Head of Programming I, Afghanistan and Pakistan

CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, 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. 

Background:

CRS has been accompanying Afghan communities and partners since 2002, providing emergency relief, WASH, education, improved agricultural livelihoods, integrated natural resource management and market system development, alongside other complementary life‐enriching services to households and communities across the country. Over the last year, CRS has been supporting programs in the provinces of Bamiyan, Ghor, Herat, and partnering with a growing base of local actors to implement interventions across provinces of Balkh, Lagman, Logar, Kabul, Kunar, Kunduz, Nangahar, Samangan, Sar-e Pol.  

Meanwhile, Pakistan is also among the most climate-vulnerable countries globally, facing recurrent floods, droughts, glacial melt, heatwaves, and erratic monsoons that compound poverty, displacement, and food insecurity. In this context, CRS is catalyzing transformative change by influencing systems to effectively meet the needs and aspirations of the poor and vulnerable. CRS Pakistan is focusing on high-impact emergency response and recovery in provinces of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, embedding disaster risk reduction and climate resilience approaches. 

As a member of the Afghanistan and Pakistan Business Management Unit (BMU) Senior Management Team, you will provide strategic direction, leadership, and management of the BMU’s programming to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. Your leadership, management, and knowledge will ensure that the BMU delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming. As part of the Senior Management Team, you will proactively manage risks.

 Roles and Key Responsibilities:

·       In collaboration with the Country Representative (CR) provide strategic direction for the design of the CP strategic frameworks and plans, including the development of resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of programming interventions in line with regional and agency strategic priorities.

·       Lead high-quality project design incorporating project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope, context and technical requirements of projects. Coordinate planning of activities across various projects from different sectors to ensure integration of program interventions and efficiency in implementation.

·       Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailored individual development plans, and complete performance assessment for direct reports. Contribute to developing staffing plans for projects and to the recruitment process of senior project staff.

·       Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze, and respond quickly to deficiencies. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management overseeing implementation of the MEAL policy, as well as cross-sectoral and cross-department learning.

·       Coordinate with CP operations leads to ensuring appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.

·       Coordinate with CP operations leads to ensuring appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.

·       In coordination with resource mobilization, staff oversee the business development cycle to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards. 

·       Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools, and approaches.

·       Ensure technical assistance and capacity strengthening for project teams and partners in project management standards and related MEAL, business development and operational activities. Identify training opportunities, develop training curriculums, and deliver trainings.

·       Bachelor's Degree in International Development, International Relations or relevant field.

·       Minimum 5-8 years of relevant field-based program management, at least two years of senior management experience evolving diversified programs and donors.

·       Experience in the development of successful proposals, reports, strategic alliances, project design, project management, and monitoring and evaluation. Experience in partner capacity strengthening, staff development, training, and mentoring, as well as in team building and strategic planning initiatives. 

·       Experience in community development, community mobilization, or similar grassroots, self-help initiatives.

·       Experience in project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc., preferably for projects funded by multiple public donors, including USG, EU and FCDO.

·       Experience with successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding.

Preferred Qualifications 

·       Master’s degree in international development, International Relations or related field.

·       Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships.

 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

·       Excellent English writing skills.

·       Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.

·       Experience and abilities in capacity strengthening - developing curricula and facilitating trainings.

·       Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge sharing networks.

·       Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.

·       Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.

·       Team leadership abilities

·       Presentation and facilitation skills

·       Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented

 Required Languages – Professional working proficiency in English

 Travel - The position requires internal travel up to 60% of the time, including international travel between the two countries and ad-hoc travel elsewhere for agency and donor meetings.

 Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• 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. 

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.  

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 

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

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 safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer 

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

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

Applications comprise a one-page cover letter to explain your interest and suitability for the post and your CV. 

Dear Applicants!

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., August 21^st, 2026), will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for tests and interviews.