Education & Psychosocial Support (PSS) Program Manager, Moldova

Job Title: Education and Psychosocial Support (PSS) Program Manager I, Moldova

Reports to: Country Manager

Department: Country Programming

Salary Grade: 9

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.

About CRS Moldova:

The conflict in Ukraine has forced thousands of people to flee into neighboring Moldova. In response, CRS Moldova is expanding its work to meet the immediate needs of families arri ving from Ukraine. As part of this response, CRS will support children in accessing educational opportunities, while at the same time ensuring that their social and emotional needs are met through holistic Psychosocial Support (PSS) interventions. CRS is hiring a Program Manager I to oversee these efforts.

Job Summary:

The Education and PSS Program Manager I (PMI) will manage the education and PSS projects in Moldova,

advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. The PMI’s management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Manage and implement all activities throughout relevant project cycles – project design, start-up, implementation and close-out – to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. Ensure project team and partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools.
• Champion learning with project staff and partner teams to ensure the incorporation of good practices and adherence to industry standards for education in emergencies and PSS interventions, as well as gender-responsive programming and protection mainstreaming.
• Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.
• Manage education and PSS project design and proposal development for Moldova, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.
• Coordinate the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.
• Help identify, assess and strengthen partnerships relevant to education and psychosocial programming, applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Through planning and oversight ensure efficient use of project resources
• Ensure a high level of collaboration and coordination with other actors including other NGOs, relevant authorities and key UN partners. Actively represent CRS in relevant sectoral and working group meetings.

Required Languages – Fluent written and verbal English required

Travel– The position in based in Moldova; up to 30% travel with the CP and limited travel within the region for training.

Supervisory Responsibilities: senior national staff

Preferred Qualifications:

• Project management experience in education, PSS, child protection, and/or youth programming is highly desirable.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
• MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or related to the field of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) required.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

***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.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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