Program Manager II – South America

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing relief and development services without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various areas including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and it welcomes staff from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to serving those in need.

Job Overview:
The Program Manager II – South America will play a crucial role in providing technical support to local partners in South America. This position involves organizing capacity building and accompaniment of partners to ensure that emergency relief and recovery activities align with CRS program quality principles, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. The role requires a strong technical background to enhance the effectiveness and innovation of CRS’ Emergency programming globally. The Program Manager will oversee project management throughout the project cycle, ensuring compliance with quality standards and best practices, while also contributing to the development of proposals and funding opportunities. The position demands a proactive approach to capacity strengthening initiatives and knowledge management, ensuring high-quality implementation of emergency preparedness and response programming.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Program Manager II will be responsible for managing and providing technical oversight for all new and existing projects, ensuring that project design, implementation, and close-out adhere to CRS quality principles and donor guidelines. Key responsibilities include offering technical solutions to EMPOWER partners, contributing to funding opportunities, serving as the technical lead for proposal writing, and developing capacity strengthening initiatives for partner staff. The role also involves collaborating with various stakeholders, including Caritas Internationalis members, to advance emergency response program development, ensuring timely project expenditures, and maintaining strong relationships with CRS technical experts. The Program Manager will also be involved in knowledge management, collecting and analyzing program data, and ensuring a cross-sectoral approach that integrates gender and disaster risk reduction.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong MEAL skills and experience, with a background in project grants management, particularly for grants from public donors like USAID. The ability to write high-quality technical proposals is essential, along with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Candidates should demonstrate effective relationship management abilities and possess good presentation and facilitation skills. A proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented mindset is crucial for success in this role.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in international development, International Relations, or a related field is required. Additional experience may substitute for some educational requirements, but a strong educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of humanitarian response and development work.

Experience:
A minimum of 8 years of relevant field-based project management experience is required, with at least 3 years in Emergency Preparedness and Response. Experience in managing moderately complex projects, preferably with an international NGO, is essential. Previous experience in providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is also required.

Languages:
Fluency in Spanish and English is mandatory, while proficiency in Portuguese is encouraged. The ability to communicate effectively in these languages is crucial for collaboration with local partners and stakeholders in South America.

Additional Notes:
The position may require travel up to 50%. There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this role. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and community members from exploitation and abuse, and the successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS’ Code of Conduct. The organization prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates, and all offers are contingent on the candidate's ability to legally work in the location of the position.