynamic environment. Must meet specified educational and experiential prerequisites to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
Possesses robust strategic and analytical capabilities, along with systems thinking and problem-solving expertise, enabling a comprehensive view of complex situations and the capacity to make well-informed, decisive judgments.
Proven expertise in cultivating and maintaining relationships across diverse stakeholders, both internally and externally. Skilled in adapting communication styles to effectively engage with individuals at every level. Demonstrated strategic foresight in nurturing and leveraging professional connections to achieve organizational objectives.
Demonstrates strong leadership capabilities in guiding and motivating diverse, cross-functional teams, along with proven expertise in coaching and developing team members to enhance performance and collaboration.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills are required, with the ability to craft compelling, audience-specific messaging that resonates persuasively across diverse groups.
Proactive, resourceful, driven by solutions, and committed to achieving results.
Required Languages: Proficiency in English is a mandatory requirement for this position.
Must possess the flexibility and availability to undertake travel to field locations, which may encompass remote BASAL counties, with up to 30% of the role requiring such travel.
Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Demonstrates a commitment to the agency’s mission, values, and strategic objectives with unwavering integrity and accountability. Exhibits strong interpersonal and communication skills to foster collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders. Adapts to evolving challenges with resilience and problem-solving acumen while maintaining a results-driven approach. Upholds ethical standards and demonstrates cultural sensitivity in all professional interactions. Actively contributes to a positive work environment through continuous learning and a dedication to personal and organizational growth.
Personal accountability entails consistently accepting ownership of one’s actions and decisions without exception.
Demonstrates unwavering integrity by consistently embodying the values outlined in the CRS Guiding Principles and mission statement, while maintaining a reputation for honesty and ethical conduct.
Demonstrates unwavering integrity by aligning actions with stated commitments, fostering an environment of reliability and trustworthiness.
Works effectively within multicultural and diverse teams, demonstrating strong collaboration skills and adaptability to various team dynamics.
Open to learn – Actively pursues experiences that have the potential to broaden perspectives or foster the acquisition of new knowledge and skills.
Demonstrates strategic vision and fosters a culture of innovation while driving agency-wide performance. Exhibits strong leadership qualities by aligning efforts with organizational goals, promoting collaboration across teams, and empowering staff to achieve excellence. Maintains a client-centric approach, ensuring service delivery meets evolving expectations. Upholds ethical standards, compliance with regulations, and accountability in all operations. Balances operational efficiency with adaptability to drive continuous improvement and sustainable growth.
Drive continuous improvement by fostering an agile, transparent, and innovative culture to enhance the agency’s operations and performance.
Fosters talent development and recognition, empowering employees to maximize their potential while elevating both team and organizational effectiveness.
Understands the integral role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities, embodying a strategic mindset.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
5 - 8 years
