Program Manager I - El Niño Preparedness

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 relief and development 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 work culture is collaborative and mission-driven, emphasizing the importance of improving the lives of the poor globally. CRS has a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, and its talent acquisition procedures reflect a commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly vulnerable populations.

Job Overview:
The Program Manager I will play a crucial role in providing program management, technical, and coordination support to EMPOWER partners in South America, specifically focusing on enhancing El Niño preparedness and readiness for rapid emergency response. This position is integral to the implementation of preparedness activities across priority countries and hotspots, translating critical information regarding hazards, vulnerabilities, market conditions, operational capabilities, and partner capacities into actionable readiness strategies, quality program designs, and response plans that are ready for activation. The Program Manager I will work closely under the guidance of the Program Manager II and collaborate with various teams including technical, MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning), supply chain, finance, safeguarding, and operations. The role involves accompanying partners to fulfill priority preparedness deliverables, addressing program bottlenecks, testing readiness arrangements, and maintaining adaptable country-level materials for rapid response activation. This position requires a proactive approach to ensure that all preparedness activities are effectively implemented and monitored, contributing to the overall success of the EMPOWER initiative.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Program Manager I will be responsible for supporting the implementation of El Niño preparedness workplans across assigned countries or hotspots in South America, coordinating with EMPOWER partners, country teams, and technical and operational colleagues. Key responsibilities include maintaining detailed activity plans, deliverable trackers, and meeting records; compiling and synthesizing hazard and vulnerability information to identify priority locations and needs; facilitating partner working sessions to develop or update contingency plans and response strategies; gathering technical inputs for program quality standards; coordinating with supply chain and operations for relief kit proposals; preparing activation-ready program materials; monitoring preparedness activities and response tasks; adapting indicators and data-collection tools for partner use; and organizing coaching sessions and simulations. The role also involves contributing to proposal development and resource mobilization, documenting lessons learned, and compiling final preparedness packages for assigned countries or workstreams.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in international development, international relations, humanitarian response, disaster risk management, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, public health, social sciences, project management, or a related field. A minimum of three years of relevant experience in humanitarian program management, emergency preparedness and response, or disaster risk reduction is required, with field-based experience being essential. Candidates should have experience supporting moderately complex projects, preferably with an international NGO, and should demonstrate a capacity to work with and strengthen local partners, particularly church or faith-based organizations. Additionally, experience in assessments, contingency planning, response design, and monitoring is necessary.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor's degree in relevant fields such as international development, humanitarian response, disaster risk management, or related disciplines. A Master's degree in these areas is preferred and may enhance a candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of relevant experience in humanitarian program management, emergency preparedness, and response, or disaster risk reduction. Candidates should have experience in managing moderately complex projects, ideally with an international NGO, and should be familiar with activities implemented across dispersed geographic areas. Field-based experience is crucial, as is the ability to contribute to assessments, contingency planning, and response design.

Languages:
Professional fluency in English and Spanish is required for this position. Additionally, professional proficiency in Portuguese is strongly preferred, as it will enhance communication and collaboration with partners in South America.

Additional Notes:
The assignment for this position will primarily be remote, with potential in-country or regional travel to priority partners, countries, or hotspots as operationally required. The selected candidate must be willing to travel up to 50% within South America and work effectively across various time zones and in diverse operating environments. The role does not have supervisory responsibilities, and candidates should demonstrate personal accountability, integrity, trust-building, collaboration, and a willingness to learn. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, and salary and benefits for candidates employed outside the U.S. will be based on the country of employment. The organization is committed to safeguarding program participants and ensuring that all staff adhere to its Code of Conduct.