Program Manager I - Emergency Response

Job Title: Program Manager I - Emergency Response

Reports to: Head of Programming

Department: Programming

Location: Kampala

This position is open to Ugandan nationals only

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply by October 23, 2026 no later than 5pm.

Please note that CRS is recruiting in anticipation of an award – recruitment for all candidates is contingent upon successful award of the project.   

Job Summary

As the Program Manager, you will lead the management and technical oversight of all Shelter and WASH related programming in the proposed refugee settlements. You will ensure effective systems and processes are in place to support high-quality programming that advances Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) mission of serving poor and vulnerable populations.

The Program Manager will be responsible for the overall planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of project activities in line with the project scope of work, results framework, and M&E plan. The successful candidate will provide technical guidance and capacity strengthening support to local partners and stakeholders and oversee project implementation across assigned geographic areas, ensuring quality, accountability, and timely delivery of results. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CRS Uganda delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its emergency response and recovery programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of all Shelter and WASH program activities 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 for emergency response and recovery programs and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailored individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. 
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in emergency and humanitarian response for CRS staff, local partner organizations, government counterparts, and other relevant stakeholders to enhance preparedness, response capacity, program quality, and impact.
• Provide technical leadership and assistance to strengthen humanitarian systems, policies, standards, and practices in Uganda. Support government, civil society, faith-based, and community actors to develop and operationalize frameworks, standard operating procedures, tools, and guidance at national and subnational levels. 
• Collaborate with the CRS Uganda Programming leadership and colleagues from the global CRS Humanitarian Response Department to identify, document, and disseminate lessons learned, promising practices, and innovations from proposed Shelter and WASH program. Support knowledge management, adaptive management, and the integration of evidence and learning into program design and implementation.
• Contribute to the growth of CRS's emergency and humanitarian response portfolio by proactively identifying funding opportunities and supporting proposal development. Serve as a technical lead and/or writer for emergency and humanitarian response proposals, ensuring quality design, budgeting, staffing plans, and alignment with CRS and donor requirements.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to Shelter, WASH and emergency and humanitarian response, 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.
• Represent CRS in relevant coordination forums, clusters, and technical working groups, engaging effectively with government counterparts, donors, UN agencies, local partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and advance humanitarian and program objectives.

Undertake other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor, consistent with the scope and level of the position, to support evolving programmatic priorities and advance the broader CRS Uganda emergency and humanitarian response portfolio.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• 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 US government and UN.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals and reports.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations, Community Development, or in the field of disaster management, WASH or engineering. 
• Demonstrated ability to convene, coordinate, and facilitate complex multi-stakeholder consultations and partnerships involving government, development partners, technical agencies, academia, and community stakeholders.

Required Languages - Fluent English is required. Working proficiency in local language is a plus.

Travel - include percentage of required travel, if applicable. Could be stated as Must be willing and able to travel up to 30 %.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes, including but not limited to Project Officers and Senior Project Officers and project MEAL staff. 

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: CRS Country Representative, Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Uganda-based technical experts for MEAL, Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion (GYSI) and Partner Capacity Strengthening (PCS), Regional and Headquarters technical staff. 

External: Local partner staff, representatives from for-profit and other non-profit organizations and relevant national, district, sub-county, parish and other government stakeholders, community leaders.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, Community Development, or in the field of disaster management, climate adaptation or resilience required.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in relevant field-based project management experience. 
• Strong knowledge of Shelter, WASH and humanitarian response sectors, Uganda's coordination mechanisms, and protection principles to support safe, dignified, and effective planning, coordination, and program implementation. 
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects.
• Experience in an international NGO. 
• Experience working closely with local partner organizations.

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.

Please Note: 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer: We encourage all qualified candidates to apply for this position, including individuals from marginalized backgrounds and people with disabilities. Please ensure you follow the instructions outlined below when applying.

This position is open to Ugandan nationals only.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply by October 23, 2026 no later than 5pm.

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.