JOB OPPORTUNITY: HEAD OF OPERATIONS (HoOP)

CRS EL SALVADOR

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.

In El Salvador, CRS is the technical lead for a consortium implementing a large-scale, long-term program called Somos Rio Lempa (SRL Program). This program works with a network of non-governmental organizations through a subgrant program, and coordinates closely with key government agencies and major financial institutions. The operational structure and reporting of this program are unique and complex, requiring oversight for compliance.

Job Summary: 

As a member of the Country Program’s (CP) Senior Management Team, the Head of Operations (HOOP) will provide leadership and management of the operational functions of CRS in El Salvador and support major program that CRS manages in El Salvador, particularly the SRL Program. This position oversees CRS operational areas including: Finance management, Budget planning and management, Resource management and logistics, Contracts and consultancies, and Audits. The HOOP will ensure that systems, compliance processes, risk mitigation and management (including safety and security), and resource management are aligned with CRS standards, donor requirements and local regulations. 

The HOOP will provide direct operational leadership and support within the SRL consortium. This includes harmonizing processes between consortium partner, supporting joint governance, ensuring high-quality and compliant program implementation, resource management and reporting, and developing shared operational solutions across institutional systems.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Together with the Senior Management Team guide the vision and strategy of the country program. Contribute to the design of new programming and country program strategic planning.  Provide input on needed investments in systems, processes and staffing that meet standards, donor requirements, and local regulations and support high-quality programming for both CRS and the SRL Program.

• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity for successful support of high-quality programming. Contribute to staffing plans and recruitment process of senior staff, including positions assigned to SRL operations.

• With the Country Representative and in close coordination with the regional team, lead workforce planning, including talent mapping and succession planning to ensure a strong pipeline of local talent for multiple leadership areas. Manage the design of medium and long-term goals under the guidance of the Country Representative. Harmonize program and operations objectives in alignment with the strategy, while ensuring that workforce plans meet staffing needs arising from the SRL joint operational model.

• Support preparation and review of quarterly reports, annual reports, learning materials, and other reports as requested.

• Work with CRS partners and SRL consortium to ensure clear relationships and management of administrative, financial, compliance and reporting responsibilities, as defined in institutional agreements. 

• Work with the Program Compliance Manager and the SRL Program Director to ensure milestones and agreements are completed.

• Support SRL Program team to develop and manage program budgets and track financial and material resources for CRS, consortium members and implementing partners. Ensure alignment of budget planning and reporting processes between CRS and SRL consortium members.

• Address issues where operations support needs to be adapted for complex programming. Oversee the piloting of new operations initiatives that require the setting of new standards and systems

• Collaborate with programming leads to ensure appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and proper stewardship of material sources. Anticipate, identify and address challenges that affect the proper stewardship, risk, and optimal utilization of program assets and resources (financial, human, and material). 

• Develop strategic partnerships with national and international organizations that leverage resources, reputation, and expertise in line with CRS partnership principles. Ensure strong representation to key stakeholders, including the El Salvador Church and partners, local and national government, US government and international donors. Champion local leadership and the development of strong local partners. 

• Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security policies and plans and ensure the updating of such plans.  Address risks emerging from multi-institutional operational processes, including inconsistencies between CRS and SRL consortium member procedures.

• Collaborate with the Country Representative, Head of Programming, and SRL Program Director in the pursuit of growth opportunities, prepositioning, and capture planning while leveraging evidence of program results and ensuring strong communications.

• With the Country Representative and SRL Program Director oversee the preparation of annual budget plans and grant/project budgets to ensure they reflect maximum operational efficiency and budgetary compliance and mitigate risks. 

• Ensure the program is adequately staffed to meet CP operations, policies and practices support a high-performance culture, staff development and retention. Ensure clarity of supervision and effectiveness of structure for staff supporting SRL operations within a shared structure. Assure quality environment that reflects the agency’s guiding principles. 

• Oversee compliance with agency and donor requirements and local laws and regulations through periodic systems checks, review and assessment of CP’s operations policies and procedures. Coordinate audit readiness, management responses, and action plans. Lead follow-up on internal and external audits across both CRS and SRL-related operations; oversee corrective and preventive measures and report progress to SMT. 

• Create and maintain the proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for the sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to small deficiencies. Provide capacity strengthening guidance for project teams and partners, which includes cross-departmental learning, including shared learning opportunities for operational improvement between SRL consortium members.

• Lead implementation of CRS’s safeguarding policy across operations and partners, including capacity building, monitoring, and corrective actions in collaboration with the safeguarding advisor. Ensure safeguarding policies are consistently integrated and applied across SRL operations, including coordination with safeguarding focal points where responsibilities intersect.

• Support operational implementation of CRS’ Climate Action commitments, including identifying opportunities for reducing emissions, improving efficiency, and minimizing waste across CRS operations.

• Promote effective use of CRS’ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for budget management and general oversight.  Champion the ERP for budget formulation, monitoring, and variance analysis; ensure timely, accurate financial data to inform decision-making and stewardship. 

• Establish end-to-end SCM standards and KPIs; strengthen market assessments, vendor performance, and last mile delivery controls.

Basic Qualifications

• Master's degree in International Development, Business Administration, Finance or relevant field required.
• Minimum of 5-8 years work experience in a management position with progressive responsibilities with at least 2 years supervisory experience. Experience with an international NGO and experience outside country of origin preferred.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education; additional education may substitute for some experience.

Required Languages – Advanced proficiency in Spanish and English (oral and written) is required

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 25%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to work collaboratively
• Team leadership abilities
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in multi-institutional or consortium environments, particularly involving shared operational systems or governance, strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to align operational systems and processes across multiple organizations.
• Knowledge of multiple public donors’ regulations, including USAID, highly preferred.
• Experience leading workforce planning activities including talent mapping and succession planning.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Knowledge of procurement and office administration/management issues.
• Ability to represent the agency at high levels
• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

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. 

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisory Responsibilities: Finance Manager, Procurement Coordinator, HR, Admin, Security, and Logistics Manager, Safeguarding Advisor, Other senior leaders, including SRL operational functions, per need of country program.

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: Head of Programs, Members of the Senior Management Team, Chiefs of Party and Program Managers, Regional Technical Advisors, Deputy Regional Director for Management Quality, Regional HOOP community of practice

External: SRL consortium partners, Implementing Partners, Local technical private service providers, National/Regional/local government representatives, Local private sector, UN Cluster members, Donor agency representatives

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.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Essential requirements to apply:

Interested applicants, please send the following documents to [email protected] with the name of the post in the Subject. Please attach:

1. Letter of interest: explaining qualifications and interests to apply for the position.

2. Updated CV.

Applications will be accepted until January 15, 2026

NOTE: ONLY FINALISTS WILL BE CONTACTED TO BE PART OF THE SELECTION PROCESS.