Job Description
Job Title: Program Manager I
Department: Afghanistan Country Program; EMECA region
Reports To: Head of Programs
Country/Location: Bamiyan, Afghanistan
Job Summary:
The Program Manager for Livelihoods in Bamiyan Province will be responsible for the management and strengthening of all aspects of CRS Livelihoods programming in Bamiyan Province, including the high quality implementation of project activities, budget management, management of monitoring and evaluation systems, and donor reporting. The PM will also contribute to reflections on the CRS livelihoods strategy, the design of new projects and the development of new proposals. All of the above will be implemented with a strong emphasis on the supervision and capacity building of CRS Bamiyan Livelihoods staff, both as a team and as individuals. The Bamiyan PM for Livelihoods will work closely with counterpart PMs (particularly the Livelihoods PM for Ghor Province) as well as Livelihoods national staff to promote learning and improved program quality in CRS.
Job Responsibilities:
- Manage and implement all activities throughout relevant project cycles - project design, start-up, implementation and close-out - to ensure efficient and effective implementation of EXCEL II Livelihoods Project in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. Ensure project team use the appropriate systems and tools.
- Directly supervise Senior Project Officers. Provide support in managing team daily and weekly tasks as well as capacity building through performance management and coaching, as well as referring staff for structured capacity building activities. Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
- Staffing Structure and Recruitment – Work with Head of Office and Head of Programming to adapt the Bamiyan office livelihoods team structure to changing program needs. Contribute to the development of organizational charts, job descriptions, and recruitment processes that support clear and realistic expectations from staff and teams.
- Champion learning with project staff. Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.
- Act as a key resource person in project design and proposal development in respective programming area, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.
- Coordinate closely with the Ghor Livelihoods PM to ensure that cross-province projects are being implemented according to project strategies, work plans and budgets. Work with the Livelihoods teams in Ghor and Herat Provinces on cross-learning and capacity building initiatives. Ensure that successes and challenges are communicated with the Head of Programming.
- Support senior staff from the livelihoods team compile brief regular (weekly, monthly) reports on project activities and M&E data. Lead the compilation of reports to donors as per project agreements.
- Support Head of Office and key livelihoods staff in maintaining effective working relationships for Livelihoods Program activities with the Bamiyan Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) NGOs, and donors.
- Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Through planning and oversight ensure efficient use of project resources
Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:
Education and Experience
- Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or in the field of Agriculture 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.
- Project management experience in agricultural livelihoods is highly desirable.
- 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.
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
Travel Required Est 30% in-country travel to field sites and other office locations
Key Working Relationships:
Supervisory: Senior Project Officers; Technical Advisors for Agriculture, Livestock, NRM and Nutrition
Internal: Head of Office; Head of Programs; Country Representative; Livelihoods Program Manager (Ghor)
External: Other INGOs; Government ministries and UN agencies
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.
- Trusting Relationships
- Professional Growth
- Partnership
- Accountability
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
NOTE: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
