Program Manager I, Emergency Response and Recovery, ESARO

Job Title

Emergency Program Manager I

Job Summary

You will manage and provide technical oversight for the development and implementation of emergency response and recovery programming, particularly for large and complex projects. You will ensure effective systems and processes are in place to support high-quality programming that advances Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) mission to serve the poor and vulnerable. This role contributes to CRS’ capacity by supporting target countries across a specified focus region with emergency programs throughout the project cycle. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that CRS delivers high-quality emergency programming and continuously works to improve the impact of its emergency response and recovery efforts.

The Emergency Program Manager I will work closely with program offices, partners, and other technical departments (WASH, Food Security, Cash, Shelter, etc.) to support the establishment and strengthening of program functions, including hazard and risk mapping, response planning, MEAL readiness, and donor communication channels. You will support the application of CRS program standards and donor requirements, contribute to readiness learning, support rapid response, and lead readiness efforts for CRS program offices and partners to promote efficient, high-quality, and rapid humanitarian response.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for all new and existing emergency response and recovery projects throughout the project cycle, ensuring design, start-up, implementation, and close-out align with CRS quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Effectively manage talent for emergency response and recovery programs, including supervision of direct reports. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being, provide coaching, create strategically tailored individual development plans, and complete performance management.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in emergency response and recovery for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Lead program learning by identifying opportunities for learning, research, and publications in emergency response and recovery, and implement MEAL policy. Facilitate dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency’s knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
• Contribute to the proactive pursuit of new funding opportunities to grow the program office (PO) emergency response and recovery portfolio in line with agency, regional, and PO strategic priorities. Serve as technical lead and writer to ensure quality emergency response and recovery proposals per agency and donor standards. Assist with budgeting and staffing plans for proposals.
• Oversee identification, assessment, and strengthening of partnerships relevant to emergency response and recovery, and ensure appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools, and approaches.
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans, and ensure efficient use and stewardship of project material resources.
• Represent CRS in relevant working groups and clusters, with key donors, and other local stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, International Relations, Community Development, or a related field such as WASH, shelter, livelihoods, or food security.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant field-based project management experience.
• Experience managing moderately complex projects.
• Experience in an international NGO.
• Experience working closely with local partner organizations.
• Located in or able to cover Eastern and Southern Africa time zones.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in International Development, International Relations, Community Development, or a field such as WASH, shelter, livelihoods, or food security.
• At least 1 year of working experience in emergency programming, including WASH, shelter, livelihoods, and/or food security programming.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• MEAL skills and experience.
• Staff management experience and abilities conducive to a learning environment.
• Proficiency in MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), web conferencing applications, and information management systems.
• Solid experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including US government and UN.
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality technical proposals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgments and decisions and offer innovative solutions.
• Strong relationship management abilities, with ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic approach to each relationship.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Required Languages

Proficiency (verbal and written) in English is required; French and Portuguese are preferred.

Travel

Must be able and willing to travel at least 50% of the time, often on very short notice (within 48 hours) and for an average of four to six weeks (with a maximum of two consecutive months under exceptional circumstances). Should have the capacity to live and work in difficult/stressful environments and serve wherever agency needs dictate.