Program Manager II, Team Leader Agriculture, DRC
Job Description
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.
Qualifications
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.
