CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES LESOTHO
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Project Manager
Reports to: Head of Programs (HoP)
About CRS
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) 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 in emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
Catholic Relief Services began working in Lesotho in 1976 and has had a physical presence since 2002. Programming areas include health, agriculture/livelihoods, WASH and school feeding/nutrition. CRS has a staff complement of 70 and its programming, in collaboration with local partners, spans all 10 districts in Lesotho. Donors include GIZ, USDA, USAID and Unicef.
About the Project
With funding from the CRS Advancing Local Leadership in the Right Way (ALLRight) Fund, CRS Lesotho is currently supporting Caritas Lesotho to become a leading organization for humanitarian and development programming in Lesotho. Through the ALLRight project, CRS is working to strengthen the resource mobilization capacity of Caritas Lesotho through institutional strengthening, staff capacity building, and accompaniment to ensure that the organization has the operational and technical systems and staff in place to mobilize resources and increase organizational sustainability. The ALLRight project complements and builds on years of capacity strengthening support that CRS and Caritas Lesotho have implemented together.
Job Summary
You will manage ALLRight’s programming in Lesotho, implementing activities in line with the program plan that advances Caritas’ resource mobilization capacities to better serve the poor and vulnerable in Lesotho. Your management skills and capacity-strengthening knowledge will ensure that ALLRight delivers high-quality programming with a lasting impact on Caritas Lesotho’s leadership capacity.
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 in-country project and partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools.
- Provide strategic leadership in the development, identification and dissemination of standardized approaches and best practices to implement the capacity strengthening strategy of the project. Coordinate the identification of technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.
- Work with staff of relevant program, finance and operations sectors, to develop/adapt and provide training, tools, etc. for targeted partner staff. Develop/adapt, provide and/or oversee technical assistance activities with partners, including accompaniment and mentoring.
- Ensure the effective sharing of information, including key decisions, status updates, successes and challenges, with the appropriate people within CRS and partners (in keeping with situational demands and the requirements of established agreements).
- Ensure appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools, and approaches.
- Champion learning with partner team. Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.
- 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, Organizational Development or related field required. Additional experience may substitute for Master’s Degree.
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
- Experience collaborating or working with local development or humanitarian actors, with specific experience strengthening the capacity of local/national organizations required.
Required Languages: Strong written and spoken English required.
Travel: Travel within country required as needed, with some international travel possible for attendance at program-related meetings and workshops. Must be willing and able to travel up to 20%.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
- Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision
- Independent work ethic and ability to complete tasks with minimal supervision.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports.
- Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
- Knowledge of and/or experience using adult learning approaches and conducting capacity strengthening initiatives
- Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
Preferred Competencies
- Experience in organizational development
- Experience in Business Development and Resource Mobilization
- MEAL skills and experience
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: none
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Lesotho Country Program programming and operations staff, particularly Partner Capacity Strengthening and Local Leadership Project Manager and CP MEAL Manager, Regional Business Development Advisor; Regional Technical Advisor for Partnership and Capacity Strengthening; other Technical Advisors from the SARO Region and HQ, based on capacity strengthening needs of Caritas Lesotho.
External: Caritas Lesotho Project Staff
Submission:
Please note that the position is only open to applicants who are Citizens of Lesotho. Interested Basotho candidates should submit their CV and cover letter indicating salary expectations, no later than May 12th, 2023 at 14:00 by email to crslesothojobs@crs.org with the subject line PROJECT MANAGER. If the subject line does not indicate the position, the applicant will not be considered. HARD COPY APPLICATIONS NOT ACCEPTED. ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.
Please be advised that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, all successful candidates will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and their personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate their behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.