Program Manager I - MEAL (Continuity of Integrated Health Services Project)

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to serve those in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries worldwide, focusing on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS emphasizes a collaborative, mission-driven work culture and is dedicated to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. The agency's processes and policies reflect its commitment to these values, and it welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds who share its mission.

Job Overview:
The Program Manager I serves as a technical advisor and process lead for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) design on the Continuity of Integrated Health Services (CIHS) project, which is a multi-country initiative supporting health services in Guinea, Liberia, Mali, and Togo. This role involves managing tools and recommending methods that are appropriate to the scope, context, and technical requirements of the CIHS project. The Program Manager will coordinate MEAL activities, maintain relationships with partners and stakeholders, and utilize technical MEAL skills to manage and analyze data, ensure donor compliance, and support learning initiatives. The ultimate goal is to ensure continuous improvement and the delivery of high-quality programming in the country program.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Program Manager I will develop the project's MEAL system and manage MEAL implementation activities throughout the project cycle, including start-up, implementation, and close-out phases. This will be done in alignment with CRS program quality principles, donor requirements, and best practices. Responsibilities include contributing to needs assessments, developing results frameworks, theories of change, Proframes, and SMILER (Simple Measurement of Indicators for Learning and Evidence-based Reporting). The role also involves providing technical support for quality MEAL design, analyzing qualitative and quantitative MEAL data, ensuring data quality, and integrating data analysis to drive improvements in project activities. The Program Manager will ensure compliance with donor and agency MEAL requirements, communicate findings to colleagues and partners, maintain collaborative relationships with community members, and contribute to planning, budgeting, and implementation of MEAL activities. Additionally, the Program Manager will identify staff capacity needs, provide training, support donor report production, and ensure all reports are uploaded to centralized systems.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in international development, International Relations, Sociology, Statistics, or a related field. A minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects is required, preferably with an international NGO. Experience in community communication and implementing accountability mechanisms is essential. Preferred qualifications include a Master’s degree in international development, International Relations, MEAL, or a related field, along with leadership experience in MEAL and experience engaging with partner organizations. Proficiency in using MS Windows, MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), standard statistical data analysis packages (SPSS, Stata, or R), and web conferencing applications is also preferred.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as international development, International Relations, Sociology, or Statistics. A Master’s degree in a related field is preferred and would enhance the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing projects that are light to moderately complex. This experience should preferably be with an international NGO, demonstrating the ability to communicate effectively with communities and implement accountability mechanisms.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, while proficiency in French is considered a plus. This language requirement is essential for effective communication and reporting within the role.

Additional Notes:
This is a remote-global role, and candidates can be considered from any location where CRS is registered to work. CRS does not sponsor visas for remote employees. The pay range for this position is $71,349 - $88,085 annually, applicable only to applicants performing the job within the U.S. or classified as International Assignees. Staff hired on local payroll will follow the respective country pay range. The successful candidate must be willing to travel up to 40% and will not have supervisory responsibilities. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. For candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits packages will be based on the country of employment.