Afghanistan: Program Manager, WASH

Mar 20, 2022 | Catholic Relief Services
View Original

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS has been working on behalf of Afghan families since 2002, with hundreds of experienced Afghan staff working in offices across the country. We provide emergency relief, inclusive education, improved agricultural techniques, and other life‐enriching services to tens of thousands of households. The country’s long conflict has left many families displaced and impoverished, but the war’s end in 2021 has opened the exciting possibility of reaching many previously inaccessible communities.

CRS’ main program areas in Afghanistan are inclusive education, agricultural livelihoods, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and emergency relief. CRS is currently implementing programs in the provinces of Bamiyan, Daykundi, Ghor, Herat, and Kabul. CRS maintains five (5) main offices in the country as well as several sub-offices that support the direct implementation of program activities.

Job Summary:

You will be part of a dynamic CRS’ Afghanistan WASH team providing technical oversight and management to the development and implementation of WASH programming, which include boreholes rehabilitation, wells deepening, handpumps repair household water treatment promotion, construction of new water points or systems, and hygiene promotion.

Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its WASH programming. You will directly manage WASH funded programs and the WASH components of integrated response and recovery projects funded by multiple donors to be implemented in three provinces (Bamiyan, Daykundi, and Ghor). 

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

  • Manage and implement all activities throughout relevant project cycles - project design, start-up, implementation and close-out - to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. Ensure project team and partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools.
  • Effectively manage talent and supervise.   Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
  • Champion learning with project staff and partner teams. Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.
  • Act as a key resource person in project design and proposal development in respective programming area, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.
  • Coordinate the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.
  • Help identify, assess and strengthen partnerships relevant to WASH, applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
  • Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Through planning and oversight ensure efficient use of project resources

Required Languages – English

Travel - Position to be based in Bamiyan or Ghor. Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% to other offices such as Daykundi, Chaghcharan, and Herat, as well as to Kabul for coordination meetings.

Supervisory Responsibilities: WASH technical field engineers and project officers.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: WASH Program Manager II (PMII), Head of Programming, STAR Project Director, in-country technical staff, MEAL Technical Advisor, Heads of Offices, Head of Operations, Finance Manager, Procurement Manager, Human Resources Manager, Global Technical Advisor for WASH, Regional Technical Advisor for MEAL

External: Donor and key coordination forums.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with 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

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Project management experience in civil engineering, particularly water and sanitation systems is highly desirable.
  • Experience engaging with partner organizations.
  • Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
  • MEAL skills and experience preferred.
  • Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

  • Master's Degree in Civil Engineering, International Relations or another relevant field. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
  •  Minimum of 2 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

  • Integrity
  • Continuous Improvement & Innovation
  • Builds Relationships
  • Develops Talent
  • Strategic Mindset
  • Accountability & Stewardship

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. 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.

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

Note:  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

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 welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, 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.