Program Manager I – MEAL job at Catholic Relief Services ( CRS )

CRS is seeking to hire for an anticipated five-year health systems strengthening project in Uganda. The project aims to support the sustainability and resilience of faith-based health services through strengthened institutional capacity, improved community health financing mechanisms, enhanced governance, and locally led solutions that contribute to improved health outcomes. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Project Manager-Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) who will lead the design, implementation, and management of MEAL systems for the anticipated project. The successful candidate will ensure robust MEAL system design, lead the monitoring of CHI performance and quality, evidence generation, accountability, learning, and adaptive management while supporting project teams to demonstrate sustainable impact at community, local and national level in line with CRS MEAL policies and procedures and donor requirements.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and roll-out of project MEAL systems during start-up, including Performance Monitoring Plans or Performance Indicator Reference Sheets, Indicator Performance Tracking Tables, data collection instruments, and Detailed Implementation Plans which are appropriate to the scope and context of the project(s).
• Lead MEAL-related technical, budget management, monitoring and reporting activities through most of the project cycle – start-up, implementation and close-out – In line with CRS program quality principles and standards and MEAL policies, procedures and practices, donor MEAL requirements, and industry good practices.
• 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.
• Coordinate the implementation of monitoring activities and processes (including ICT4MEAL) according to the project(s) Detailed Implementation Plan and MEAL system. Support the analysis of project performance data using differential and inferential statistics (quantitative data), and content and trends analysis (qualitative data). Ensure the quality of monitoring data through annual data quality assessments.
• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assuring the quality of evaluation data through good data management as per MEAL Policy. Develop evaluation terms of reference (ToR) for the project(s). Proactively identify issues, report them to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Lead the design of the project(s) feedback and response mechanism (FRM). Coordinate the roll-out and implementation of the FRM and other accountability activities for the project(s). Support active seeking and responding to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate activities required for ensuring the financial, material and human resources for MEAL for the quality implementation of the project. Conduct periodic MEAL budget reviews and follow-up with partners on timely submission of financial reports to facilitate proper tracking of resource use.
• Engage and strengthen partnerships relevant to MEAL in the project(s), appropriately applying partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Identify MEAL-related staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and contribute to capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation. Optimize partner participation and capacity development in the implementation of MEAL systems.
• Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and disseminate results. Review the project(s) documentation to ensure the project(s) file is complete with all required MEAL documentation and is filed by agency and donor requirements.
• Provide support to the MEAL department in the design and implementation of Country Program MEAL activities. This may include supporting other projects within the Country Program.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgement.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with local stakeholders. Representation abilities.
• Ability to contribute to written reports.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Ability to effectively use MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), data analysis software such as Excel, Power BI, SPSS, STATA, R, or similar packages.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

Required Languages – Strong written and spoken English required

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 40%.

Supervisory Responsibilities – No

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: CRS Country Representative, Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Uganda-based technical experts for MEAL, Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion (GYSI) and Partner Capacity Strengthening (PCS), technical health team, Regional and Headquarters technical staff.

External: Local partner staff, representatives from for-profit and other non-profit organizations and relevant national, district, sub-county, parish and other government stakeholders, community leaders.

***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. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

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

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

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• Lead the development and roll-out of project MEAL systems during start-up, including Performance Monitoring Plans or Performance Indicator Reference Sheets, Indicator Performance Tracking Tables, data collection instruments, and Detailed Implementation Plans which are appropriate to the scope and context of the project(s).
• Lead MEAL-related technical, budget management, monitoring and reporting activities through most of the project cycle – start-up, implementation and close-out – In line with CRS program quality principles and standards and MEAL policies, procedures and practices, donor MEAL requirements, and industry good practices.
• 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.
• Coordinate the implementation of monitoring activities and processes (including ICT4MEAL) according to the project(s) Detailed Implementation Plan and MEAL system. Support the analysis of project performance data using differential and inferential statistics (quantitative data), and content and trends analysis (qualitative data). Ensure the quality of monitoring data through annual data quality assessments.
• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assuring the quality of evaluation data through good data management as per MEAL Policy. Develop evaluation terms of reference (ToR) for the project(s). Proactively identify issues, report them to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Lead the design of the project(s) feedback and response mechanism (FRM). Coordinate the roll-out and implementation of the FRM and other accountability activities for the project(s). Support active seeking and responding to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate activities required for ensuring the financial, material and human resources for MEAL for the quality implementation of the project. Conduct periodic MEAL budget reviews and follow-up with partners on timely submission of financial reports to facilitate proper tracking of resource use.
• Engage and strengthen partnerships relevant to MEAL in the project(s), appropriately applying partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Identify MEAL-related staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and contribute to capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation. Optimize partner participation and capacity development in the implementation of MEAL systems.
• Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and disseminate results. Review the project(s) documentation to ensure the project(s) file is complete with all required MEAL documentation and is filed by agency and donor requirements.
• Provide support to the MEAL department in the design and implementation of Country Program MEAL activities. This may include supporting other projects within the Country Program.

• Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgement.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with local stakeholders. Representation abilities.
• Ability to contribute to written reports.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Ability to effectively use MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), data analysis software such as Excel, Power BI, SPSS, STATA, R, or similar packages.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Strong written and spoken English required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, public health, International Relations, Social Sciences, or related fields required
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in project management, ideally in the field of MEAL, health and for an NGO.
• Experience working with stakeholders at various levels and strengthening community partnerships.
• Ability to contribute to the development of technical proposals, a plus.
• Experience analyzing data and contributing to evaluation reports.
• Master’s Degree in the field of MEAL would be a plus.
• Relevant grant management experience, especially for USG or other public donors, a plus.