**Base Location: Gaza, as security allows**

Job Summary

CRS is seeking a Program Manager to lead and provide management and strategic oversight of its Gaza Psychosocial Support (PSS), Food Security and Livelihoods programming. The Program Manager will manage a multi-donor portfolio and through strong project management skills ensure that effective systems and processes are in place to support high-quality programming in a constantly changing context.

Based in Gaza, the Program Manager II will play a key role in ensuring strong coordination across teams to enable effective project implementation—particularly among the PSS, food security and emerging livelihoods teams. The role also involves close collaboration with other sectors, including shelter, WASH, supply chain, and operations. Your strong management skills and technical expertise will help ensure that the Country Program delivers high-quality programming and continually enhances the impact of its emergency response efforts while ensuring a responsive approach to early recovery.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of all new and existing projects within the CP PSS, Food Security and emerging Livelihoods portfolio 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 manage talent and supervise teams, ensuring strong coordination among them, while fostering positive team dynamics and supporting staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailored individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. 
• Lead the development of program learning—identify opportunities for learning, research and publications in the area of PSS, Food Security and Livelihoods and implementation of MEAL policy. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency's knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
• Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CP PSS, Food Security and Livelihoods portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CP Emergency Response and Recovery strategic priorities. Serve as the technical lead and/or coordinate with relevant technical advisors to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in PSS, Food Security and Livelihoods for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to PSS, Food Security and Livelihoods and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures are in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• 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.
• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USG funding. 
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals and reports. 
• Experience engaging with partner organizations and in capacity strengthening 
• 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. 
• Strong emotional intelligence and soft skills to support teams working under high levels of stress.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Required Languages: English fluency (written and verbal) is required, knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.

Travel: This position is based in Gaza as security allows. Rotations into/out of Gaza require regular travel between Gaza and Jordan/Jerusalem. Regular travel to Jerusalem required to CRS’ office. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: PSS Senior Project Officer, Food Security Project Officer, others to be determined. 

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: Head of Programs, Country Representative, Deputy Country Representative for Operations, Operations Manager, Supply Chain and Procurement team, Program Managers, MEAL Manager, BD/Grants Technical Advisors, Humanitarian Response Department staff; PSS, Food Security and Livelihoods Technical Advisors

External: United Nations and international NGOs, humanitarian clusters and working groups in Gaza, institutional donors. 

Basic Qualifications

• Master's degree in Humanitarian Assistance, International Development, International Relations or related to the fields of PSS, Food Security or Livelihoods required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in relevant field-based project management required, with preferably at least 3 years working experience in complex emergencies. 
• Experience in managing a diverse portfolio of moderately complex projects, preferably for an INGO. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferably 8 years of experience in a relevant field-based project management.
• Experience working with diverse teams across multiple sectors. 
• Experience working in the Middle East is an advantage.
• Experience with distributions in complex humanitarian settings, and knowledge of logistics, supply chain, and operations is an advantage.
• Experience working in conflict/post conflict settings specifically leading and managing projects in a humanitarian/emergency response is an advantage.
• Experience managing and/or designing PSS, Food Security, or Livelihoods projects is an advantage.
• Understanding of MEAL for learning and adaptive management required, understanding of data management and ability to use ICT4D (CommCare, PowerBi, etc) a plus

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions. 
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  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 safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, 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 committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

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.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.