Program Manager II, Erbil Iraq

Job Title: Program Manager II Reports to: Country Representative

Department: 362. Country Programming Salary Grade: 10

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.

In partnership and collaboration with Caritas Iraq, CRS Iraq is supporting conflict-affected people to live in dignity through the provision of improved shelter conditions, educational support for children, livelihoods restoration and development, and social cohesion programs. With a staff team of over 100 and offices in Erbil, Duhok, Baghdad, Kirkuk, Fallujah, and Mosul, CRS Iraq currently manages 12 million USD yearly, including funding from USAID, US State Department (PRM), and other public and private donors. As a member of the Caritas Internationalis confederation, CRS works closely with other Caritas agencies with programming in Iraq, specifically Caritas Iraq and Caritas Germany.

Job Summary

You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the Country Program (CP) overall programming, particularly for large and complex Livelihoods and Education projects, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming maintaining a special focus on organizational standards as well as business development. This position will also supervise the MEAL unit ensuring regular support to the unit program manager.

Roles And Key Responsibilities

• Lead the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure budget growth and donor diversity, focusing on non-US grants in line with strategic priorities such as Livelihoods, Education, Positive Youth Development (PYD), Social Cohesion, and Local Partners Capacity building.
• Serve as a technical writer to ensure quality proposals in the above areas per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.
• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of all new and existing projects within the CP current programs on Livelihoods and Education 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.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise staff implementing programs. 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 in the area of Livelihoods, Education, organizational capacity, partnerships and implementation of MEAL policy. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities for the program staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to programs 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.
• Synergizing learning platforms in collaboration with the Shared Future Project Director via monthly program meetings, monthly and quarterly budget monitoring and strategic meetings.
• Serve as main focal point for the needs identified for support with Regional Technical Advisors and the Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality (DRD PQ).

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

Required Languages – English is a must language, Arabic it’s a preferred asset

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 20%, primarily to Iraq project areas.

Supervisory Responsibilities

EDU project Manager, MEAL Program Manager, Livelihoods Senior Project Officer.

Key Working Relationships

Internal: Country Representative, Shared Future Project Director and Managers, Caritas Program Manager, Regional Technical Advisors, DRD PQ, Head of Operations, Finance Manager, Procurement and Admin Managers, HR Officer.

External: Caritas Iraq and other Caritas Internationalis members active in Iraq; UN cluster leads and agencies; peer humanitarian agencies; local government and authorities.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, International Development, Relations, or in the field of Education, Youth Empowerment and Livelihoods with special focus on BD 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 program cycle management, BD, Livelihoods, Youth empowerment and social cohesion, education.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.

Preferred Qualifications

• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.
• 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.

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

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

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 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

In order to issue residency and work permits in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the local Authorities require foreigners to undergo the following medical tests: 1) Hepatitis B; 2) Hepatitis C; 3) HIV; 4) Schistosomiasis; and 5) Tuberculosis. A positive test may prevent individuals from obtaining residency and work permits and may result in deportation as well as a temporary or permanent ban from re-entering the whole of Iraq.