*This position is contingent upon donor approval of funding.

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, health, agriculture, education, and peacebuilding.

Background:

CRS has been working on behalf of Afghan communities 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 inaccessible communities.

CRS is currently implementing programs in the provinces of Bamiyan, Daykundi, Ghor, Herat, and Kabul, and is exploring additional expansion. CRS maintains five main offices in the country as well as several sub-offices that support the direct implementation of program activities. With over 200 staff, the Country Program is growing to meet new needs throughout the country.

CRS has invested significantly in improved livelihoods in Afghanistan, with a focus on supporting agricultural livelihoods as well as developing and alternative livelihoods. CRS provides livelihoods recovery and development support to vulnerable and shock-affected groups in Afghanistan, integrating disaster risk reduction and climate resilience elements to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of improvements to livelihoods.

As a Program Manager for Livelihoods, you will manage projects designed to strengthen economic recovery and stability as well as climate resilience. You will manage an EU-funded project in Daikundi and Herat provinces, and you may be asked to manage smaller complementary projects or activities as needed. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its livelihoods and climate resilience programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and implement all activities throughout the project cycle - 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 the project team uses the appropriate systems and tools.
• Identify and manage key project risks, in collaboration with CRS’ operations departments.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Coordinate the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of CRS staff and partner organizations, and lead capacity strengthening interventions to support staff growth and quality project implementation.
• 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.
• Act as a key resource person in project design and proposal development of livelihoods programming, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed. This may include leading design workshops, writing proposals and supporting documents, and leading or supporting budget development.
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Provide strong planning and oversight to ensure efficient use of project resources, including financial management and reporting in line with donor and prime requirements.
• Lead reporting processes for assigned projects, ensuring that high-quality reports are compiled as per prime agency and donor requirements and are shared by the deadline.
• Lead project registration processes and serve as a programmatic focal point to ensure coordination of planning and implementation with the relevant sectoral and line Ministries.
• Promote CRS’ Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct and Ethics, ensuring that team members are trained and implementing programming with a Do No Harm approach.

• Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations, Agriculture, or in a related field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex rural livelihoods projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
• Demonstrated experience in team supervision and capacity strengthening.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Strong supervision and team management skills, with an ability to create a psychologically safe environment for staff growth.
• Demonstrated financial management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience engaging with partner organizations, especially as a subrecipient.
• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
• MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Experience working with the EU as a donor.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Senior Project Officers

Key Working Relationships:  

Internal: Head of Programming, Deputy Head of Programming, Head of Operations, Technical Advisors (CP, Regional, Global), Finance Manager, Supply Chain Manager, HR Manager.

External: Donor representatives, peer organizations, local and national NGOs, sectoral and line Ministries.

Required Languages – Fluency in English (spoken and written) required. Proficiency in Dari or Pashto a plus.

Travel – This position will be based in Herat province. As this project will be implemented across multiple provinces, there will be anticipated travel within Afghanistan (primarily to Daikundi) as well as to field sites up to 50%. Occasional international travel may be requested.

CRS is committed to providing daily allowances for mahram who accompany female staff on day trips to the field, and per diem and accommodation for mahram who accompany female staff on work-related trips that require overnight stays.

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.

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 is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Protection Acknowledgment: CRS prohibits all forms of abuse and exploitation towards children and vulnerable adults. As a professional candidate, you commit to adhering to the Agency’s policy on protection, rights and dignity of children and vulnerable adults and to safeguard them from abuse and exploitation as defined in CRS’ Safeguarding Policy

Applications comprise a one-page cover letter to explain your interest and suitability for the post and your CV. Please do not attach your education documents and work certificates unless requested.

Dear Applicants!

The process of submitting a CV/Application has been changed to the online system. Therefore, interested candidates are encouraged to apply using the link provided below. Applications sent to any other email address or location will not be considered. Please ensure to rename your application file according to your name entered on the first page of the application forms.

Interested candidates can submit their applications by clicking on this link.

Please note that applications received after the closing date (i.e., December 07^th, 2024), will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for tests and interviews.

In line with CRS policy on gender equity, qualified women whose qualifications meet the requirements of above-mentioned position are particularly welcome to apply.