Project Manager - STaR Project

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 worldwide. The organization is committed to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS engages in various programs, including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The agency emphasizes a collaborative, mission-driven culture and welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values. CRS is dedicated to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and its processes reflect this commitment. The organization also prioritizes candidates from the regions where it operates, ensuring that its workforce is representative of the communities it serves.

Job Overview:
The Project Manager for the STaR project will provide comprehensive management, guidance, and technical oversight throughout the project cycle. This includes ensuring that the start-up, implementation, and close-out phases align with CRS quality principles, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. As the budget holder for the STaR project in Nigeria, the Project Manager will be responsible for the overall financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, tracking expenditures, and financial reporting. The role requires collaboration with local partners and stakeholders, ensuring that CRS maintains active participation in local sectoral and multi-sectoral program coordination. The Project Manager will also oversee engineering design reviews, manage financial resources effectively, and ensure that project activities align with local Church and government strategies. Additionally, the Project Manager will lead efforts in program learning, capacity strengthening, and the integration of innovations and best practices to enhance program quality and impact.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Manager will be responsible for the following duties:

• Provide management and technical oversight of the STaR project throughout its lifecycle, ensuring compliance with CRS quality standards and donor guidelines.
• Manage the project's financial resources, including budgeting, forecasting, and tracking expenditures.
• Oversee engineering design reviews and manage submissions of tenders for infrastructure projects.
• Collaborate with local partners and stakeholders to achieve project goals, ensuring effective communication and coordination.
• Supervise and manage project staff, providing coaching and development opportunities.
• Lead the development of program learning and implement monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) policies.
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures and efficient use of resources.
• Coordinate with security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security management teams to ensure adequate security protocols are in place.
• Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency's knowledge management agenda. 1
• Identify and strengthen partnerships relevant to the STaR project, applying appropriate partnership concepts and tools.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound judgments and decisions. They should have excellent relations management abilities, enabling them to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, is required. Experience with participatory working methodologies and partnerships is preferred. Candidates should have excellent English language communication skills, both oral and written, and fluency in Hausa and/or Kanuri is an added advantage. Proven experience in analyzing gender and applying gender-responsive methods to project implementation is essential. Understanding of faith-based organizations and capacity-building in local partnerships is also required.

Educational Background:
A graduate degree in the sciences, with post-graduate qualifications in Civil or Structural Engineering accredited by COREN Standards and Regulations, is required for this position. Candidates should have a strong educational background that supports their ability to manage and implement construction or community infrastructure projects effectively.

Experience:
A minimum of 10 years of work experience is required, including at least 3 years in managing and implementing construction or community infrastructure projects for development organizations or NGOs. Experience in recovery and resilience projects, as well as knowledge of agriculture, livelihoods, social cohesion, local governance, and peacebuilding, will be considered an added advantage.

Languages:
The mandatory language for this position is English. Fluency in Hausa and/or Kanuri is considered an advantage, particularly for candidates familiar with the northern Nigerian context.

Additional Notes:
The position involves supervisory responsibilities over various roles, including Infrastructure Program Manager, Governance Officer, Social Cohesion Officer, Agriculture & Livelihoods Officer, MEAL Officer, and SILC Officer. Candidates must be willing to travel 50% of the time to field locations in Adamawa or other BAY states as needed. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. For candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits packages are based on the country of employment. The anticipated duration of the assignment for expatriates is informed by a term limit based on the job type and level, as well as the agency's needs.