Emergency Program Manager I

Job Description

Context

Since 2012, armed attacks and insecurity in Mali contribute to a deteriorating humanitarian situation with an increased number of internally displaced people (IDPs). According to the National Direction of Social Development Service (DTM report) in June 2019, the number of IDPs displaced due to conflict in Mali is estimated at 147,861. Supporting displaced populations remains a major priority for humanitarian actors in Mali. Given the gaps in humanitarian assistance for IDPs in Mali, CRS launched the Kisili Emergency Rapid Response Mechanism (ERRM) in 2016 funded by USAID/OFDA and FFP. To complement the ERRM’s focus on life-saving assistance, CRS Mali aims to develop several concept notes and/or proposals to address additional gaps and further support Malians affected by conflict. Moreover, CRS Mali is planning to develop a country-program-wide emergency response strategy. Given the Emergency Department’s full-time engagement in ongoing ERRM activities, CRS Mali is proposing a TDY role to support the department on these new initiatives.

Job Summary:

Support the Country Program (CP) / Emergency Department to grow the emergency portfolio and design CP emergency strategy to assist CRS in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Job Responsibilities:

• Support all activities throughout relevant project cycles–project design, start-up, implementation and close-out–to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and best practices. This includes ensuring the project team and partner staff use appropriate systems and tools to deliver high quality programming.
• In close collaboration with the Emergency Rapid Response Mechanism (ERRM) Kisili Project Director, lead the drafting of CP emergency strategy.
• Provide technical assistance and/or lead in the development of relevant unsolicited concept notes/proposals, in coordination with Caritas/local NGOs, for submission to donors. Act as a key point person in project design and proposal development in respective programming areas, backstopping, and taking on program growth initiatives, as needed.
• Provide technical assistance to Caritas Mali, in coordination with Emergency Department, to develop/finalize an Emergency Appeal.
• Provide technical assistance to Human Resources Department and Emergency Department to draft job descriptions in French and English for key positions (national and international) for newly proposed approved projects.
• Support Emergency Department to draft ERRM-Kisili guidance documents, including SOPs, in English in close collaboration with the EERM Kisili Director, the Program Quality Manager and the PM I MEAL.
• Support the department for news proposal start-up activities as needed.
• Support the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.
• As needed, coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs through planning and oversight to ensure efficiency.

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: ERRM- Kisili Director

Internal: Country Representative, Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Security Officer, Head of Sub-Offices, ERRM Staff (Programming and Operations), Procurement and Administration

External: ERRM-Kisili local NGO/partner staff, OCHA, ERRM Mali actors, humanitarian actors, clusters, Cash Working Groups

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or in the field of Humanitarian Assistance required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Personal Skills

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Project management experience in emergency response is highly desirable.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
• MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
• Experience working in West Africa / Sahel region is a plus

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

NOTE: Applications will be accepted until this position is filled.

About the Organization

Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States. Our mission is to assist the poor and disadvantaged, leveraging the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to alleviate human suffering, promote development of all people, and to foster charity and justice throughout the world. Working through local offices and an extensive network of partners, CRS operates on five continents and in 98 countries. We aid the poor by first providing direct assistance where needed, then encouraging people to help with their own development. Together, these approaches foster secure, productive, just communities that enable people to realize their potential. As the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community, CRS is also committed to educating the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities toward our global brothers and sisters by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty, and promoting social justice.