Program Manager I – SHARPEN III (Ref.: 2022/001)

Department: Country Programming

Grade: 9

Reports To: Emergency Coordinator

Country/Location: Somalia/Mogadishu

Length of Contract: 12 months**

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 a long history of supporting local civil-society organizations in Somalia and has implemented development, early recovery and emergency programming in multiple sectors, primarily supported by United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). CRS’ programs in Somalia are currently focused on South Central Somalia, supporting integrated health, nutrition, protection and WASH interventions for over 414,000 IDPs and other vulnerable populations under SHARPEN III. CRS has been invited to submit a 10-month cost modification to expand emergency services to drought affected households under SHARPEN III. CRS is also providing WASH and multiple purpose cash assistance to 4,400 drought-affected IDP households in the Banadir region. CRS Somalia is starting new research on access to formal justice for Gender Based Violence (GBV). This operations research will help improve services provision and better care for GBV survivors. As part of its health portfolio, CRS is supporting the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine in Gedo Region. As an Agency, CRS is committed to building local capacity for transformational change. This includes cash readiness of CRS and our local partners.

Job Summary:

Based in Mogadishu, Somalia, the Program Manager I will manage and provide technical support of the development and implementation of the SHARPEN III project ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming that advances Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your knowledge and skills in emergency and development programming and your management abilities will ensure the delivery of high-quality emergency programming that applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

· 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.

· 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.

· Champion learning with project staff and partner teams. Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.

· Ensure full compliance with donor requirements, ensuring timely submission of high-quality reports.

· Act as a key resource person in project design and proposal development in respective programming area, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.

· Coordinate the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of CRS and partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation. This may include identification of Technical Advisors, consultants, or other Experts to address knowledge gaps, organization of TDY and tracking progress in the implementation of technical recommendations.

· Ensure compliance with CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures including setting up an efficient project level Feedback and Response Mechanisms, timely monitoring of progress against indicators and gathering project learning.

· Champion safeguarding at project level, including ensuring that all SHARPEN III partners are compliance with CRS and BHA safeguarding policies and procedures. This may include organization of trainings, upgrading partner safeguarding policies and other relevant documents.

· Represent the organization and collaborate, coordinate, and communicate on a regular basis with relevant sectoral working groups at country level, the UN, and relevant local government and community actors to keep abreast of changing needs and opportunities on the ground, to develop synergies, and to identify opportunities for growth.

· Help identify, assess, and strengthen partnerships applying appropriate 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

Basic Qualifications

· Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or in any relevant field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.

· Minimum of 3 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing moderately to complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.

· Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Required Languages – Fluent in English and Somalia

Travel – Based in Somalia. Must be willing and able to travel up to 25% within Somalia, if security allows it.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities **

· Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.

· Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports.

· Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.

· Strong capacity to work with local and international partner organisations.

· Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality

Preferred Qualifications

· Project management experience in health, nutrition or emergency is highly desirable.

· Experience engaging with partner organizations is required.

· 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.

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

Supervisory Responsibilities: Protection Manager and Health/Nutrition Manager.

Key Working Relationships: CRS Somalia Head of Office (HOO), CRS Somalia MEAL Manager, CRS Somalia Compliance and Grant Manager (CGM), CRS Kenya Head Of Programming (HOP), CRS Kenya MEAL Manager, CRS Kenya Operations team, CRS Kenya/Somalia Country Representative (CR), and CRS Somalia Emergency Coordinator (Line Manager).

External: TROCAIRE, SOS Village Somalia, Save Somalia Women and Children (SSWC) – SHARPEN III partners-, other humanitarian actors, such as NGOs, cluster leads and donors.

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

What we offer:

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

CRS’ emphasis on family values supports benefits, including maternity and paternity leave, policies that promote exclusive breastfeeding, the availability of a baby room at the office, and flexible working hours where possible.

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. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS Somalia strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.

CRS provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, train and promote persons solely on their qualifications and abilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.