Job Title: Program Manager II – Cash and Markets, Gaza and West Bank

Base location: Jerusalem

Reports to: Project Director

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 is seeking a Program Manager II to oversee, lead, and provide technical guidance to the portfolio of cash and market-based programming implemented as part of the larger Gaza Emergency Response activities and in the West Bank, as needed. CRS currently implements cash and voucher (CVA) programming in Gaza under a range of donor funding including the Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs (BHA), OCHA, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others. In the West Bank, CRS Coordinates with the Cash Working Group to provide targeted CVA support as the need arises. Since October 2023, CRS has disbursed cash and voucher assistance to 26,241 households in Gaza and in the West Bank to support internally displaced families meet their basic needs. CRS serves as an INGO member of the National Cash Working Group and supports in key technical decisions related to CVA programming for Gaza and the West Bank. CRS aims to expand programming aligned with market-based approaches throughout our response, including integration into our sectoral programming such as shelter, WASH, and livelihoods, as well as developing strategies to support market recovery’

Job Summary

You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the Country Program (CP) cash and market-based programming, 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. You will represent CRS in key coordination fora related to cash and market-based programming in Gaza and the West Bank and ensure CRS’ approach align with national standards and global best practices. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its cash and market-based programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance, technical solutions, and technical oversight of all new and existing projects within the CP’s cash and market-based programming 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.
• Effectively manage risk, ensuring oversight and adherence to risk management plans and standard operating procedures while leading on recommendations for adaptations for responsive and risk-calibrated cash delivery approaches.
• Effectively manage talent for cash and market-based programming and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Represent the CP in humanitarian coordination structures specific to cash and voucher programming for Gaza and West Bank. Serve as an INGO member to the National Cash Working Group.
• Lead the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning, research and publications in the area of cash and market-based programming 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 cash and market-based programming portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CP cash and market-based strategic priorities. Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals in cash and market-based programming per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in cash and market-based programming for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to cash and market-based programming 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. Serve a budget lead for all cash and markets programming.
• Establish and maintain relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions. Participate in forums in the area of cash and market-based programming to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.
• Lead the design and oversight of various assessments and monitoring efforts to ensure CRS’ programming is both market aware and market responsive, including market assessment and analysis.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or in the field of economics, or other relevant focus 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 cash and market-based programming.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.

Required Languages – Fluency in English and professional proficiency in Arabic is a plus.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel to Gaza, security permitting, and travel to the West Bank and Jerusalem. Up to 50% travel.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Strong technical proficiency in cash and voucher programming and in market-based approaches, including in volatile conflict-affected contexts.
• Experience designing and leading market assessment and analysis to inform modality decisions and market recovery activities, in line with established methodologies for market analysis
• 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

• 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.

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: CVA Gaza team, Program Manager; CVA West Bank team (TBD)

 Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: Head of Programs, Emergency Coordinator, Cash and Markets Technical Advisors, CVA Program Manager, CVA Project Officers, Resource Transfer Unit, Gaza Head of Office, West Bank Program Manager II, sectoral Program Managers (Food Security, PSS, Shelter/WASH, livelihoods), operations teams.

External: Cash Working Group (National, Gaza, and West Bank), OCHA, peer organizations, and relevant donors.

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’ 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