Program Manager I – Education and PSS

  • Contract
  • Beirut Lebanon
  • TBD USD / Year
  • Salary: TBD

Catholic Relief Services

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.

Job Summary:

You will manage Education and Psychosocial Support (PSS) programming in the Lebanon Country Program (CP) for Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) projects implemented in Lebanon and outreach countries. You will design and implement projects 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 projects to benefit those we serve.

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 project team and partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools.
  • 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.
  • 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 in respective programming area, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.
  • Coordinate the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.
  • Help identify, assess and strengthen partnerships relevant to the education and psychosocial support sectors, applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
  • Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Through planning and oversight ensure efficient use of project resources

Basic Qualifications

  • Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, Education, Social Work, or 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 projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
  • Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Required Languages – Fluent written and spoken Arabic and English required

Travel– Must be willing and able to travel approximately 20% to 30% of time.

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

Preferred Qualifications

  • Project management experience in education, PSS and/or emergency response & recovery is highly desirable.
  • Experience engaging with partner organizations.
  • Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
  • MEAL skills and experience preferred.
  • Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

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.

  • Integrity
  • Continuous Improvement & Innovation
  • Builds Relationships
  • Develops Talent
  • Strategic Mindset
  • Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisory Responsibilities

Project Officers (3)

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Program Managers, Project Officers, Finance department, Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Country Representative, Head of Office, Sector specific Technical Advisors

External: Partner teams including – program and operations staff and executive leadership, donors, other INGOs in sector working groups

***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. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

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

How to apply

Anyone interested in applying for this position should send a CV and a Cover Letter by email to [email protected]

The subject of the application should be ‘Program Manager I’.

Deadline for submissions is 17 October 2022. Late submissions will not be accepted.