Program Manager I – WASH

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 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. The agency's processes and policies reflect its dedication to protecting the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly those who are most vulnerable. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively seeks to recruit individuals from the regions in which it operates, ensuring that its workforce is representative of the communities it serves.

Job Overview:
As a Program Manager I – WASH, you will be responsible for managing, coordinating, and implementing WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) activities within a multi-sector humanitarian project. This role involves supervising WASH teams, including the WASH SPO, Health and Hygiene Promotion SPO, and associated technical teams, to ensure effective, integrated, and quality interventions. You will contribute to achieving project objectives through solid program management, effective multi-sector coordination, and adherence to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) standards, donor requirements, and humanitarian norms. Your management, coordination, and leadership skills will be crucial in ensuring that WASH interventions are contextually appropriate, public health-centered, and maximize impact for vulnerable populations. The position requires a strategic approach to planning and operationalizing WASH activities, ensuring alignment with other sectors such as Cash, Protection, and Nutrition, and maintaining high standards of quality and compliance throughout the project lifecycle.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage and coordinate the entire WASH project cycle (design, start-up, implementation, monitoring, and closure) in accordance with CRS standards and donor requirements.
• Ensure strategic and operational planning of WASH activities, ensuring coherence with other sectors (Cash, Protection, Nutrition, etc.).
• Supervise WASH teams (WASH SPO, Health and Hygiene Promotion SPO, field teams) and provide coaching, mentoring, and performance monitoring.
• Ensure technical coordination between infrastructure and hygiene promotion components to guarantee an integrated response.
• Collaborate closely with the WASH Infrastructure Engineering Technical Advisor to ensure technical quality of interventions and adherence to engineering standards.
• Ensure WASH activities comply with SPHERE standards, CRS standards, and are adapted to local conditions and population needs.
• Oversee WASH assessments (baseline, needs, feasibility) and ensure data utilization to guide programming.
• Analyze project performance and identify implementation challenges to make timely adjustments.
• Coordinate with MEAL teams for indicator tracking, data quality, and documentation of results. 1
• Coordinate the identification of capacity-building needs for teams and partners and implement associated plans. 1
• Contribute to the technical design of proposals and the development of new WASH opportunities. 1
• Manage and track financial and material resources related to WASH activities. 1
• Ensure compliance of activities with CRS policies and donor requirements. 1
• Represent CRS in WASH coordination mechanisms (clusters, technical groups, local authorities) as delegated. 1
• Maintain effective working relationships with local partners, health authorities, technical services, and other humanitarian actors. 1
• Organize regular meetings with WASH teams to monitor activities and resolve challenges. 1
• Ensure quality and timeliness of programmatic and technical reports related to WASH activities. 1
• Promote learning within the team by analyzing data and capitalizing on best practices and lessons learned. 1
• Contribute to the development of technical documents, analyses, and tools for program quality improvement.

Required Qualifications:

• Proficient in MS Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Strong knowledge of SPHERE standards and WASH practices in humanitarian contexts.
• Solid analytical skills and ability to solve complex problems.
• Excellent team management and leadership skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a high-pressure and constantly changing environment.
• Excellent relationship management skills with partners and stakeholders.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented approach.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor's degree in International Development, WASH Engineering, Public Health, Environmental Science, or a related field is required. This educational background provides the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of WASH interventions and their impact on public health and community well-being.

Experience:
A minimum of 2 to 3 years of relevant experience in managing WASH projects, ideally in humanitarian contexts. Experience in supervising teams and coordinating field projects is essential. Previous work with national or international NGOs is highly desirable, as it provides insight into the operational challenges and best practices in the field.

Languages:
Fluency in French is required, with English strongly preferred. Knowledge of Swahili and relevant local languages is highly desirable, as it enhances communication with local communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position may require up to 60-70% travel to project intervention areas and other locations as necessary. Direct supervision responsibilities include overseeing the WASH SPO, Health and Hygiene Promotion SPO, and associated technical WASH teams. The role involves collaboration with various internal and external stakeholders, including program managers, WASH teams, emergency coordinators, program directors, technical advisors, and local implementation partners.