Program Manager I at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Summary

You will manage ALLRight’s programming in Nigeria, implementing activities in line with the program plan that advances JDPC Maiduguri’s capacity strengthening to improve the quality of life of the people it serves in the BAY States – Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that ALLRight delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming, with a lasting impact on JDPC’s leadership capacity.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and implement all activities throughout relevant project cycles - project design, start-up, implementation, and close-out - to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. Ensure in-country project and partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools.
• Provide strategic leadership in the development, identification and dissemination of standardized approaches and best practices to implement the capacity-strengthening strategy of the project.
• Coordinate the identification of technical assistance needs of the partner organization and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation. 
• Work with staff of relevant program, finance and operations sectors, to develop/adapt and provide training, tools, etc. for targeted partner staff. Develop/adapt, provide and/or oversee technical assistance activities with partners, including accompaniment and mentoring. 
• Ensure the effective sharing of information, including key decisions, status updates, successes and challenges, with the appropriate people within CRS and partners (in keeping with situational demands and the requirements of established agreements). 
• Ensure appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools, and approaches.
• Effectively supervise, and manage talent, team dynamics and staff well-being. supervise.
• Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Champion learning with project staff and partner teams. Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles. 
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Through planning and oversight, ensure efficient use of project resources.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound judgments.
• Strong relationship management skills with the ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision
• Independent work ethic and ability to complete tasks with minimal supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Knowledge of and/or experience using adult learning approaches.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project management experience in emergency programming is highly desirable.
• MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, and information management systems.

Required Languages - Strong written and spoken English required. 

Travel - Travel within the country is required as needed, with some international travel possible for attendance at program-related meetings and workshops. Must be willing and able to travel up to 20%. 

Supervisory Responsibilities (if none, state none) : ALLRight Senior Project Officer-MEAL 

Key Working Relationships:

Internal : Nigeria Country Program programming and operations staff; Regional Technical Advisor for Partnership and Capacity Strengthening; the ALLRight STA for Local Partner Resource Mobilization and the HQ ALLRight MEAL PM II

External : JDPC Maiduguri staff and management.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations or related field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
• Experience collaborating or working with local development or humanitarian actors, with specific experience strengthening the capacity of local/national organizations required.