Program Manager I - Emergency Response

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 worldwide. The organization is dedicated to serving poor and vulnerable populations without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS's work encompasses various sectors, including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The agency is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, ensuring that its processes and policies reflect this commitment. CRS welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds and faiths who share its values and dedication to humanitarian service. The organization emphasizes the importance of safeguarding program participants and community members, and it adheres to a strict Code of Conduct to protect the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults.

Job Overview:
As the Program Manager I for Emergency Response, you will play a pivotal role in leading the management and technical oversight of Shelter and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) programming within proposed refugee settlements. Your primary responsibility will be to ensure that effective systems and processes are established to support high-quality programming that aligns with the mission of Catholic Relief Services. This position requires a strong focus on planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of project activities, ensuring they adhere to the project scope of work, results framework, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan. You will provide technical guidance and capacity strengthening support to local partners and stakeholders, overseeing project implementation across designated geographic areas. Your leadership will be crucial in ensuring that CRS Uganda delivers impactful emergency response and recovery programming, continuously striving for improvement in program quality and outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Program Manager I will be responsible for a comprehensive set of duties, including but not limited to: managing and providing technical oversight of all Shelter and WASH program activities throughout the project cycle; ensuring project design, start-up, implementation, and close-out align with CRS quality principles, donor guidelines, and industry best practices; effectively managing talent for emergency response and recovery programs; supervising team dynamics and staff well-being; providing coaching and performance management for direct reports; overseeing technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities for CRS staff and local partners; leading efforts to strengthen humanitarian systems and policies in Uganda; collaborating with CRS Uganda Programming leadership to document and disseminate lessons learned; contributing to the growth of CRS's emergency response portfolio by identifying funding opportunities; overseeing partnerships relevant to Shelter and WASH; ensuring timely project expenditures; representing CRS in relevant coordination forums; and undertaking additional duties as assigned by the supervisor to support evolving programmatic priorities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's Degree in International Development, International Relations, Community Development, or a related field such as disaster management or climate adaptation. A minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based project management experience is required, with strong knowledge of Shelter, WASH, and humanitarian response sectors. Experience in managing moderately complex projects and working closely with local partner organizations is essential. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to write high-quality technical proposals and reports, possess strong relations management abilities, and have experience in project grants management, including design for grants from multiple public donors. Additionally, candidates should exhibit critical thinking, creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to work effectively in diverse teams.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor's Degree in International Development, International Relations, Community Development, or a related field. A Master's Degree in a relevant discipline such as International Development, International Relations, Community Development, disaster management, WASH, or engineering is preferred and may enhance a candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of experience in relevant field-based project management. Candidates should have a strong understanding of the Shelter, WASH, and humanitarian response sectors, as well as familiarity with Uganda's coordination mechanisms and protection principles. Experience in managing moderately complex projects and working with international NGOs is essential, along with a proven track record of collaborating with local partner organizations.

Languages:
Fluent English is mandatory for this position, and working proficiency in a local language is considered a plus. This language requirement is crucial for effective communication with local partners and stakeholders in the context of emergency response and humanitarian programming.

Additional Notes:
This position is open exclusively to Ugandan nationals. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply by October 23, 2026, no later than 5 PM. The role includes supervisory responsibilities, overseeing Project Officers, Senior Project Officers, and project MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) staff. The successful candidate must be willing to travel up to 30% as required by the position. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages all qualified candidates, including individuals from marginalized backgrounds and people with disabilities, to apply.