Program Manager I – Area Coordinator - Cuba Crisis-Response

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 welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions 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 people, especially the most vulnerable. CRS also emphasizes the importance of safeguarding program participants and community members from all forms of exploitation and abuse, ensuring that all staff adhere to a strict Code of Conduct. The organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer, promoting diversity and inclusion within its workforce.

Job Overview:
The Program Manager I – coordinator" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Area Coordinator for the Cuba Crisis-Response will manage humanitarian response programming in a designated geographic zone within Cuba. This role involves designing and implementing projects that advance the mission of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in serving the poor and vulnerable. The successful candidate will leverage their management skills and knowledge to ensure that CRS and its local partners deliver high-quality programming while continuously striving to improve the impact of their initiatives. The position requires a proactive approach to managing all aspects of project cycles, including design, start-up, implementation, and close-out, ensuring alignment with CRS program quality principles, donor requirements, and best practices. The Program Manager will also champion learning among project staff and partner teams, analyze project performance data, and identify and address implementation challenges through participatory processes. This role is critical in coordinating the identification of staff capacity needs and technical assistance for partner organizations, as well as strengthening partnerships in line with CRS’ principles and best practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Program Manager I – Area Coordinator will be responsible for managing and implementing all activities throughout the project cycle, ensuring efficient and effective implementation in accordance with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing project design, start-up, implementation, and close-out processes to ensure alignment with CRS standards.
• Ensuring that project teams and partner staff utilize appropriate systems and tools for project management.
• Championing learning and knowledge sharing among project staff and partners, analyzing project performance data in accordance with MEAL policy, and proactively identifying and addressing implementation challenges.
• Acting as a key resource in project design and proposal development, filling gaps and taking on additional responsibilities as needed.
• Coordinating the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of partner organizations, facilitating capacity strengthening interventions to support quality project implementation.
• Identifying, assessing, and strengthening partnerships in line with CRS’ partnership principles and best practices.
• Monitoring and coordinating financial and material resources relevant to project needs, ensuring efficient use of project resources through effective planning and oversight.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, or a relevant field. Additionally, candidates must have a minimum of 2-3 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects, preferably with an international NGO. Preferred qualifications include a Master’s Degree and project management experience in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as skills and experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL).

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, or a relevant field. A Master’s Degree is preferred and may enhance the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 2-3 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects. Experience with an international NGO is highly desirable, particularly in the context of humanitarian response and emergency programming.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and Spanish is required for this position, as effective communication with diverse stakeholders is essential for successful project implementation and management.

Additional Notes:
The position is expected to last from July 1, 2026, to December 202

• The role does not have supervisory responsibilities but requires a willingness to travel up to 50%. The agency emphasizes personal accountability, integrity, trust-building, collaboration, and a commitment to learning among its staff. The successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS’ Code of Conduct and contribute to a culture of safeguarding and respect for all individuals, particularly vulnerable populations.