Program Manager II - BMU MEAL 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 across approximately 100 countries. Founded in 1943, CRS has a long-standing commitment to humanitarian work, focusing on various sectors including emergency response, agriculture, education, water and sanitation, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and health. The organization operates with a mission to serve the poor and vulnerable without regard to race, religion, or nationality. In the Philippines, CRS has been operational since 1945, making it the longest-running CRS country program globally, with over 60 staff members dedicated to extensive programming in emergency response and recovery, disaster risk reduction, and climate resilience. The organization collaborates with a strong network of church partners, government agencies, and NGOs to implement its programs effectively. Recently, CRS Philippines and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have been integrated into one Business Management Unit (BMU), enhancing shared services and management oversight across both countries.

Job Overview:
The Program Manager II - BMU MEAL Manager will play a pivotal role in leading and providing strategic direction for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) initiatives for various projects implemented by CRS in the Philippines and FSM. This position is crucial for ensuring that effective systems and processes are in place to support high-quality programming that aligns with CRS's mission of serving the poor and vulnerable. The BMU MEAL Manager will be responsible for coordinating and supervising MEAL activities, collaborating closely with CRS program teams and partner staff to develop and implement robust monitoring systems and tools for evidence-based monitoring of project indicators. This role also involves advancing accountability and contributing to business development initiatives, ensuring that the MEAL framework is integrated into all aspects of project management and implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Program Manager II - BMU MEAL Manager include:

• MEAL Strategy and Design: Provide strategic input into the overall MEAL system design for various projects, ensuring alignment with CRS MEAL policies and donor requirements. Support project teams in conducting vulnerability assessments, stakeholder mapping, and gender analyses. Collect and analyze lessons learned from ongoing programs to inform future strategies.
• MEAL Implementation: Lead evaluations, needs assessments, and annual surveys, ensuring compliance with CRS global reporting requirements. Develop and manage a countrywide accountability tracking system to support project decision-making. Ensure high-quality accountability mechanisms are in place, including beneficiary feedback systems.
• MEAL Capacity Building: Provide training and technical assistance to CRS program teams and partners in the Philippines and FSM to ensure effective MEAL implementation. Conduct field monitoring and data quality audits to maintain high standards of data integrity.
• MEAL in Business Development: Lead MEAL design for proposals, ensuring that monitoring systems and learning approaches align with donor requirements. Serve as the MEAL focal point during business development processes, integrating accountability and learning mechanisms into proposals.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Program Manager II - BMU MEAL Manager position include:

• Education: A Master's degree in statistics, biostatistics, economics, agriculture, environmental sciences, or a related field with a strong quantitative background. Additional relevant experience may substitute for some educational requirements.
• Experience: A minimum of five years of experience working in a development setting, preferably with an international NGO, with progressively increasing MEAL responsibilities in international development projects. At least three years of supervisory experience is required.
• Preferred Qualifications: Expertise in developing routine monitoring systems, strong ICT4D skills, and familiarity with donor MEAL guidelines. Experience in data quality assurance strategies and data visualization is also preferred.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in a relevant field such as statistics, biostatistics, economics, agriculture, or environmental sciences. A strong quantitative background is essential, and additional experience may be considered in lieu of formal education. The educational background should equip candidates with the necessary analytical skills to manage complex data and contribute to high-quality program evaluation and reporting.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant experience in a development setting, ideally with an international NGO. This experience should include progressively increasing responsibilities in MEAL roles, particularly in areas such as Landscape Management, Climate Smart Agriculture, or Sustainable Agriculture Practices. At least three years of supervisory experience is required to ensure effective leadership and management of MEAL teams.

Languages:
The mandatory language requirement for this position is proficiency in English. Knowledge of Filipino is also required. Additional language skills may be considered an asset, particularly if they enhance communication with local stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and may require travel up to 30% of the time. The successful candidate will supervise MEAL Officers and will work closely with various internal and external stakeholders, including project managers and implementing partners. The role is based in the Philippines, and candidates from the region are particularly encouraged to apply. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and ensuring a safe working environment for all staff. The organization prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates.