Program Manager I – El Niño Preparedness, EMPOWER/RAPID

Catholic Relief Services

. Support implementation of El Niño preparedness workplans across assigned South America countries or hotspots .

Posted 10/2/2026full-timeRemote • Maryland • United StatesMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in humanitarian program management, emergency preparedness, and disaster risk reduction, with a strong focus on stakeholder engagement and capacity building. Proficient in project planning, monitoring, and documentation, while ensuring adherence to quality standards and inclusive practices.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Humanitarian Program ManagementEmergency Preparedness And ResponseDisaster Risk ReductionStakeholder EngagementFluency In English And Spanish

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Project ManagementContingency PlanningMonitoring And ReportingData CollectionBudgetingAnalytical SkillsDocumentationFacilitationProblem-SolvingCapacity Building

Soft Skills

CommunicationOrganizational SkillsRelationship ManagementPlanningPresentation Skills

Tools & Technologies

Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft WordMicrosoft PowerPointWeb-Conferencing PlatformsInformation-Management Systems

Industry Keywords

International DevelopmentHumanitarian ResponseFood SecurityPublic HealthSocial Sciences

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support implementation of El Niño preparedness workplans across assigned South America countries or hotspots
Maintain activity plans, deliverable trackers, meeting records, and follow-up actions across program and operational functions
Compile and synthesize hazard, vulnerability, exposure, seasonal, and scenario information into preparedness actions
Support stakeholder and service mapping with governments, Caritas structures, humanitarian coordination bodies, community actors, and other stakeholders
Facilitate partner sessions to develop contingency plans, response strategies, targeting approaches, geographic priorities, and scalable scenarios
Support documentation of program quality standards, intervention packages, eligibility criteria, referral pathways, transfer values, and adaptation rules
Coordinate with supply chain and operations colleagues on relief kits, in-kind assistance, and cash or voucher options
Support partner readiness for cash and voucher assistance, including data requirements, accountability, protection, monitoring, and payment follow-up
Prepare activation-ready materials including assessment tools, response concepts, implementation plans, budget inputs, procurement requests, risk registers, and donor inputs
Monitor preparedness and activated response tasks, flag delays or quality concerns, and support corrective action
Work with MEAL and information-management colleagues on indicators, data-collection tools, monitoring plans, feedback mechanisms, and learning questions
Integrate safeguarding, protection, gender, age, disability inclusion, accountability, conflict sensitivity, and disaster risk reduction
Assist with partner readiness assessments and action plans
Organize and co-facilitate coaching sessions, workshops, simulations, tabletop exercises, and readiness tests
Provide day-to-day technical support to partners and promote sustainable local ownership
Contribute to proposal development and resource mobilization
Document decisions, lessons, readiness gaps, good practices, recommendations, and knowledge-management materials
Compile the final El Niño preparedness package for assigned countries or workstreams

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in international development, international relations, humanitarian response, disaster risk management, food security, public health, social sciences, project management, or a related field
Minimum of three years of relevant experience in humanitarian program management, emergency preparedness and response, disaster risk reduction, or related programming, including field-based experience
Experience supporting moderately complex projects, preferably with an international NGO and activities implemented across dispersed geographic areas
Experience contributing to assessments, contingency planning, response design, implementation planning, budgeting, monitoring, or reporting
Demonstrated experience working with and strengthening the capacity of local partners
Professional fluency in English and Spanish is required
Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% within South America
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, web-conferencing platforms, and common information-management systems
Good program management, analytical, problem-solving, planning, coordination, documentation, facilitation, presentation, organizational, communication, and relationship-management skills
Ability to work effectively across cultures, organizations, technical functions, time zones, and diverse operating environments
Must sign and adhere to CRS' Code of Conduct

Benefits

Comp & perks

U.S. based staff comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan
Collaborative, mission-driven work culture
Candidates employed outside the U.S. receive salary and benefits packages based on the country of employment/in-country office