Program Manager at CRS – Catholic Relief Services: (Deadline 31 October 2024)

This post is contingent on donor funding and donor approval of the candidate. 

About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS has operated in Rwanda since 1960, successfully implementing programs in nutrition, agriculture, livelihoods, emergency, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health, microfinance, and peacebuilding throughout the country.

Job Summary:

Pending a successful bid for the award, as Program Manager II – MEAL, you will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system of a Market Systems Development for Livestock Activity. Your technical skills and knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and continuously work towards improving the impact of its multi-year development programming.

The Program Manager II – MEAL will ensure that the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plan adheres to CRS’ MEAL Policies and Procedures and donor requirements. The Program Manager II – MEAL will be responsible for designing and implementing the MEL Plan of a high-quality program.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for MEAL activities throughout the project cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation and close-out of the Market Systems Development Activity are in line with CRS quality principles and standards and MEAL policies, procedures, and practices, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.  Oversee and manage MEAL implementation of a complex multi-sectoral program.
• Effectively manage talent for MEAL and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff wellbeing. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Champion the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning, research and publications and implementation of MEAL policy. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Promote the application of learning to improve program quality and to strengthen agency influence among external stakeholders. Ensure integration of MEAL-related innovations and best practices.
• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for the development and implementation of high-quality MEAL systems and processes, including ICT4MEAL and the application of responsible data principles as per agency and donor requirements. Promoting MEAL policies and industry good practices, champion the analysis and use of project performance data to inform decision-making and identify lessons learned. Facilitate connections between colleagues and peers to generate and share evidence-based learning.
• Provide management, guidance and technical oversight for project or program evaluation events and research, including the development of terms of reference or study protocols that include evaluation/learning questions, a balance of qualitative and quantitative methods, appropriate consideration of ethical and data protection standards, and the necessary technical rigor. Oversee the quality of evaluation data through good data management. Support the identification, recruitment, and management of external evaluators or research partners to ensure high quality evaluation, research, and learning.
• Oversee MEAL-related technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to MEAL and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Oversee timely and appropriate project MEAL expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
• Provide technical lead for analysis of MEAL data, qualitative and quantitative.

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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant experience in MEAL management, including MEL Plan design, preferably for contracts.
• 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.

Required Languages – English. Kinyarwanda, Swahili and/or French an asset.

Travel – Position based in Kigali. Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% within Rwanda.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Project MEAL staff

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Head of Programming, CP MEAL Advisor, Gender and Protection Technical Advisor, Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality, Regional Technical Advisors.

External: Partner MEAL staff 

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or in the field of Monitoring and Evaluation, or Statistics 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 MEAL.
• Experience in managing MEAL for moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO and on projects implementing market-based approaches.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff) 

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

MEAL Competencies (for CRS MEAL Program Staff)

Each staff member in this position is expected to have advanced knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies in new or complex situations. Guides other professionals:

• MEAL in Design
• Monitoring
• Evaluation
• Accountability
• Learning
• Analysis and Critical Thinking
• Management in MEAL
• ICT4MEAL

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note:  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

Rwandan nationals highly encouraged to apply. CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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