This is a short-term assignment of approximately 5-7 months with the potential to extend.  This posting is contingent upon funding availability.

Background: 

CRS is collaborating on a new, ambitious program called the Bahamas Seagrass Blue Carbon Initiative. The initiative was designed by a consortium involving the Government of Bahamas, investors, a financial company, and climate/environmental scientists. It is designed to restore and protect coastal natural capital in a way that sells carbon credits through the formal carbon market, then uses the proceed of carbon credits to (a) sustain the restoration program and (b) allocate funding for long-term social and economic development. 

CRS has been contracted to serve as the Program Technical Manager for this initiative. CRS will work with other the program partners and sponsors to support the design phase of the program, including: (a) help prioritize project interventions for the short- and medium-term, (b) launch start-up activities in Q2 of 2026, and (c) collaborate with the Government of Bahamas to design a long-term Sustainable Development Strategy, which will be funded in-part through the monetization of carbon credits. CRS is contracted to carry out these design and start-up activities for about five months, and CRS is expected to play a long-term role in program management after this contract.

CRS will hire a Program Manager to oversee the design and start-up phase, working directly with technical partners and sponsors, the Government of the Bahamas, and other stakeholders. The Program Manager will coordinate with a CRS Technical Working Group, including CRS Innovative Finance Team, CRS Climate Finance Unit, CRS/EMPOWER, and LACRO.

Job Summary:  

The Program Manager for the Bahamas Blue Carbon initiative will provide technical support to local stakeholders in the Bahamas to develop, coordinate and accompany implementation of the Bahamas Blue Carbon Development Program. S/he will organize capacity building and accompaniment of partners, with the goal of ensuring climate finance projects are in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your technical knowledge, advice and guidance will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ programming is across the globe.

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

Project Management:

• Engage with technical partners and sponsors in the Bahamas to plan and coordinate activities.
• Manage CRS’ activities for the Program, including: 

(a) help prioritize project interventions for the short- and medium-term. 

(b) launch start-up activities in Q2 of 2026; and 

(c) collaborate with the Government of Bahamas to design a strategy for a long-term Sustainable Development Program.

• Identify and contract local partners and sub-contractors to support the start-up activities.
• Coordinate and support local partners and subcontractors, ensure quality implementation 
• Ensure all activities are in line with CRS quality principles and standards.
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
• Ensure safeguarding and protection protocol are established and adhered to.

Monitoring and Reporting: 

• Report to CRS, technical partners, and sponsors on progress, challenges, and recommendations.
• Establish monitoring and reporting protocol, aligned with the monitoring, reporting, and verification system that is being designed with technical partners. 
• Coordinate technical support to local stakeholders in the Bahamas for strategic planning and how to best apply program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E, ensuring high-quality implementation.
• Develop and maintain strong collaboration with CRS technical experts and, in agreement with partners, develop SOWs for in-country support for partners as needed -- especially for technical support in climate finance, environmental restoration and others as selected by the local stakeholders.

Learning:

• Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic projects, assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.
• Contribute to the development of CRS capacity in Climate Finance that effectively engage partners, donors and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• Ensure a quality partnership between CRS and EMPOWER partners in line with CRS and Caritas Internationalis (CI) partnership principles; ensure coordinated, consistent partner strengthening efforts and support timely resolution of partnership challenges via dialogue and support from others, as appropriate. 
• Support quality partner-led program development, through participation in donor discussions and ensuring quality program design, budgeting and reporting. 

Required Languages – English (required)

Travel - Must be willing and able to spend at least 50% of time in the Bahamas during this contract period. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: none

Key Working Relationships:  

Internal: Senior Technical Advisor – Innovative Finance Team; Climate Finance Unit; EMPOWER Global Director, EMPOWER Caribbean Focal Point, EMPOWER LAC Team Lead, LACRO Program Quality Deputy Regional Director.

External: CML, ArtCap, Laconic, Beneath the Waves,The Government of the Bahamas, Caritas Antilles

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields: environmental management, program management – or extensive experience demonstrating technical knowledge and skills.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience managing relevant field-based development and environmental restoration projects.
• Experience in managing complex projects with multiple partners.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s Degree
• Experience in an international NGO an advantage  
• Familiar with CRS principles 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated capacity for collaborating with government partners and other local stakeholders and the ability to manage multi-stakeholder planning and partner implementation. 
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Proven ability to work independently in a complex and dynamic working environment. 
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors.
• Excellent communicator and partnership management skills
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical reports.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations
• 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

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.

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.