About the Rio Lempa Conservation and Restoration Program:

The Rio Lempa Conservation and Restoration Program (the Program) is a 20-year, $200 million integrated development program designed to revitalize the Rio Lempa and its watershed. The Program’s twin goals are to: (a) Restoring ecosystem services, with emphasis on improving water availability, water quality, and biodiversity and (b) Fostering social and economic development, with emphasis on resilient livelihoods in rural communities. The Program is co-led by Catholic Relief Services, as Technical Lead, and by the Environmental Investment Fund of El Salvador (FIAES), as Fund Administrator.

The Rio Lempa covers nearly half of the country’s territory (1 million hectares), supplies two-thirds of the country’s water resource, and is crucial for the country’s social, economic, and ecological wellbeing. The Program is governed by a seven-member Program Supervisory Board, which includes five non-government members (including CRS and FIAES) plus one representative from the Government of El Salvador and one representative from the US Government (Mission in El Salvador). The Program coordinates closely with government agencies, including the Salvadoran Water Authority, the Ministry of Environment, the national Water and Sewage Agency, and the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Program seeks to solve threats like water pollution, water overuse, land degradation, rural poverty.  The Program’s development targets include: conserve and restore at least 90,000 hectares of critical forests and landscapes, promote regenerative farming on at least 75,000 of farmland in critical areas of the watershed, apply green infrastructure on 5000 hectares, co-invest in water supply infrastructure, co-investment in water treatment and wastewater treatment, and catalyze investments for complementary projects within the watershed. The Program’s key indicators include: improving water quality, increasing dry-season flows in critical streams, increase biodiversity, improve access to water and sanitation services (in line with Sustainable Development Goal #6), improve farm-based incomes, and build participation and capacity for effective water and land governance systems.

Job Summary: 

As Program Director, you will provide vision, leadership, and overall management of the Rio Lempa Conservation and Restoration Program, with emphasis on serving the poor and most vulnerable populations in the watershed. Your strategic leadership, management, and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming. You will develop and manage long-term and annual plans and budgets, ensuring all activities align with program goals and standards. Additionally, you will oversee compliance and reporting, ensuring all activities meet the program’s goals and standards, and prepare necessary reports and manuals for approval by the Program Steering Board (PSB). As Program Director, you will have overall operational management of the Program and the application of program governance and technical documents as well as proactively manage security, mitigate risks, and oversee the development and approval of necessary program manuals. You will also serve as a permanent member of the Grant Review Committee, contributing to evaluating and approving grant applications. This position is contracted by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) as a member of the CRS El Salvador team but operates under the reporting structure of the PSB.

• Lead the development and implementation of the Rio Lempa Conservation and Restoration Program, ensuring alignment with key technical documents, governance structures, agreements, and and budgets. Serve as the primary liaison with donors and key stakeholders, including public, private, and NGO partners.
• Represent the Program at national and international levels, in conferences and meetings.
•  Engage with senior Salvadoran government actors, including ministers, heads of agencies, the Office of the President, the Commission Trinacional Trifinio, and other public agencies.
• Engage with the U.S. Mission in El Salvador, including the State Department, USAID, and the Development Finance Corporation.
• Engage with civil society organizations, NGOs, trade associations, and other stakeholders involved in the watershed.
• Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet investor expectations and the Program Supervisor Board, in terms of timely and quality results and budget, including strategies for phase-out and sustainability. Ensure coordination between program and operations leads. Ensure the CRS program quality standards are exceeded.
• Lead the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV). Report accurately and timely to stakeholders, the general public, and other actors. Publish program results and deliver presentations. Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and CRS’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
• Government of El Salvador Sustainability Commitments: Engage with the Salvadoran Water Authority, the Ministry of Environment, and the National Water and Sewage Agency on performance of the legally binding Sustainability Commitments. Work with the independent Verification Agent on preparing reports to the PSB and other stakeholders regarding compliance and recommendations and requirements where performance is lacking.
• Lead the Program Management Team, which will consist of about 25 operations and technical staff hired by CRS and FIAES. Develop and sustain an effective consortium model between CRS and FIAES, balancing team independence and effectiveness with institutional integrity and identify. Manage relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops. Coordinate the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in implementation inline with CRS partnership principles.
• Effectively manage senior programming and operations staff. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Oversee the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior staff.
• Ensure Program exceeds all requirements for the Environmental and Social Management System, including the safeguarding guidance by CRS, FIAES, and DFC, in line with the International Finance Corporation Environmental and Social Performance Standards.
• Comply with all requirements stipulated in the Project Implementation Agreement and Conservation Funding Agreement, signed by CRS and other relevant parties.
• Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security policies and plans, and ensure the updating of such plans.
• Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Develop plans and budgets, including (a) A Long-Term Program Strategy and Budget Projection for the life of the Program, based on the template of the Technical Document, to be updated regularly. The Long-Term Program Strategy and Budget Project shall adhere to the goals, objectives, impact targets and activities in the Technical Document.  (b) A Five-Year Plan and Budget Projection, the first of which shall be submitted to the PSB and approved within the first three months of approval of the Program. Subsequent Five-Year Plan and Budget Projections shall be revised and updated regularly.  (c) Annual Plans and Budget, which shall be subject to approval by the PSB. Annual Reports shall be presented to the PSB for review and approval, not more than 90 days following the end of each financial year.
• Develop all necessary Program Manuals and submit them to the PSB for approval. Review and update manuals at least every three years, or as frequently as needed, with PSB approval. Utilize existing FIAES and CRS manuals whenever possible, revising them as necessary to align with IFC Performance Standards, the 2020 CFA Practice Standards, and the Environmental and Social Management System.
• Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff and ensure the design and delivery of high quality training and technical assistance.
• Serve as a permanent member of the Grant Review Committee, providing strategic oversight and guidance to the Program.
• Execute responsibilities assigned under the Commitments attached to the CFA (Exhibit A), exercising authority over all related actions.

Required Languages – Advanced proficiency in English and Spanish.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% to the program’s intervention areas.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent strategic,analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to see the big picture and the ability to make sound judgments and decisions.
• Excellent relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching/mentoring skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Key Working Relationships: 

Supervisory Responsibilities: Deputy Director, Budget Manager, Safeguarding Coordinator, MRV Manager, Techncial Managers and Coordinators

Internal:   Program Supervisory Board and committees; CRS Country Representative, FIAES Executive Director, CRS El Salvador Finance Manager, CRS Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality, CRS Regional Technical Advisors, CRS HQ based staff related with technical expertise.

External: Salvadoran government ministers and agencies, consortium members and key contractors, partner INGOs and local NGOs, private sector partners, US Embassy, USAID, and DFC.

Basic Qualifications:

• Masters degree in in fields related to environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, watershed management, rural development, PhD preferred.
• 10 or more years’ relevant management and technical experience.
• 7 years’ experience managing donor funds, including multi country grants.  Strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
• 5 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching senior program staff.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years’ technical experience technical development programs, in such sectors as watershed management and restoration, environmental policy or management, sustainable or rural development, and water resources management.
• Minimum 7 years’ experience managing large-scale development projects, including grant-funded programs and contracts.  knowledge and experience in budget management.
• Established leader in the sector as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations etc.
• Demonstrated experience of successful program management, including management of complex, high-value, multi-activity projects, with complicated logistics.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
• Ability to represent and present at high levels.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget 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.