Program Manager II – Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation, Timor Leste

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 Timor-Leste currently has a diverse portfolio of projects, including agriculture livelihoods (nutrition-sensitive agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, technical assistance for enhanced productivity), peacebuilding, saving and internal lending communities (SILC), disaster risk reduction (DRR), humanitarian response, and water security. Current donors include United States Agency of International Development (USAID), USAID/Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, Australian Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), UN Women, and Latter-Day Saints Church. In line with its long-term country strategy, CRS Timor-Leste has applied for funding to implement climate change adaptation and mitigation programming in eastern Timor-Leste, and will seek additional sources of funding for climate change adaptation and mitigation related programming. In doing so, CRS Timor-Leste will draw on its strong background in implementing agroforestry and DRR programming, as well as its background working with local partners in eastern Timor-Leste.

Job Summary:

You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the Country Program (CP) climate change adaptation and mitigation programming portfolio, currently consisting of Transforming Rural lives through Adaptation and Carbon Capture (TRACC) project, led by Caritas Australia (CA) and CRS , funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) and Analyzing Drivers of Deforestation (ADD) project funded by CRS Strategic Change Platform 3 Livelihoods and Landscapes ( SCP 3). You will also actively participate in and contribute to strategic climate change adaptation Business Development ( BD) efforts such as upcoming Global EverGreening Alliance (GEA) opportunity in Timor Leste.

You will ensure effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing CRS’ work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its climate change adaptation and mitigation programming. In line with agency and regional commitment to work toward greater diversity and increasingly local CP leadership teams, you will prioritize local leadership and hiring, training and mentoring of high- capacity national staff capable to take senior program positions.

This position will be based in Baucau, Timor Leste.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of all new and existing projects within the CP climate change adaptation and mitigation portfolio 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.
• Coordinate directly with government and NGO stakeholders on national climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives, including initiatives related to carbon crediting.
• Lead development of country program’s climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy, in alignment with regional and agency-wide strategies.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Support direct reports to articulate concrete professional development goals and strategically tailor individual development plans, provide coaching and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Lead the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning, research and publications in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation and compliance with MEAL policy requirements. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
• Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CP climate change adaptation and mitigation portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CP’s strategic priorities. Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.
• 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 climate change adaption and mitigation, 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.

Required Languages– English written and spoken proficiency

Travel– Must be willing and able to travel up to 25% to field locations in Timor-Leste. This position is based in Baucau.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 3-4Project Officers

Key Working Relationships:

Internal:Head of Programming, Head of Office, Operations Manager, Country Manager, Finance Manager, Agriculture Program Manager, MEAL Manager, MEAL Project Officers; Subregional BD Specialist and Regional Technical Advisors

External:Other International Non-governmental organizations (INGO), local partners, donors and government stakeholders.

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:

• Strong experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID and DFAT.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Knowledge of carbon financing is a bonus.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in International Development, Agriculture, Environmental Science or another relevant field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 -year experience in relevant field-based project management required, with at least 2-3 years working in the area of climate change adaption and mitigation, climate resilience, or agroforestry.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.
• MEAL skills and experience required.
• 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

***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