Program Manager II

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.

Job Background:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS is a global leader in agricultural livelihoods programming, and promotes resilience building in impoverished, disaster-affected, and climate change-impacted areas around the world. CRS re-established presence in Nigeria in 2000 and currently works in 32 of Nigeria’s 36 states, focusing on agriculture and livelihoods, health, and emergency programming.

For more than 10 years, the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) crisis – impacting the areas bordering Lake Chad in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon – has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, torn apart communities and families, constrained livelihood opportunities, destroyed infrastructure, and dismantled local government’s ability to respond to the needs of its citizens. To respond to the urgent resilience/recovery needs of the people affected by the LCB Crisis, CRS has initiated the Stabilization and Reconciliation in the Lake Chad Region (STaR) Project, a 5-1/2 year, 25-million Euro program generously financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW (German Development Cooperation). STaR will target approximately 170,000 households across the four target countries of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, enabling communities and individuals to feel more secure and cohesive; to improve their livelihoods; to be more resilient in facing shocks; to use non-violent means to address conflicts; and to be more optimistic about the future. The program will contribute to the rehabilitation/re-establishment of basic services and livelihoods and strengthen the capacity of communities and local governments to sustainably manage their resources; to reinforce their social cohesion; and to build more resilient households and societies.

In Nigeria, the STaR Project Phase II will be implemented across four Local Government Areas in Adamawa State and will be managed out of the STaR project office in Yola, Adamawa through Sept 14, 2024. Negotiations with the donor for another Phase III duration extension are underway.

Job Summary:

As Program Manager, you will provide overall leadership to the STaR Nigeria project team and be responsible for the overall management of the project including the quality of programmatic implementation (including monitoring, evaluation and learning) and administrative elements of the project to serve the poor and vulnerable. You are responsible for conducting engineering design reviews, ensuring that quality standards are met. You will ensure project results are achieved on time and on budget for all project components, and that the budget is consumed as planned including strategies for phase out and sustainability. As a senior leader, you will proactively manage security, carry out risk assessments, and develop risk mitigation plans. You will develop and produce environmental, social, health and safety documentation, conducting regulatory correspondence regarding ESHS systems management, and other regulatory bodies. You will ensure effective recruitment and management of all programmatic staff, including construction contractors. You will oversee the accounting, costing and billing and monitoring project costs and manage submissions of tenders, providing technical and practical experience where necessary. You will play a lead role in representation of CRS and the STaR project with the Church; civil society and local government actors/institutions in Adamawa. Finally, you will promote coordination and collaboration between other CRS offices in Northeast Nigeria and ensure integration and collaboration across CRS Nigeria’s development and humanitarian assistance programs.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of the STaR project throughout the project cycle to ensure start-up, implementation and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Conduct engineering design reviews and manage submissions of tenders for all infrastructure projects.
• Provide technical engineering and practical construction management experience.
• Leverage skills and experience of non-infrastructure project component staff (economic revitalization, social cohesion and local governance capacity-building) toward achievement of STaR project goals.
• Ensure CRS’ active participation and/or leadership in local sectoral or multi-sectoral coordination and security forums and the regular sharing of information and data with other agencies to inform collective analysis and planning.
• Collaborate with Head of Office, Yola to lead local representation for CRS to the Church and state/local government in Adamawa, ensuring Church and government authorities are regularly updated on CRS work in Adamawa and that CRS activities align with local Church and host government strategies/initiatives, where possible.
• Effectively supervise and manage talent for the STaR project. 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 and the implementation of MEAL policy. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the Agency and STaR project knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
• Oversee 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 the STaR project 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.
• Coordinate with the Head of Office, Yola and the Deputy Country Representative for Northeast Nigeria to ensure effective security management for Adamawa State, as well as close coordination with the security management team, through timely/comprehensive application of security protocols and guidance, as well as regular analysis of the local security context.

Responsibilities

Required Languages – English Language

Travel– Must be willing and able to travel 50% to field locations in Adamawa

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (SKAs)

• Proven leadership and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams
• Proven experience in building and maintaining institutional linkages
• Ability to work to meet deadlines in multiple tasking environments
• Excellent organization, planning and analytical skills; detail-oriented
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated strength in relationship management

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Graduate in the sciences with post-graduate qualifications in Civil or Structural Engineering accredited by COREN Standards and Regulations with a minimum of 10 years post-qualification experience
• Prior experience working with agriculture, development or food security programs – including a focus on at least one of the following sectors – agriculture, health, livelihoods, nutrition, or governance/peacebuilding is an added advantage.

Preferred Qualifications – (If applicable)

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Experience with participatory working methodologies and partnerships
• Excellent English language oral and written communication, training and facilitation skills. Fluency in Hausa and/or Kanuri language is an added advantage as well as experience with the northern Nigerian context.
• Proven experience in analyzing gender and applying gender-responsive methods to project implementation.
• Understanding of faith-based organizations and capacity-building in local partnerships
• Experience in staff development and partner capacity.
• Understanding of KFW (or German Government) grant provisions, policies and guidelines, including reporting requirements will be an added advantage.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Infrastructure Program Manager, Governance Officer, Social Cohesion Officer, Agriculture & Livelihoods Officer, MEAL Officer and SILC Officer

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Deputy Country Representative – NE Nigeria, Director of Early Recovery and Resilience, Agriculture and Livelihoods Adviser, MEAL Manager, STaR Award Management Officer, STaR Grants Specialist, Yola Security Officer, Yola Finance/Grants Officer, Security Officer, Yola Procurement Assistant, Yola Admin/Logistics Assistant

External: Church authorities, government ministries departments and agencies, local and international NGOs, coordination platforms and working groups, community leaders

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

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.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

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

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.