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.

As part of its Vision 2030 agency strategy, CRS is investing in six strategic change platforms to achieve results at scale. One of these key strategic change platforms is Strengthening Families for Thriving Children Strategic Change Platform 5 (SCP5). This Strategic Change Platform is a bold initiative to support vulnerable children to thrive in safe, healthy, and nurturing families, create more resilient and supportive communities, work with our Catholic partners, civil society and governments to establish policies and systems that strengthen families, at scale. SCP5 also aims to influence governments, donors, Catholic actors and other regional and global stakeholders to redirect resources and support to strengthening families.

The platform is implemented across CRS country programs and works around the world to influence other countries, regions and global actors to change practices, policies and resources in support of family strengthening and family care. In addition, Changing the Way We Care℠(CTWWC), the Platform’s flagship initiative, amplifies a global movement to prevent children from entering residential care and to place children currently in residential care in safe and nurturing families. To date, the initiative has been active in five demonstration countries (Kenya, Guatemala, Moldova, Haiti and India).

Job Summary:

As Senior Program Manager you will provide overall leadership and management to a CRS initiative called “Strengthening Families for Thriving Children” which is CRS’ Strategic Change Platform 5 (SCP5). You will also be responsible for the quality of programmatic implementation – including monitoring, evaluation accountability and learning (MEAL) – and administrative elements of the program to ensure programming and operational excellence. Collaborating with CRS staff and strategic partners in ongoing child protection, social services, and other-related programming, you will be responsible for ensuring that program results are achieved on time and on budget, including strategies for phase out and sustainability, and that the budget is consumed as planned. You will also represent CRS externally and spearhead fundraising efforts for the platform.

• Lead the development, implementation and consolidation of SCP5. Provide oversight for all aspects of program quality, program management, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL), representation, and human resources. Serve as the primary representative for the platform, including within CRS and externally with public, private and non-government stakeholders.
• Lead the development of a strategy that defines the consolidated direction of the platform and CRS’ role in care system reform through 2030 and beyond, ensuring the appropriate integration of CTWWC and SCP5 into a cohesive platform.
• Ensure strategic objectives and results are accomplished and meet technical quality standards through annual and quarterly activity/budget planning and forecasting. Organize planning and review workshops. Provide in-country and remote support, and coordinate between country, regional and global level divisions, colleagues and technical experts so all are informed and have a shared understanding of SCP5. In coordination with country programs, ensure quarterly review of implementation plans is completed.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being, ensuring a safe work environment. Provide coaching and mentoring through direct and matrixed management. Strategically tailor development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports, as applicable. Oversee the development of staffing plans and recruitment process of senior staff in country programs that are engaged with SCP5.
• Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Facilitate global SCP5 sessions and contribute to global reflection on what is working and what is not within the platform, including through dialogue, research and thematic exploration. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff and ensure the design and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance.
• Coordinate with relevant Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) staff and CRS’ MEAL Unit to oversee the design and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation system for measuring scaled outcomes, using appropriate forms, procedures, and tools for data collection and analysis as the basis for measuring, documenting and reporting outcomes, especially global results. Use data generated to inform platform management.
• Manage and mitigate risk. Ensure compliance in CRS discretionary funds, private restricted and public donor grants including oversight of country program budgets, finance and administration, and reporting to donors and CRS leadership.
• Identify, manage and/or support strategic partnership building on country, region and global level (internal and external) and work together to build an inclusive and efficient system that can support child protection and care programming.
• Coordinate relationships with country program teams, other SCPs, technical advisors at headquarters and in regions, and partner organizations, including the Catholic Church, working groups, donors, and relevant internal and external committees. Contribute to coordination of roles and activities of staff from country program teams in implementation in line with CRS partnership principles.
• Represent CRS and the strategic platform to external stakeholders, through conferences, technical working groups, advisory committees, etc.
• Support the development of program learning in connection to SCP5 – identify opportunities for learning, research and publications in the area of child protection and care system reform in programming and implementation of CRS’ MEAL policy.
• Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management and to external learning in this area. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices. Prepare advocacy briefs with platform and communications staff.
• Oversee the refining and roll-out of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and CRS’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
• Proactively assume responsibility for and advance the resource mobilization plan to further the short- and long-term objectives in child protection and care system reform programming.  Support the development of quality proposals in this sectoral area of programming per agency and donor standards.

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Health Sciences, International Development, International Relations or in any other field relevant to international development required. Additional program management experience may substitute for some education.
• At least 5 years of experience managing large scale development and/or humanitarian grants. Experience working in social services especially with child protection is required.
• Experience in coordination of multiple activities, and in collaborating with local, regional and national government strategies and policies.
• Experience with humanitarian or development projects that use advocacy and influence to catalyze outcomes at scale a plus.
• Proven track record of successful management of multi-activity projects, logistics and budgets.
• At least 3 years of supervisory experience, including performance evaluation, coaching and mentoring.

Required Languages – Fluency in English is required. Fluency in French is desirable/preferred.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel approximately 25% of time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Proven leadership and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams
• Experienced facilitator of in-person and virtual meetings.
• Proven experience in building and maintaining institutional linkages
• Ability to work to meet deadlines in multiple tasking environments
• Excellent organization, planning and analytical skills; detail oriented
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated strength in relationship management

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of CRS Partnership strategy and Partner management experience an advantage.
• Prior experience working in the Africa region, preferred.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Excellent knowledge and experience in budget management and project management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.

Agency REDI 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.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervise up to six technical and project management staff and consultants.

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: SCP leads, SCP Champion, Internal Coordination Group, CTWWC Director and team, country program teams working on SCP5 initiatives, Deputy Regional Directors for Program Quality, Country Representatives, Heads of Programming, Country Program Managers, PIQA Technical Advisors.

External: External Advisory Group, Relevant local and national governments, peer agencies, universities, local research institutions, partners, donors/Foundations, and stakeholders engaged in child protection and care system reform programming.

***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 protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer