Budget and Operations Coordinator, Strategic Change Platforms

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. In 2020, CRS launched the agency’s Vision 2030 strategy, which included 6 Strategic Change Platforms across different sectors, but all with the common goal of bringing results to scale for transformational change.
Job Summary:
You will manage and track programming expenditures and procurement processes for three agency Strategic Change Platforms (SCPs): Livelihoods and Landscapes, Social Cohesion and Youth Employment and Leadership. You will ensure effective systems and processes are in place to support high-quality programming that advances CRS’ mission to serve vulnerable people and communities across the world. You will coordinate budget and operations communications between platforms and participating countries, thereby ensuring the effective management of resources and timely delivery of results. Your financial management skills and knowledge of policy and procedure will ensure that the SCPs deliver high-quality interventions that are timely, compliant with procedures and exemplify good stewardship of resources.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage or coordinate operations functions – systems, processes and staffing – that meet CRS’ standards and support high-quality programming. Collaborate with programming leads to ensure appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and proper stewardship of material sources.
• Identify and help address challenges that affect the proper stewardship and optimal utilization of program assets and resources (financial, human, and material).
• Contribute to the development and submission of the annual budget plan coordinating the inputs of participating Country Programs to the global platform through CRS’ annual budget planning process (APP)
• Maintain overview of total platform funding and budget, alert SCP leads to possible spending issues
• Prepare regular Budget Comparison Reports and follow-up/resolve problems with Country Programs as needed;
• Support budget forecasting
• Prepare and submit all necessary documentation for budget transfers; ensure coding accuracy across multiple participating projects
• Prepare proposal budgets for donors and other stakeholders as needed
• Provide guidance of internal processes for approving expenses, monitoring spending, and making budget adjustments in line with operational and programmatic needs and with donor requirements.
• Track progress on activities and budgets against workplans/SOWs, ensure adherence to spending plans
• Manage the consultant requisition process, including finalizing Scopes of Work, associated budgets and contracts, requesting the requisition, working with administrative support team,, and ensuring compliance with CRS’ procurement standards and procedures
• Ensure timely payments to consultants
• Organize and maintain key document sites on SCP3 Teams’ space
• Identify and act on gaps/needs with respect to management and tracking systems
• Assist in developing, documenting and tracking collaboration protocols between SCPs and participating countries
• Ensure compliance with Charitable Giving (CG) awards, including oversight of budgets, administration and coordination of reporting to CG.
• Manage and maintain project and subaward records on CRS Award & Projects Database (i.e. Gateway) as needed.
• Interface with operations and finance support team, Global Supply Chain Management and Global Grants Teams.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Good relations management abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively across stakeholders and within a team, excellent communications skills.
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented, able to meet deadlines in multi-tasking environments.
• Good presentation skills, particularly in the areas of budget and financial management.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration or other relevant field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in finance, logistics, or program administration with progressive responsibilities. Experience in the development sector and working in multi-cultural setting preferred.
• Experience managing contracts and consultants desirable.
• Additional education may substitute for some experience; additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

Required Languages – French or Spanish desired but not required
Travel No travel currently anticipated.
Key Working Relationships:
Key working relationships within CRS will include:

• SCP teams
• Relevant country program teams
• Finance and Operations teams
• HR
• Global Supply Chain Management
• Global Grants Teams
• Charitable Giving

What we offer
CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.
EOE/M/F/D/V – CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Catholic Relief Services 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.