Project Manager

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 over 100 countries, providing relief and development programs that address emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and it promotes equal employment opportunities, welcoming individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values.

Job Overview:
The Project Manager position involves overseeing the implementation of municipal and community project management initiatives. The role requires participation in the development of influence plans to institutionalize municipal planning, supporting mayors and municipal corporations in project investment decisions. The Project Manager will also be responsible for identifying and mitigating risks that could impact project execution, representing CRS at community and municipal project management events, and mapping stakeholders involved in local project financing. The position emphasizes collaboration with municipal authorities to formulate and present projects for municipal budget integration, while also assisting communities in identifying viable projects for funding under the National Public Investment System (SNIP). The role includes providing technical assistance for project documentation and ensuring that municipal and community project designs meet governmental and non-governmental investment criteria. Additionally, the Project Manager will develop training processes for municipal authorities on project management, focusing on SNIP, and design participatory strategies to enhance community ownership and sustainability of initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Systemic Development: Participate in the influence plan for municipal and departmental management, supporting the institutionalization of municipal planning. Assist in establishing influence plans to persuade mayors and municipal corporations to invest in identified project profiles. Anticipate, identify, and evaluate potential risks affecting project execution and propose mitigation strategies to achieve established objectives. Represent CRS at events related to community and municipal project management. Support the mapping of stakeholders linked to local project financing.
• Project Management and Technical Support: Assist and advise municipal authorities in the Chortí area in formulating and presenting projects to the Municipal Council for approval and integration into the municipal budget. Aid municipalities in seeking investment opportunities and legal aspects considered by the SNIP. Support communities in identifying high-value, viable projects for funding under SNIP. Provide technical assistance to prepare documentation required for securing funding for identified projects. Collect, evaluate, and present necessary information for municipal and community project designs to be considered in governmental and non-governmental investment processes. Develop training processes for municipal authorities in project management, with a special focus on SNIP.
• Local Development Promotion and Community Ownership: Design participatory strategies to strengthen community ownership and sustainability of initiatives. Promote citizen participation to enhance community organization and develop leadership among youth and women.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL): Coordinate with technical and MEAL teams to ensure compliance with MEAL policies and update information systems. Contribute to adaptive management through data analysis and strategic recommendations. Ensure the preparation of quality periodic reports for CRS and donors. Conduct evaluation and learning workshops with municipal authorities to identify lessons learned, strengths, and areas for improvement for future project implementation. Support the systematization of experiences and learnings from project management at the municipal and community levels.
• Innovation and Digitalization: Promote the digitalization of services to optimize administrative processes for municipalities and other government institutions for information use and resource mobilization. Specific activities include monthly budget progress tracking with CRS technical and administrative staff, coordinating updates of information systems and verification means, reviewing donor reports before submission to CRS, field accompaniment in project preparation and evaluation activities, and supporting risk management strategies in coordination with municipalities and territorial actors.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in Environmental Engineering, Agronomy, Administration, or related fields, with studies in project preparation and evaluation being an advantage. A minimum of three years of experience in project management is required, along with experience in partnerships and inter-institutional relations in development or emergency projects. Familiarity with public and private sector actors is essential. Additional education may substitute for experience, and additional experience may substitute for education. Candidates should have experience executing training methodologies or knowledge transfer to adult populations, particularly in rural areas. Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), web conferencing applications, and information and budget management systems is necessary. A valid driver's license for a four-wheel vehicle is also required.

Educational Background:
A university degree in relevant fields such as Environmental Engineering, Agronomy, or Administration is required. Additional studies in project preparation and evaluation are considered advantageous. The educational background should align with the responsibilities of project management and community engagement.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of experience in project management, particularly in development or emergency contexts. Experience working with public and private sector actors, as well as in partnerships and inter-institutional relations, is essential. Candidates should also have experience in training methodologies and knowledge transfer to adult populations, especially in rural settings.

Languages:
While proficiency in English is not mandatory, it is considered a desirable skill. The ability to communicate effectively in Spanish is essential for this role, given the local context and community engagement requirements.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may require approximately 80% travel time. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff, and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and participate in safeguarding training. CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates.