Program Manager II, WASH, Afghanistan

Job Title: Program Manager II, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
Reports to: Head of Programming, Afghanistan
Department: EMECA
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.
Background:
CRS has been working on behalf of Afghan families since 2002, with hundreds of experienced Afghan staff working in offices across the country. We provide emergency relief, inclusive education, improved agricultural techniques, and other life‐enriching services to tens of thousands of households. The country’s long conflict has left many families displaced and impoverished, but the war’s end in 2021 has opened the exciting possibility of reaching many previously in accessible communities.
CRS’ main program areas in Afghanistan are inclusive education, agricultural livelihoods, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and emergency relief. CRS is currently implementing programs in the provinces of Bamiyan, Daykundi, Ghor, Herat, and Kabul. CRS maintains five (5) main offices in the country as well as several sub-offices that support the direct implementation of program activities.
Job Summary:
You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the Country Program (CP) WASH programming, which include boreholes rehabilitation, wells deepening, handpumps repair household water treatment promotion, construction of new water points or systems, and hygiene promotion.
Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its WASH programming. The pr ogram manager will manage WASH funded programs and the WASH components of integrated response and recovery projects funded by multiple donors including BHA and UNICEF to be implemented in three provinces (Bamiyan, Daykundi, and Ghor).
Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of all new and existing projects within the CP WASH 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 for WASH programs and supervise. 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 WASH 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.
• Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CP WASH sector portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CP WASH strategic priorities. Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals in WASH per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.

Required Languages – English
Travel – Position may be based in Bamiyan or Ghor. Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% to other CRS provincial offices such as Daykundi, Chaghcharan, and Herat, as well as to Kabul for coordination meetings.
Supervisory Responsibilities: WASH Technical Advisor and three provincial level WASH engineers. You will also provide technical oversight to field-based WASH Senior Project Officers.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID.
• 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.

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or in the field of Civil Engineering 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 WASH, including design and construction of rural community water system.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.

*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.