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 around the world. The organization is committed to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS's work encompasses various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The agency fosters a collaborative, mission-driven culture and welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values. CRS is dedicated to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, ensuring that all staff adhere to a strict Code of Conduct. The organization employs a significant number of staff globally, reflecting its extensive reach and commitment to humanitarian efforts.

Job Overview:
The Project Manager for the Livelihoods and Women’s Economic Empowerment Project (LWEP) will play a crucial role in leading, coordinating, and overseeing the implementation of project activities. This position requires a strong focus on ensuring that all project activities are executed effectively, efficiently, and in compliance with donor requirements and organizational policies. The Project Manager will be responsible for project planning, implementation, budget management, monitoring, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. This role involves close collaboration with various partners, including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), consortium partners, and community stakeholders to achieve the desired project outcomes. The Project Manager will report directly to the Program Director for Agriculture, Livelihoods, and Landscapes, and will provide leadership and supervision to project staff to ensure successful delivery of project results. The position demands a proactive approach to problem-solving and a commitment to fostering a culture of accountability and high performance within the team.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Manager will be responsible for the following key duties and responsibilities:

• Project Leadership and Implementation: Provide strategic direction and management for the successful implementation of Component 3A of the LWEP. Ensure timely execution of project activities in accordance with approved work plans and donor requirements. Lead project implementation, adaptive management, and close-out processes to achieve project objectives and targets. Integrate gender-transformation, safeguarding, social inclusion, and community engagement approaches across all project interventions.
• Technical Oversight: Ensure project activities contribute to improved livelihood opportunities, women's economic empowerment, social cohesion, and resilience outcomes. Monitor project progress against targets and indicators, taking corrective actions as needed. Ensure compliance with environmental and social safeguards and other World Bank requirements.
• Budget and Resource Management: Oversee project budgets and financial performance, ensuring efficient use of resources. Monitor expenditures against approved budgets and coordinate project forecasting and budget modifications as required.
• Team Leadership and Staff Management: Supervise and mentor project staff, promoting a culture of accountability and collaboration. Develop staff capacity through coaching and professional development opportunities.
• Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain strong relationships with consortium partners and stakeholders, ensuring coordinated implementation of project objectives. Represent CRS in relevant coordination meetings and technical working groups.
• Strategic Planning and Reporting: Lead annual work planning, budgeting, and periodic project reviews, providing regular updates to the Program Director on project progress and challenges.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires the following qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in agriculture, Project Management, International Development, Gender & Development Studies, Development Economics, or related fields is preferred.
• A minimum of 7 years of specialized experience in designing and managing enterprise development, financial inclusion, and livelihoods projects, ideally within a women’s economic empowerment or agricultural value-chain framework.
• Experience linking rural women entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers to larger commercial buyers and formal financial institutions.
• Strong understanding of livelihood improvement opportunities for rural communities and knowledge of Market Systems Development (MSD) initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor cross-functional teams and manage relationships with various stakeholders.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Project Management, International Development, Gender & Development Studies, Development Economics, or related fields. A Master’s degree is preferred and may enhance the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of experience, with at least 3 years coordinating or managing agriculture and livelihoods projects, preferably with an international NGO. Candidates should have a proven track record of leading, mentoring, and evaluating cross-functional teams, as well as experience working with different stakeholders, including private sector and local government authorities.

Languages:
The mandatory language for this position is English. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This position may require travel up to 20%. The Project Manager will supervise a Project Assistant and will be expected to work full-time. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. The work culture at CRS is collaborative and mission-driven, focused on improving the lives of the poor globally. The anticipated duration of the assignment may be informed by a term limit based on the job type and level, as well as the agency's needs.