Note: this is a short-term position of three months. 

About CRS RDC

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the most populous, vast and resource rich countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Decades of conflict and other challenges over the past decades have left the Congo with 73% of its population living under the internationally recognized poverty rate of $1.90 per day and 43% of children are malnourished due to inadequate social and health services. Given its fragility and weak institutions, the country is susceptible to health crises, including recent outbreaks of Ebola, measles, cholera and potentially COVID-19.

CRS has operated in the DRC since 1961, successfully implementing programs in nutrition, agriculture livelihoods, emergency, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health, microfinance, and peacebuilding throughout the country. CRS/DRC currently has around 190 staff operating out of 5 offices in Kinshasa, Goma (North Kivu), Kananga (Kasai Central), Mbuji Mayi (Kasai Oriental), and Kalemie (Tanganyika).

Job Summary

The Program Manager II is responsible in managing and providing technical oversight of the implementation of the Food For Asset- agriculture and livelihoods – related programming during the close-out of the Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA), 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 RFSA programming. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of development and implementation of agriculture and livelihood interventions under the DRC RFSA throughout the project cycle to ensure project implementation, and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Effectively manage talent contributing to agriculture and livelihoods interventions and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Lead the development of program learning - identify opportunities for learning, research and publications in agriculture and livelihoods 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.
• Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CP agriculture and livelihood interventions portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CP agriculture and livelihood interventions strategic priorities. Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals in agriculture and livelihood interventions per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals. 
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in for staff and partner organizations involved in RFSA livelihood and agriculture programming to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to RFSA agriculture and livelihoods programming and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools, and approaches.
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, Agrobusiness, Agronomy or a relevant field 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 agriculture and livelihoods.
• Experience in managing large-scale, complex projects preferably with an international NGO.
• Experience in all components of livelihoods programming (creation and support of small businesses, livelihood resilience, market development, private sector development), and themes of savings and capital, income-generating activities, and agricultural production. Experience should include on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm livelihoods.
• Significant experience in agriculture programming including crop and livestock, seed systems, market systems and value chains, and environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, Agrobusiness, Agronomy or a relevant field required. 
• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations and managing relationships with external stakeholders including private sector actors and government structures.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• MEAL skills and experience required.
• Knowledgeable  in using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
• 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.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.
• 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

Required Languages: English, French. Proficiency in Congolese languages is desirable.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 70 %. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

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.