Program Manager I

Job Description

CRS JOB ADVERT – INTERNAL & EXTERNAL 

WOMEN ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY 

CRS is recruiting for Position: X 1 – Program Manager I. 

If you are interested and your profile matches the requirements, please read the below job  descriptions, and follow the instructions to submit your application package.  

Job Title: Program Manager I 

Department: Programs/Urban Resilience 

Reports To: Director CVP 

Country: Catholic Relief Services Sierra Leone 

Duty Location: CRS Freetown 

Job Summary: 

You will manage and lead the SURWaS project within the Country Office, ensuring high-quality  design, implementation, monitoring, stakeholder engagement, learning, and financial stewardship.  Your management skills and technical knowledge will ensure achievement of project objectives,  compliance with donor and CRS standards, and continuous improvement of project impact in water  security, urban resilience, governance, climate adaptation, and systems strengthening. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

• Manage and implement all activities throughout the project cycle, including design, start-up,  implementation, monitoring, adaptive management, and close-out, ensuring compliance with  CRS program quality principles, donor requirements, approved work plans, budgets, and project  targets. 
• Provide overall leadership, coordination, and technical oversight for SURWaS project  implementation. Ensure project teams and partners use appropriate systems, tools,  safeguarding measures, accountability mechanisms, and quality standards. 
• Effectively manage talent and supervise project staff. Provide coaching, support staff well-being,  lead performance management processes, contribute to recruitment, and strengthen team  capacity. 
• Champion learning and evidence-based decision-making. Analyze project performance data  with the MEAL Manager for both CVP and SURWaS, monitor indicators and targets, document  lessons learned, and apply learning to improve project effectiveness. 
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement with government institutions, local partners, communities,  church structures, civil society organizations, and private sector actors to support project  objectives and sustainability. 
• Coordinate identification of partner capacity and technical assistance needs and support  capacity-strengthening interventions to ensure quality implementation and stronger  partnerships. 
• Act as a key resource person in project design, proposal development, technical review  processes, and business development opportunities related to SURWaS and related  programming areas.
• Coordinate and monitor financial, operational, and material resources through planning, budget  monitoring, expenditure tracking, and oversight to ensure efficient, compliant, and value-for money use of project resources. 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, Project Management, Water Resources  Management, Environmental Management, Development Studies, Business Administration or  related field. 
• A minimum of 3 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing moderate  complex projects is required, preferably with an international NGO. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience managing urban resilience, WASH, climate adaptation, governance, water security,  environmental management, or systems strengthening projects. 
• Master’s Degree is preferable. 
• MEAL skills and experience preferred. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web  Conferencing Applications, and information management systems. 
• Strong leadership skills in engaging with partner organizations. 
• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals. 
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound  judgment. 
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse  groups. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports • Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented 

Required Languages: English and local dialects required to perform the job 

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 25%. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes 

Key Working Relationships:  

Internal: Collaborate closely with the Sierra Leone Country Manager (CM), Deputy Head of  Programming (DHoP), Senior Operations Manager, MEAL Manager SURWaS & CVP, and relevant  program managers and staff.  

External: Relevant local partners, government Ministries, community stakeholders, Church and civil  society partners.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff) 

• Personal Accountability – consistently takes responsibilities 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 principles. 

About Us 

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.  

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people  with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human  trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a  comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate  my behaviors related to safeguarding-related topics.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities  associated with the position.  

To apply, please send in your application, updated CV, a cover letter, and all other academic  credentials to the email below: 

sl_recruitment@crs.org on the subject/heading: Program Manager I. 

Closing Date for the receipt of application packages is Tuesday 10th November 2026.