Program Manager I, Disaster Risk Reduction & Emergencies: Timor-Leste

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.

CRS Timor-Leste currently has a diverse portfolio of projects, including agriculture livelihoods (nutrition-sensitive agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, technical assistance for enhanced productivity), peacebuilding, saving and internal lending communities (SILC), disaster risk reduction (DRR), humanitarian response, and water security. Current donors include United States Agency of International Development (USAID), USAID/Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, Australian Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and Latter-Day Saints.

Job Summary:

As part of the CRS Timor-Leste Country Programming team, you will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the Country Program's (CP) disaster risk reduction (DRR) and emergency programming portfolios, specifically the Resiliencia Di’ak Plus (ReDi+), and Prepared and Resilient (PAR) 4 projects, and lead the country program's emergency preparedness initiatives and responses. You will also actively participate in and contribute to strategic Business Development (BD) efforts.

You will ensure effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing CRS’ work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its disaster risk reduction and emergency programming. In line with agency and regional commitment to work toward greater diversity and increasingly local CP leadership teams, you will prioritize local leadership and hiring, training and mentoring of high-capacity national staff capable to take senior program positions.

This position will be based in Baucau, with reoccurring travel to Dili to participate in National-level meetings, as needed.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of all new and existing projects within the CP’s disaster risk reduction 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.
• Coordinate directly with government and NGO stakeholders on national disaster risk reduction and emergency response initiatives, such as serving as the focal point for the national Cash Working Group, Humanitarian Partners' Meetings and coordinating with the Australian Humanitarian Partnership.
• Provide program quality oversight of the DRR projects, including leading the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning and research in the area of DRR and emergencies in compliance with MEAL policy requirements. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Support direct reports to articulate concrete professional development goals and strategically tailor individual development plans, provide coaching and complete performance management for direct reports. Coach and mentor, the two DRR project managers as they oversee implementation of the DRR projects and support their career development timeline and succession planning.
• Oversee technical assistance and long-term capacity strengthening activities for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact, including facilitation of trainings and development of emergency preparedness plans for the Country Program.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to DRR and emergency response, 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.
• Provide direction and oversight for emergency preparedness and emergency responses led by the CP, including the development of Emergency Response Plans and Standard Operating Procedures for different response modalities i.e. Cash, Vouchers and In-Kind.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• 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 training facilitation skills.
• Ability and willingness to learn new concepts quickly
• Able to work independently and quickly, often in time-sensitive environments.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Required Languages – English written and spoken proficiency; Tetun is preferred.

Travel- Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% to field locations in Timor-Leste and to the capital Dili.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 2-3 Project Managers

Key Working Relationships:

Internal:Head of Programming, Head of Office, Operations Manager, Country Manager, Finance Manager, Agriculture Program Manager, MEAL Manager, MEAL Project Officers; Subregional BD Specialist and Regional Technical Advisors as needed

External:Other International Non-governmental organizations (INGO), local partners, donors and government stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in international development, Disaster Risk Reduction, Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, or another relevant field. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Project management experience in climate change adaptation is highly desirable.
• Experience in market –based programming and Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) is a plus.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Experience working in a multi-cultural environment.
• Prior business development experience.
• MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Strong experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID and DFAT.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience leading and working with diverse teams composed of multiple sectoral backgrounds (ie. agriculture, DRR, operations, finance, climate change).

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.

***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.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

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