Program Manager II, EMPOWER Asia At Catholic Relief Services

Job Description:

Job Title: Program Manager II, EMPOWER Asia
Reports to: Deputy Regional Director – Program Quality
Department: Asia Region
Salary Grade: 10

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.
In October 2021, the CRS Asia Region will launch EMPOWER Asia, a capacity strengthening project that will support CRS strategic national-NGO partners in the region to improve their capacity to deliver effective emergency assistance and play a leading role in the provision of humanitarian assistance. The EMPOWER Asia project will employ a flexible a pproach, with strategic partners, accompanied by CRS Country Programs, completing self-assessments and then developing improvement plans, with concrete, m easurable deliverables. The EMPOWER Asia project will fund implementation of improvement plans, with implementation led by strategic partners, accompanied by their CRS Country Program partners and the EMPOWER Asia Core Team. In facilitating assessments and improvement plan development and implementation, the project will focus on four major areas: improving technical capacity for emergency response, improving organizational policies and procedures, improving coordination skills, and improving knowledge management. The project will utilize proven capacity strengthening models, and will employ a variety of strategies to strengthen capacity based on partner needs and priorities, potentially including trainings, workshops, learning events, peer-to-peer exchanges, simulations, coaching, and short-term deployments to provide on-the-job tr aining. The project will be funded by an initial investment of regional strategic funds in FY22, and the EMPOWER Asia Core Team will actively seek additio nal internal and external funds to expand the project’s reach and the depth of the support it provides to strategic partners.
Job Summary:
In the role of EMPOWER Asia Coordinator, you will coordinate, manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the EMPOWER Asia capacity strengthening project, targeting strategic national-level CRS partners within the Asia Region, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming that advances CRS’s work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the EMPOWER Asia project team delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of investments in strengthening the capacity of strategic par tners to lead emergency preparedness and responses activities in their respective countries.
Note: This is an international telecommuter position, with a preferred location for the position in the Asia Region, or in a time zone that permits at least 4 hours per day of overlap with Asia Region business hours (GMT+7).

Required Languages – Fluent spoken and written English.
Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 40% of the time to countries within the Asian region. This may include India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Timor Leste, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Philippines.
Supervisory Responsibilities: None during project start-up. Depending on the needs and priorities of strategic partners, the EMPOWER Asia may hire additional Core Team staff, who will be supervised by the EMPOWER Asia Coo rdinator.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong demonstrated experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality technical proposals and reports.
• Experience with building the capacity of partnership organizations, including to serve in leadership roles, preferably in emergency situations. Experience working with Caritas partners a plus.
• Experience with humanitarian organization systems.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience working in Asia a plus.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or a related field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years ex perience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in complex emergencies in partnership with local humanitarian actors.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.

*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-empl oyment 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 candi dates 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**

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to servi ng those in need.