Job Summary:

You will manage and represent Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) activities based in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) to ensure implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. You will oversee effective management, lead strategic planning, and ensure alignment with agency priorities. You will manage security, operations, and program quality, while fostering relationships with key stakeholders.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage planning and implementation of all key activities of the Country Program (CP) ensuring alignment with agency strategic programming and operations excellence priorities and standards. Approve expenses, monitor spending, and make budget adjustments in line with operational and programmatic needs and donor requirements.
• Lead security and risk management. Ensure a safe work and living environment through leading implementation of safety and security protocols and staff care and well-being best practices.
• Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity. Lead staffing plans and recruitment process of senior staff.
• Lead the implementation of high-quality project management and implementation to ensure all projects meet and exceed donor expectations while maximizing impact and reach. Ensure compliance with CRS program quality standards, including MEAL policies and procedures, through robust project review systems, quality control measures, comprehensive M&E systems, and budget analysis. Promote the documentation of program reviews, success stories, and lessons learned.
• Represent CRS to key stakeholders, including government, donors, partners and community organizations, to strengthen existing relationships, develop new partnerships, and promote CRS’s mission, values and strategic interests within the CP.
• Work collaboratively with the Pacific Country Representative, and other team members to identify and pursue new funding opportunities, contribute to proposal development, and foster a culture of growth and innovation that aligns with CRS’s strategic priorities. Business development is recognized as a shared responsibility across the team.
• Proactively and effectively manage resources and promote stewardship, ensuring program and operations teams and partner staff have and optimize the appropriate human, financial, and material resources and tools.
• Monitor day-to-day operations to ensure all operational services (HR, Finance, Supply Chain, Admin, ICT) are delivered with high quality in an efficient manner and adhere to policies. Manage risk and address challenges that affect the proper stewardship, optimal utilization and maintenance of program assets and resources (financial, human, and material).
• Create a supportive environment for staff to share ideas, analyze challenges, and collaboratively develop solutions. Proactively identify capacity-strengthening needs for staff and partners, incorporating these into tailored development plans and ongoing talent management to ensure continuous learning and improvement.

Required Languages: English

Travel: This position requires up to 60% travel.

Supervisory Responsibilities: TBD

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: CRS HQ and regional staff, Sub-regional Country Representative, CRS FSM staff, and peer leadership teams from outside FSM. 

External: Peer organizations, donors, government agencies, local partners and community organizations. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Strong Communications and presentation skills.
• Team leadership abilities
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration, International Relations, or relevant field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years’ work experience in a non-profit, development, and/or humanitarian organization with progressive responsibilities and some project management experience. Experience with an international organization a plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with projects funded by multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Experience in stakeholder management and establishing and strengthening community partnerships.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Knowledge of procurement and general office administrative/management issues.
• Ability to Represent the agency at high levels
• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information management systems.

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

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.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.