Project Manager I (PM I)

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to save, protect, and transform lives in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, focusing on emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, reflecting its values and commitment to serving those in need. CRS welcomes individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its mission and values. The organization has a diverse workforce and is dedicated to equal opportunity employment, ensuring that its talent acquisition procedures uphold the rights and dignity of all people.

Job Overview:
The Project Manager I (PM I) will be seconded to Caritas Antilles in Jamaica to support the Hurricane Melissa Emergency Response. This role is crucial in advancing CRS's work in localization and serving the poor and vulnerable. The PM I will leverage their management skills and knowledge to ensure that local partners deliver high-quality programming and continuously improve their impact. The position involves close collaboration with Caritas Antilles and the Dioceses in Jamaica, focusing on strengthening the emergency response capacity of local partners and supporting the implementation of high-quality emergency projects. The PM I will provide operational support, coordination, technical assistance, and systems strengthening, ensuring alignment across various funding streams. This role is designed to enhance the delivery capacity during a critical phase of emergency response, ensuring that the local partner can effectively manage and implement projects in response to Hurricane Melissa.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The PM I will support Caritas Antilles in managing and implementing all activities throughout the Hurricane Response project cycles, including project design, start-up, implementation, and close-out. Key responsibilities include ensuring efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, managing project team dynamics, providing coaching, and contributing to the recruitment process of project staff. The PM I will analyze project performance data, identify issues, and facilitate participatory processes to overcome obstacles. They will coordinate the identification of staff capacity needs and provide necessary technical assistance to partner organizations. The PM I will also represent Caritas Antilles in various coordination platforms, ensure adherence to international guiding principles, and contribute to new project designs and proposals. Additional responsibilities include supporting operational SOPs, aligning response operations with social protection systems, and documenting learning for future improvements.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, or Project Management. A minimum of 2-3 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing moderately complex projects is required, preferably with an international NGO. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of humanitarian coordination systems, stakeholder engagement, and humanitarian programming principles. Experience in integrating cross-cutting themes such as capacity building, emergency response, and monitoring and evaluation is essential. Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, along with excellent professional communication skills in English, are mandatory. Candidates should also exhibit flexibility and the ability to cope with stressful situations in emergency environments.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, or Project Management is required for this position. A Master’s Degree is preferred and would enhance the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2-3 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects. Experience with international NGOs is preferred, and candidates should have demonstrated knowledge of humanitarian coordination systems and the ability to engage with local partners and stakeholders effectively.

Languages:
English is the required language for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be beneficial but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Jamaica for the entirety of the assignment, with a length of 6 months and the potential for extension pending funding. The start date is January 8, 2026, and the end date is July 7, 202

• The role is full-time, and the successful candidate must be able to travel around the island as needed. There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this position, and the working relationships will include collaboration with CRS HRD EMPOWER Team, Caritas Antilles, and various external stakeholders such as UN agencies and donor agencies. The position emphasizes the importance of safeguarding standards and adherence to CRS's Code of Conduct.