Program Manager I – Disaster Risk Reduction, Republic of Congo At Catholic Relief Services

Job Title: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Program Manager I, Republic of Congo (ROC)

Job Location: Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

Reports to: ROC Deputy Head of Program (DHoP) with dotted line to Program Quality Manager

Salary Grade: 9

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 are accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

Job Summary

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is seeking a dedicated and experienced Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Program Manager I to manage and oversee a two-year USAID/BHA DRR program in the Republic of Congo (RoC). Using a two-pronged approach, the project aims to (1) work with the national government to strengthen its governance, coordination, and capacity for flood Early Warning System (EWS) and dissemination of information to communities; and (2) work with high-risk communities to build community-level resilience and disaster management capacity using the Community-Led Disaster Risk Management (CLDRM) approach. In this way, the project will take both a top-down and bottom-up approach to building resilience and reducing risk. The project will be implemented by CRS RoC and two of its implementing partners – Caritas Congo and the Congolese Red Cross – in four departments of the Northern Republic of Congo: Likouala, Sangha, Cuvette and Plateaux.

The DRR Program Manager I will be responsible for the management and technical oversight of the DRR program, ensuring that it is aligned with CRS’ mission and the needs of the communities it serves. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in disaster risk reduction, program management and community engagement. The primary focus of this role will be to ensure the implementation of quality programming and monitoring and evaluation of program activities according to the project’s scope of work, results framework, and MEAL plan, to successfully manage relationships with program partners, to coordinate reporting and donor deliverables, and to support the coordination and quality documentation of lessons learned and best practices. The Program Manager’s management skills and knowledge will ensure that the project delivers high quality DRR programming results and impact.

The secondary responsibility of the position will be to support the CRS RoC country program in expanding DRR programming and donor engagement. This would include supporting the pursuit and production of high-quality funding proposals to support CRS engagement with institutional DRR donors and initiatives involved in international development in support of the poor and vulnerable.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of the project 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.
• Effectively lead project implementation teams in a matrix-management environment. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• In collaboration with MEAL Coordinator, DHoP, and Technical Advisors oversee the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning, research, and publications in the area of DRR and implementation of MEAL policy. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
• Work closely with country program MEAL staff to oversee the design of high-quality MEAL systems for the project and monitor projects through regular site visits and interviews with project participants and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CP DRR sector portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CP DRR strategic priorities. Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals in DRR per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in DRR for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to DRR and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools, and approaches.
• Oversee, coordinate, and monitor timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
• Representing CRS in meetings, conferences, and workshops to influence decision-making and resource allocation.
• Collaborating with government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to align strategies and improve program effectiveness.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in International Development, International Relations or in the field of DRR required. Additional DRR 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.
• Experience working with USAID-funded programs is highly desirable.

Required Languages – Excellent written and spoken English and French required.

Work Conditions/Environment Conditions: This is a position based in Brazzaville.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 40% to project sites and for DRR influence and positioning events.

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 facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 5 years’ experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical reports, proposals, and scientific papers.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations
• MEAL skills and experience required.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Supervisory Responsibilities: DRR Technical Advisor, EWS Technical Advisor, SILC Officer, Program Officer, and Communication Officer

Key Working Relationships: Program level DRR and EWS Technical Advisors, and Program Officers

Internal: Finance Manager, Grant Officer, Head of Operations, PQ Manager/ MEAL Coordinator, MEAL Officer, Deputy Head of Program, DRR-CCA Regional Technical Advisor, Regional Finance Officer, and Country Representative.

External: CRS Implementing Partners for KOLENDISSA**;** Local Government Officials in DRR; Caritas and church partners; Coordination with other operational INGOs in and around project sites.