Job Description

Job Title: Program Manager II – Livelihoods

Reports to: Head of Programming I

Department: Programming

Salary Grade: 10

CRS Moldova and Ukraine

Building on a pre-existent modest presence, the Moldova and Ukraine Country Office (CO) rapidly expanded programming reach following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Between 2022–2025, CRS in Moldova and Ukraine grew reaching over 500,000 people through a comprehensive and integrated emergency, recovery and development programming strategy focused on shelter and infrastructure, winterization, basic needs, education, livelihoods, protection support, and care reform efforts. CRS’s livelihood programming in Ukraine supports vulnerable residents, returnees and internally displaced people to protect, restore and strengthen their livelihoods through agriculture, employment and business start-up assistance The CO also focuses on strengthening partners’ capacity and fostering local leadership to reach millions more.

Looking ahead, priorities include expanding diverse programming initiatives for the most vulnerable and integrating systemic outcomes for scale, and deepening partnerships across both countries. CRS’s portfolio is resourced by institutional donors and private emergency funding.

This position is focused on and based in Ukraine.

You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the CO emergency and recovery livelihoods programming in Ukraine, particularly for large and complex projects and strategy development, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place. Your management skills and technical knowledge will ensure that the CO and partners deliver high-quality livelihood assistance and continuously works towards improving the impact of their programming to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable, war-affected people and communities in Ukraine.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of new and existing livelihoods projects in Ukrainethroughout the project cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation and close-out are in line with CRS program quality and management standards, humanitarian norms, technical guidelines, donor requirements, and industry best practices.

• Lead the development, implementation and refinement of the Livelihoods sectoral strategy for Ukraine in line with CO Strategy 2025-27, contextual changes, and partner, government and stakeholders’ priorities.

• Explore, design and promote sectoral integration with the other key strategic programming goals and ongoing initiatives (shelter/housing, protection, basic needs/rapid response mechanism). Promote adoption of community-based market system strengthening.

• Provide high-quality close accompaniment, program quality and management guidance, and technical support to strategic partners in Ukraine to ensure best practices in design, implementation and monitoring are in place for all livelihoods programming.

• In collaboration with the Risk & Compliance Unit and CO leadership, ensure effective systems are in place to manage risks and ensure operational efficiency at the project level.

• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources. Identify variances early-on and elaborate alternative plans of action.

• Support partners to effectively manage talent and supervise, manage team dynamics and staff well-beingProvide coaching, strategically tailored individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.

• Lead the development of livelihood-related monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) systems. Ensure functional MEAL systems are in place to guide programmatic decision-making, adaptive management, and learning. Identify opportunities for learning and dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to relevant stakeholders, and ensure integration of innovations and best practices.

• Contribute to the proactive identification and capturing of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CO livelihoods sector portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CO strategic priorities.

• In coordination with CO, partners, and agency teams, lead the design and development of quality proposals, budgets, staffing plans and activities per agency and donor standards.

• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities related to livelihoods programming for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.

• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to livelihoods and ensure appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent relationship management abilities. Ability to build trust and relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.

• Strong oral and written communication, presentation and facilitation skills.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions.

• Understanding of MEAL for learning and adaptive management required, understanding of data management and ability to use ICT4D (CommCare, PowerBi, etc) a plus.

• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.

• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

• Strong experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including US Government (USG).

Required Languages: Full English fluency required. Ukrainian or Russian is an advantage.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% within Ukraine and internationally.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None at time of hiring.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or livelihoods-related field required.
• Minimum of 8 years' experience inrelevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 3 years’ working experience in the area of emergency livelihoods, livelihoods restoration and recovery, agriculture livelihoods, market systems strengthening.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects in humanitarian contexts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree is preferred.
• Experience working with partner organizations on project management and accompaniment, and capacity strengthening
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, standards and systems, with specific knowledge of CRS and Caritas Internationalis programming standards a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience working in Ukraine.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility 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 priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role. CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. 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.

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

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.