Program Quality 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 relief and development assistance without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various sectors 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 candidates from diverse backgrounds who share its values and commitment to serving those in need.

Job Overview:
The Program Quality Manager will play a crucial role in supporting program quality across multiple countries in the CWARO region, including Rwanda and Burundi. This position involves providing strategic direction, leadership, and management of the Country Program's (CP) programming to ensure the successful implementation of high-quality programs aimed at serving the poor and vulnerable populations. The manager will work closely with the Senior Management Teams of the countries to ensure that the CP delivers impactful programming and continuously seeks to improve its effectiveness. The role requires a strong focus on integrating program interventions across various projects, ensuring that they align with regional and agency strategic priorities, and optimizing the impact of programming interventions through effective resource mobilization strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Program Quality Manager will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including collaborating with the Country Manager to provide strategic direction for the design of CP strategic frameworks and plans. This includes developing resource mobilization strategies and leading high-quality project design that adheres to project management standards and MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) methods. The manager will coordinate planning activities across various projects to ensure integration and efficiency in implementation. Additionally, the role involves coaching talent, managing team dynamics, and ensuring staff well-being through tailored development plans and performance assessments. The manager will also contribute to staffing plans and the recruitment process for senior project staff, create a conducive learning environment, promote accountability and knowledge management, oversee project budgeting, and ensure quality proposals are developed in collaboration with resource mobilization staff. Furthermore, the manager will identify and strengthen partnerships, provide technical assistance and capacity building for project teams, and represent the agency with partners and donors as needed.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's Degree in International Development, International Relations, or a relevant field. A minimum of 5-8 years of relevant field-based program management experience is required, including at least 2 years in a senior management role. Applicants should have experience in developing successful proposals, reports, strategic alliances, project design, project management, and monitoring and evaluation. Additionally, experience in partner capacity strengthening, staff development, training, mentoring, community development, and project grants management is essential. Familiarity with business development activities and capturing public and/or private donor funding is preferred.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor's Degree in International Development, International Relations, or a related field is required for this position. Advanced degrees or specialized training in relevant areas may be advantageous but are not mandatory.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 5-8 years of relevant field-based program management experience, with at least 2 years in a senior management capacity. Experience in community development, project design, and management, as well as in developing proposals and reports, is crucial. The candidate should also have a proven track record in staff development, training, and mentoring, along with experience in managing projects funded by multiple public donors.

Languages:
Professional proficiency in English and French is required for this position. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position involves matrix management of DHOPs and Program Quality Managers in assigned countries. Candidates must be willing to travel up to 35%. 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., salary and benefits packages are based on the country of employment. The agency is committed to safeguarding program participants and staff from exploitation and abuse, and successful candidates are expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct. The job description is not exhaustive and may evolve as needed.