Program Manager II - Emergency

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to serve the poor and vulnerable, CRS operates in more than 100 countries worldwide, focusing on emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization 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. CRS emphasizes a collaborative, mission-driven culture aimed at improving lives globally, and it has a comprehensive benefits package for its staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, and retirement savings plans.

Job Overview:
The Program Manager II - Emergency will oversee the development and implementation of emergency programming within the Country Program (CP) at CRS. This role requires a strong focus on ensuring that effective systems and processes are in place to support high-quality programming that aligns with CRS's mission to serve the poor and vulnerable. The manager will be responsible for providing technical oversight, managing project cycles, and ensuring compliance with CRS quality principles, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. The position also involves leading cross-functional emergency preparedness and response planning, developing program learning and MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) systems, and contributing to the growth of the emergency sector portfolio through proactive funding pursuits.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Program Manager II - Emergency include managing and providing technical oversight for all projects within the CP’s Emergency Program. This encompasses ensuring that project design, implementation, and close-out adhere to CRS standards and donor guidelines. The manager will supervise staff, manage team dynamics, and provide coaching and performance management for direct reports. Additionally, the role involves leading emergency preparedness and response planning, developing MEAL systems, identifying opportunities for learning and research, and facilitating the dissemination of best practices. The manager will also contribute to proposal writing, budgeting, and staffing plans, oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities, and represent CRS in various forums, ensuring timely project expenditures and efficient resource stewardship.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound judgments and offer innovative solutions. Strong relations management abilities are essential, as well as good presentation and facilitation skills. The ideal candidate should be proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented. Preferred qualifications include experience in project grants management, demonstrated ability to write high-quality technical proposals, and experience engaging with partner organizations. Familiarity with MEAL skills and experience, as well as proficiency in MS Office applications, is also required.

Educational Background:
A Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations, or a related field is required. Additional experience may substitute for some educational requirements, but candidates should have a strong academic background relevant to the position.

Experience:
A minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based project management experience is required, with at least 2-3 years in emergency programming. Experience managing moderately complex projects, preferably with an international NGO, is highly desirable.

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

Additional Notes:
This position is a definite term contract, lasting up to September 30, 2027, with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability. It is specifically for Ethiopian nationals. The role may require travel up to 25%. The Program Manager II will have supervisory responsibilities as a Technical Advisor and will work closely with various internal and external stakeholders, including local partners and UN agencies. CRS is committed to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults, and the successful candidate will be expected to adhere to the organization's Code of Conduct.