Job Summary:

CRS Malawi focuses on supporting families and communities to recover and thrive through integrated and layered interventions in food security, agriculture and livelihoods, health system strengthening and access to essential services, with a focus on supporting youth, women, and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). CRS builds acceptance through long-term presence in the communities we serve, working across the peace–humanitarian–development ‘triple nexus’, and pivoting effectively between emergency response, recovery, and resilience-building to support communities on their journey towards self-reliance. Within this framework, the CRS country program (CP) in Malawi will prioritize the following priority goal areas and crosscutting priorities in fiscal years 2024–2030:

• Market-led Land Restoration (Agriculture/Livelihoods, Soil, Climate)
• Health, Social Services and Nutrition (MNCH, HIV/OVC)
• Graduation
• Emergency Response 
• Integrated programming across all sectoral areas include partnership/LL, SDP, WASH, youth and GESI.

You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the Country Program (CP) Health, Social Services and Nutrition and Emergency Response programming, particularly for large and complex projects, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of projects within the CP 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 (i.e. Jon Bon Jovi (JBJ) Foundation, Latter Day Saints Charities (LDSC), and Discretionary Funding (DF) initiatives). 
• Contribute to donor communications including donor report reviews and other visibility/Business Development (BD) materials for new business relationships. Emphasis will be on the oversight of the JBJ project, serving as the lead liaison alongside the JBJ PM for day-to-day donor communications. 
• Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports, and provide supportive supervision. Effectively manage and supervise the JBJ PM to support her team leadership and responsiveness to JBJ donor direction and support. Assist the PM in managing team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide technical solutions to CP project teams for strategic planning and how to best apply standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools and M&E, helping to ensure high-quality implementation.
• Working closely with the CR, contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CP programming portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CRS Malawi strategic priorities. Focus will be the Global Fund/Country Coordination Mechanism opportunity, World Bank (WB) initiative and other opportunities that will emerge.
• Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals in the CP aligned with agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.
• Support the HoP launch CP strategy refresh, quarterly PQ assessments, and the oversight of key initiatives being funded by non-core DF funds.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to CP programs and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches. 
• Support PMs in ensuring timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources (for JBJ, LDSC and other projects).

Required Languages – English fluency (written and verbal) required

Travel – The position is based in Lilongwe, Malawi. Must be willing and able to travel up to 40%, primarily to project sites in Malawi.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes 

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in International Development or International Relations, or a specialized Master’s degree related to education and/or health required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of education and health.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.
• MEAL skills and experience required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree
• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public, and private donors.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations. Experience working in partnership with government ministries and departments preferable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
• 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. Ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.

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.  Salary and 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.