Program Manager II - EMPOWER WCA

Job Description

Note: Proposal approval pending; Final hiring would be pending approval of the award by the donor; anticipating this to come at the end of September

The Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) provides leadership and support to CRS emergency programming. The HRD strengthens CRS’ impact through high quality, innovative programs; improved technical and management capacity at the field level; and active engagement in global efforts to promote excellence and learning in humanitarian response. The HRD has technical staff that supports emergency program planning, rapid response, and capacity strengthening of staff and partners worldwide.

CRS has submitted an application to USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs (BHA) for a two-year humanitarian systems strengthening grant. If awarded, the Empowering Partner Organizations Working on Emergency Responses in West/Central Africa (EMPOWER-WCA) program will support Local Humanitarian Actors (LHA) in five countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Mali and Niger) with the aim of improving their access to and capacity to serve in leadership positions within humanitarian coordination forums. Under this project, CRS will:

• Utilize proven capacity strengthening models to build LHA capacity to operationalize policies, systems and structures.
• Provide small grants to LHAs for leadership positions within the humanitarian forums in country or other costs related to the reduction of key barriers to LHA leadership.
• Work with leaders within the humanitarian architecture of each country to reduce identified barriers to LHA inclusion within coordination forums.

Note: This is a telecommuting position.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions
• Strong relations management abilities; ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally .
• Ability to manage staff remotely.
• Experience with and enthusiasm for coaching, mentoring and on the job training, particularly using adult learning methods.
• Excellent oral/written communication, presentation and facilitation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
• MEAL skills and experience.
• Knowledge of humanitarian codes, principles and practice and experience in their use.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong demonstrated experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from public donors, including USAID.
• Experience working with and through local humanitarian actors and in strengthening the capacity of local actors to serve in leadership roles, preferably in emergency situations; experience working with Caritas partners a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals and reports.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience with humanitarian coordination systems.
• Experience working in West and/or Central Africa a plus.

Required Languages - Fluent spoken and written French and English required.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% of the time to complex emergency countries.

Supervisory Responsibilities: EMPOWER-WCA Program Manager I’s in each of the five targeted countries; Grants Manager

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: EMPOWER-WCA staff; HRD team including Rapid Response Fund project team, regional focal points and relevant technical advisors; CP programming and operations staff; Deputy Regional Directors for Program Quality in WARO and CARO; HQ Project Support Officer; HQ Partnership and Capacity Strengthening unit

External: Local humanitarian actors, UN coordination teams, Cluster leads and members, international NGO actors, and host government ministries in targeted countries

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or related field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of five years experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in complex emergencies and with local humanitarian actors.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO, working with large and multi-cultural teams.

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

***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.

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

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.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

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.

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.