Job offer: Program Manager - Economic Inclusion Program at CRS Lesotho

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES/LESOTHO

Job Announcement

Job Tittle: Program Manager – Economic Inclusion Program

Department: Programs

Reports To: Head of Programs (HoP)

Location: Maseru, Lesotho

Grade: 10

NB: THIS POSITION IS CONTINGENT TO FUNDING AWARD BY THE DONOR

CRS Background

Catholic Relief Services (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 and nutrition, WASH, agriculture and food security, livelihoods, education, microfinance, peacebuilding and Integrated Catchment Management (ICM).

CRS Lesotho country program is currently seeking qualified, experienced, dynamic, and highly motivated candidates for a Program Manager position to support Implementation of an Economic Inclusion Program under the anticipated Pathways to Sustainable Livelihoods Project for both Lot I & II based in Lesotho managed by MGYSD under World Bank funding.

Job Summary

The Program Manager will be responsible for ensuring successful planning, implementation, coordination and overall management Economic and Inclusion Program (EIP) key services which include Community sensitization sessions, Soft skills trainings, Micro-entrepreneurship training, facilitation of community/village savings and loans groups/associations, Coaching, Access to markets, Referral services and Cash grants.  The intended outcomes of the EIP include: (i) increased productivity (income) of beneficiaries and improve skills for 10,000 vulnerable beneficiaries; (ii) investment grants to 10,000 beneficiaries to launch or improve their micro-enterprise; (iii) increased savings among beneficiaries and (iii) beneficiaries referred to other social services.

The Program Manager will work closely and manage relationships with the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development (MGYSD, World Bank and other sub-recipient organizations to ensure that the project activities, requirements and expectations under EIP component are adequately met.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide overall technical program management support and direction to the project team to ensure successful achievement of project goals and objectives in line with the work plans endorsed by the client (MGYSD)
• Develop the annual project implementation plan and budget and ensure their successful execution,
• Establish and manage systems to ensure strong collaboration across all service areas of the Economic Inclusion Program,
• Prepare project reports (periodic progress reports) and documents and ensure timely sharing with the country program leadership, region, client (MGYSD), donor (World Bank) and other partner organizations.
• Represent the project in high level national and international multi-stakeholder meetings and forums and make presentations to share relevant project information.
• Develop an approach for beneficiary screening and selection, including transparent and objective criteria for eligibility in preliminary and final rounds of selection. The approach should be cost-effective and reduce the risk of fraud.
• Lead development of Operations Manual which will among others include the following:
• Service delivery plan: provision of services within the defined package of economic inclusion interventions,
• Communication plan, with information about outreach and awareness raising to encourage potential beneficiaries to apply for support,
• Governance model with information about the role and responsibility of the Consultant in relation.
• Ensure quality control across all EIP service areas and timeliness of all intended deliverables
• Identify issues and risks related to EIP program implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate mitigations measures and other program actions. Develop and continuously update both issue log and risk register and monitor identified risks and issues until they are fully addressed.
• Serve as the project focal person between the client, donor partner organizations and other key stakeholders,
• Supervise, coach and support project team members in their respective roles and responsibilities for them to meet their project goals and objectives.

Education and Experience

• The program manager must possess at minimum a Master’s degree in economics or social sciences or in a related field.
• Minimum of 10 to 15 years of experience in economic inclusion programs and/or training of youth or entrepreneurs, and/or coaching and mentoring as part of community development preferably in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Certification and strong background in project or program management will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated proactive leadership ability and agile management, as well as supervisory and personnel management experience.
• Excellent organizational skills, teamwork and ability to prioritize tasks in a timely manner.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills as well as good judgment and vision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Sound coordination skills and a demonstrated ability to multi-task.
• Demonstrates diplomacy, flexibility, and resourcefulness.
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

Languages:

• Excellent written and spoken Sesotho and English

Submission

Please note that the position is only open to applicants who are Citizens of Lesotho.  Interested Basotho candidates should submit their CV and cover letter indicating salary expectations, no later than 6 November 2024 at 14:00 by email to [email protected] with the subject line PROGRAM MANAGER.  If the subject line does not indicate the position, the applicant will not be considered. HARD COPY APPLICATIONS NOT ACCEPTED.  ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.

Please be advised that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, all successful candidates will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and their personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate their behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer