Program Manager I- DRR (Benue)

Job title : Program Manager I- DRR (Benue)

Job Summary:

You will manage Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programming in the Middle Belt Country Program (CP), leading the design and implementation of anticipatory action and resilience-building interventions that advance Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) mission to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your role will ensure high-quality delivery of risk-informed programming, including preparedness planning, early warning and response systems, and community-based resilience approaches (CLDRM+). You will strengthen coordination with government emergency structures and stakeholders, build community capacity to anticipate and respond to shocks, and drive continuous improvement to enhance the impact, timeliness, and effectiveness of DRR interventions. This position is based in Benue State

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning of project activities and set high-quality performance targets ensuring adherence to technical standards and best practices in DRR programming
• Liaise and coordinate with local government units, UN agencies, and community stakeholders to ensure a cohesive approach to disaster management, including monitoring of early warning and forecasting information
• 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, including delivery of trainings. 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 Middle Belt, 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 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience engaging with and working alongside local partner organizations.
• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
• 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
• Strong experience in DRR related programming with preference for experience working on anticipatory action / early action / relief.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in community mobilization, organization and mediation among local actors
• Demonstrated capacities to establish and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with government officials, local organizations, communities and other stakeholders 
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Required Languages - English is required. Proficiency in other local languages will be an added advantage. 

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50 %.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  Partner DRR officers 

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal:  SWASH Program Manager, CVA Manager, MEAL manager, Nutrition SPO, project officers, MEAL team, Finance team
• External:  Partner Staff , Community Stakeholders, LGA and state partners.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in disaster management, urban planning, public administration, or related natural sciences.
• Minimum of five years management or coordination experience in huma