Job Title: Program Manager I, WASH
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
Background
CRS’ presence in Uganda began in 1965 as an emergency relief effort of CRS Kenya to assist Sudanese refugees fleeing their country. Relief assistance continued throughout the 1980s as Rwandan and Congolese refugees flowed into Uganda to escape internal conflicts. In 1995, CRS established an office in Kampala to better assist the Ugandan people as armed conflict broke out between the Lord’s Resistance Army rebel group and the government of Uganda. Today, CRS Uganda’s core program areas are agriculture, disaster response, health, HIV and Aids, microfinance, peace building and water and sanitation. CRS’ work reflects and expresses the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and assists persons on the basis of need, not race, creed, or nationality.
Since the situation in South Sudan suddenly deteriorated in early December 2013, the UNHCR Office reports approximately 104,635 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Uganda. There are currently seven settlements hosting South Sudanese refugees in northern Uganda. CRS, in partnership with Caritas Gulu, has been responding to this humanitarian crisis since February 2014 with emergency WASH infrastructure and software interventions in Ayilo I Settlement.
Refugees continue to arrive in Uganda from South Sudan on a daily basis. As the existing settlements fill up, additional sites are being surveyed jointly by the Office of the Prime Minister and UNHCR to open a new settlement either in Adjumani or Moyo Districts for new arrivals. CRS recently submitted a comprehensive, evidence-based project proposal to meet the WASH needs in the new refugee settlement. The project and position are contingent upon external funding.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Program Quality and Management:
- Steer, supervise and support six CRS staff in the design, management, implementation and monitoring of community based WASH activities.
- Ensure proactive project management through strong adherence to program quality standards, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEAL) and evidence based decisions.
- Ensure project adheres to national and international standards (Sphere, WHO, WASH cluster and the Government of Uganda) and Do No Harm principles.
- Provide management support and technical guidance to the WASH team on issues of hygiene sensitization, procurement, supply, and oversight of construction activities to ensure timely completion.
- Ensure all WASH programs have strong M&E systems in place and that lessons learned and best practices are being documented.
- Develop high quality case-studies that can be shared with donor and government officials.
- Ensure timely communication of project progress with the CRS Country Manager, donor and government highlighting project impact against indicators.
- Ensure proper baseline and end of project evaluation surveys are conducted in a timely manner and ensure regular project reflections.
- Ensure systematic water quality testing is conducted to ensure water is safe and meets the Government of Uganda’s minimum standards.
2. Grant and Financial Management:
- Ensure grant compliance according to donor requirements and flexibilities and communicate challenges/constraints/opportunities to senior management.
- Monitor project expenses, ensure strong budget management and conduct budget analysis to ensure project is completed within budget.
- Ensure that cash forecasts are accurate and timely.
- Take lead in the preparation of monthly, quarterly and final project progress and financial reports to CRS Region/HQ and external donors
- Develop and manage budgets for WASH projects including submission of monthly/quarterly cash forecasts and effective tracking of expenditures
3. Program Growth and Capacity Building:
- Develop new proposals in collaboration with the project team, and work on concept papers and budgets for WASH interventions
- Identify capacity building needs of the project and organize capacity building opportunities as needed
4. Information and Coordination:
- Represent CRS in meetings or discussions with government/donor/NGOs/WASH cluster.
- Provide regular updates to the Country Manager on progress, priorities and constraints – verbally and in writing.
- Maintain regular communication with the Regional Technical Advisors on WASH, MEAL and Humanitarian Response/ICT4D.
- Ensure documentation and communication of project activities and learning with the country program.
5. HR and Staff Development:
- Identify staffing needs on a timely basis to ensure appropriate recruitments.
- Support orientation of all new team members in CRS’ mission and vision, values based behaviors, and organizational culture.
- Promote a culture of respect, learning, professionalism and excellence on the team.
- Identify talent and provide on the job learning and other growth opportunities to develop new leaders in the country program.
- Deliberately work to develop and grow national staff to assume progressively more senior positions on the team.
- Set a good example of self-care. Identify stress in team members and support constructive coping behaviors.
6. Security:
- Ensure adherence by staff and self to CRS security protocols and contribute to updating as requested.
- Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as engineering, public health or a related field.
- At least five years’ of related work experience, plus a preferred minimum of two years’ experience managing post disaster WASH projects
- Past experience in community development, community mobilization, or similar self-help initiatives
- Experience in hygiene promotion, information/education/communication for hygiene, water supply management, and WASH needs assessments
- Experience in the creation of WASH facilities in a transitional settlement
- A proven track record in managing a large team of professional technical personnel. An interest in and ability to build capacity in implementing teams and community bodies, with a focus on community participation.
- Ability to work in partnership with local communities, NGOs, local Church, local government and the WASH cluster as appropriate.
- An awareness of local construction technologies and materials
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills. Ability to read, analyze and interpret administrative reports, technical procedures, or government regulations.
- Ability to write reports, and procedure manuals and effectively present information and respond to questions from CRS senior management.
- Effective and efficient budget/financial management skills
- Fluency in English (both spoken and written).
- Self-reliance and an ability to work in a challenging and demanding environment, under little supervision.
Program Manager Personal Competencies:
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each program manager to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.
- Sets clear goals and manages toward them
- Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders
- Manages financial resources with integrity
- Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning
- Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
- Serves with Integrity
- Models Stewardship
- Cultivates Constructive Relationships
- Promotes Learning
How to apply for the job:
All those interested in working with Catholic relief Services (CRS) in the above capacity should click the Link below
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