Program Manager II

Program Manager II

CRS – Catholic Relief Services

Erbil, Iraq

Job Summary:

You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the Country Program (CP) overall programming, particularly for large and complex Livelihoods and Education projects, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming maintaining a special focus on organizational standards as well as business development. This position will also supervise the MEAL unit ensuring regular support to the unit program manager.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure budget growth and donor diversity, focusing on non-US grants in line with strategic priorities such as Livelihoods, Education, Positive Youth Development (PYD), Social Cohesion, and Local Partners Capacity building;
• Serve as a technical writer to ensure quality proposals in the above areas per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals;
• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of all new and existing projects within the CP current programs on Livelihoods and Education throughout the project cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices;
• Effectively manage talent and supervise staff implementing programs. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports;
• Lead the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning, research and publications in the area of Livelihoods, Education, organizational capacity, partnerships and implementation of MEAL policy. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices;
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities for the program staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact;
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to programs and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches;
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources;
• Synergizing learning platforms in collaboration with the Shared Future Project Director via monthly program meetings, monthly and quarterly budget monitoring and strategic meetings;
• Serve as main focal point for the needs identified for support with Regional Technical Advisors and the Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality (DRD PQ).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions;
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship;
• Good presentation and facilitation skills;
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Required Languages:

• English is a must language, Arabic it’s a preferred asset.

Travel:

• Must be willing and able to travel up to 20%, primarily to Iraq project areas.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• EDU project Manager, MEAL Program Manager, Livelihoods Senior Project Officer.

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Country Representative, Shared Future Project Director and Managers, Caritas Program Manager, Regional Technical Advisors, DRD PQ, Head of Operations, Finance Manager, Procurement and Admin Managers, HR Officer;
• External: Caritas Iraq and other Caritas Internationalis members active in Iraq; UN cluster leads and agencies; peer humanitarian agencies; local government and authorities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, International Development, Relations, or in the field of Education, Youth Empowerment and Livelihoods with special focus on BD required. Additional experience may substitute for some education;
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of program cycle management, BD, Livelihoods, Youth empowerment and social cohesion, education;
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.

Preferred Qualifications

• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID preferred;
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals;
• Experience engaging with partner organizations;
• MEAL skills and experience required;
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment;
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

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