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 more than 100 countries, providing assistance 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 promotes equal employment opportunities, welcoming individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to service.

Job Overview:
The Project Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing a systemic influence plan aimed at convincing municipal mayors and corporations to invest in identified project profiles. This role involves anticipating and evaluating potential risks that could impact investments and proposing mitigation strategies to ensure objectives are met. The Project Manager will act as the primary liaison between CRS and government institutions, NGOs, and private initiatives, representing CRS at municipal management events and coordinating with public sectors to enhance municipal planning and investment strategies. The position also includes monitoring and evaluating project progress, ensuring compliance with CRS policies, and facilitating community engagement to promote local development and sustainability.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Systemic Development: Establish an influence plan to engage municipal authorities for project investment. Develop strategies for municipal management and institutionalize planning as an investment tool. Identify risks and propose mitigation strategies. Act as the main link between CRS and government institutions, NGOs, and private sector initiatives. Represent CRS at municipal management events. Coordinate with public sectors to improve municipal planning and investment strategies. Promote 55 indicators across six indices to enhance municipal management rankings and increase revenue.
• Project Management and Technical Support: Oversee administrative, financial, logistical, and technical processes for efficient project execution. Facilitate municipal management processes and promote existing governmental training resources. Ensure compliance with planning processes and access to government funds. Develop action plans to assist municipal authorities in project formulation and budget integration. Guarantee project proposals meet governmental approval requirements.
• Local Development and Community Ownership: Design participatory strategies to strengthen community ownership and sustainability of initiatives. Promote citizen participation to enhance community organization and leadership development among youth and women.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL): Develop indicators to assess project influence processes. Coordinate with technical and MEAL teams to ensure compliance with MEAL policies. Contribute to adaptive management through data analysis and strategic recommendations. Ensure quality periodic reporting for CRS and donors.
• SNIP System Coordination: Facilitate dialogue spaces with municipal, private, and community actors to evaluate fund accreditation progress. Monitor co-investment strategies to support communities and municipalities in technical and administrative processes.
• Innovation and Digitalization: Promote the digitalization of services to optimize administrative processes in municipalities and government institutions.

Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Administration, Social Work, Sociology, International Development, Agronomy, or related fields. A minimum of 5 years of experience in supporting development projects and local leadership. Training in public administration and investment systems, particularly SNIP, is desirable. Experience in inter-institutional relationships in development or emergency projects. Experience working with public and private sector actors. Additional education may substitute for experience; additional experience may substitute for education. Proficiency in training methodologies for adult populations, particularly in rural areas. Familiarity with MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), web conferencing applications, and information management systems. A valid driver's license for a 4-wheel vehicle is required.

Educational Background:
A bachelor's degree in relevant fields such as Administration, Social Work, Sociology, International Development, Agronomy, or related areas is required. Additional education or certifications in public administration or investment systems may enhance candidacy.

Experience:
Candidates should possess at least 5 years of relevant work experience in development project support and local leadership. Experience in public administration and investment systems, particularly with SNIP, is highly desirable. Proven experience in inter-institutional collaboration and working with public and private sector stakeholders is essential.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is not mandatory but is considered a plus. Candidates should be willing to travel approximately 80% of the time.

Additional Notes:
This position may involve significant travel and requires a commitment to safeguarding program participants and community members from exploitation and abuse. CRS is an equal opportunity employer and prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates. The successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and participate in safeguarding training.