Program Manager I at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an International non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist person on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates. CRS re-established presence in Nigeria m 2000 and currently focuses on agriculture, HIV and health extractives and governance, and peace building programming.

• Experience 2 years
• Location Borno
• City Maiduguri

Job Summary

• You will manage programming for disaster risk reduction (DRR) for the DRIVE Program based in CRS Maiduguri.
• You will directly supervise the CRS DRIVE DRR team and provide technical capacity building and leadership to the JDPC DRR team.
•  You will work collaboratively as a team member with the other DRIVE sector leads, especially the SPOs Social Cohesion and Government Liaison to equip communities with skills to prepare for and manage disasters in their communities.
•  You will lead the DRR teams in CRS and JDPC to support communities to self-organize and identify hazards.
• Using a participatory process, you will ensure that DRIVE supports each community to create a community managed disaster plan (CMDP) that prioritizes actions for risk reduction.
• In collaboration with the Social Cohesion team, you will engage targeted participants in social cohesion capacity building.
• Under the leadership of the Program Director, you build the capacity of the JDPC DRR team for DRIVE to plan, sequence, and layer all sector interventions to achieve optimal integration and impact for the poor and vulnerable.
• In collaboration with the SPO Governance you will facilitate JDPC DRR team to mobilize, engage   and orient state government stakeholders in BOSEPA, LEMA, SEMA on DRIVE’s  community DRR planning and implementation.
• You will also   oversee the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, program quality and reporting for DRR activities by JDPC on DRIVE.
• Your management and facilitation skills and knowledge will ensure that DRIVE delivers high-quality, cost effective and locally appropriate programming, and continuously works towards improving the impact of its interventions.
• This position is contingent upon the award of the grant.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage JDPC in the implementation of all DRR activities from project design, start-up, implementation, and close-out. These activities include mobilizing and orienting community stakeholders on DRR planning,  supporting community based recreational activities, facilitating  participatory community engagement on CMDPs,  engaging and providing capacity building to BOSEPA, LEMA and SEMA;
• Mentor and support the JDPC DRR team in the correct use of the appropriate CRS program planning, implementation, and reporting tools.
• Ensure effective planning and integration of DRR interventions with DRIVE activities in ERMS and Livelihoods sectors.
• Represent DRIVE and CRS at all state level sector-based coordination mechanisms for DRR.
• Facilitate and support JDPC’s engagement with key BSG ministries for technical support to DRIVE sector implementation and monitoring, including BOESPA, LEMA and SEMA.
• Support and oversee the JDPC team in the planning and implementation of all market-based input activities, including participant identification, validation, training, mobilization, distribution, follow up and utilization.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise the DRIVE DRR team in CRS. 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 the JDPC DRR team   provide capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.
• Help identify, assess, and strengthen partnerships relevant to DRR.
• 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 

• Project design, planning and management experience in DRR is essential.
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Demonstrable capacities in team working and   cross-sectoral planning and implementation.
•  Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
• Experience in managing relationships and performance in a consortium with local partners.
• Strong representational capacities and skills in collaborating with government stakeholders.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to author reports and make presentations.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Strong capacities in MEAL and reporting, including capturing learning and adapting interventions based on implementation and feedback.
•  Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
•  Experience using CommCare and Power BI is an advantage.
• Experience of using market-based mechanisms and CVA modalities, including the RedRose platform, for provision of agriculture and livelihood inputs to project participants is desirable.

Required Languages – English and Hausa are essential. Knowledge of one or more of the languages spoken in Maiduguri, such as Kanuri or Shuwa Arabic is an advantage.

Travel – The post is based in Maiduguri and includes 40% travel to field locations in MMC/Jere.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Two DRR Program Officer

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Program Director, MEAL Manager, SPO Government Liaison, SPO Social cohesion, other DRIVE sector leads, Senior Admin and Security Officer staff in Maiduguri

External: Sector coordination forums, JDPC DRR team, BOSEPA, SEME, LEMA.

Basic Qualifications

• BSc in environmental engineering, civil engineering or a related subject Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Two years’ experience in Northeast Nigeria in the implementation of similar projects.
• One year’s experience supporting DRR interventions in peri-urban locations with settled IDPs, host communities and returnees.

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