Project Manager - Liberia

Job Summary:

The Project Manager for the LWEP project will provide leadership, coordination, and direct oversight of project implementation. The Project Manager will ensure that project activities are delivered effectively, efficiently, and in compliance with donor requirements, consortium agreements, project objectives, approved work plans and budgets. The position is responsible for project planning, implementation, budget management, monitoring, reporting, partner coordination, stakeholder engagement, and quality assurance across all project activities. The Project Manager will work closely with the project lead service provider, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), other consortium partners, the Project Management Unit (PMU), and community stakeholders to achieve project outcomes. The Project Manager reports directly to the Program Director, Agriculture, Livelihoods and Landscapes, and provides leadership and supervision to project staff to ensure the successful delivery of project results.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

Project Leadership and Implementation

• Provide leadership, strategic direction, and management for the successful implementation of Component 3A of the LWEP.
• Ensure timely execution of project activities in accordance with approved work plans, donor requirements, consortium agreements, and CRS operating policies and procedures.
• Lead project implementation, adaptive management, and close-out processes to achieve project objectives and targets.
• Ensure the integration of gender-transformation, safeguarding, social inclusion, and community engagement approaches across all project interventions.

Technical Oversight

• Provide technical oversight to ensure project activities contribute to improved livelihood opportunities, women's economic empowerment, social cohesion, and resilience outcomes.
• Ensure project activities contribute directly to the achievement of agreed project outcomes, outputs, and performance targets
• Ensure project progress against targets and indicators are monitored and take corrective actions as needed to address implementation gaps.
• Ensure timely and accurate entry, validation, and use of project data within the Management Information System (MIS).
• Promote evidence-based programming, learning, and adaptive management to strengthen project effectiveness and impact.
• Ensure compliance with environmental and social safeguards and other World Bank requirements.

Budget and Resource Management

• Oversee project budgets and financial performance, ensuring efficient and accountable use of project resources.
• Monitor expenditures against approved budgets and review monthly budget-versus-actual reports 
• Coordinate project forecasting, cash-flow projections, and budget modifications as required.
• Ensure donor compliance and adherence to CRS financial management policies.

Team Leadership and Staff Management

• Supervise, mentor, and support project staff, promoting a culture of accountability, learning, collaboration, and high performance.
• Develop staff capacity through coaching, performance management, and professional development opportunities.
• Foster effective collaboration among technical, finance, MEAL, operations, and safeguarding teams.

Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Maintain strong and healthy working relationships with the LSP and consortium partners, to ensure coordinated implementation and achievement of project objectives.
• Participate in LWEP regular technical coordination meetings, project reviews and joint planning processes as required.
• Serve as CRS's primary representative for LWEP with the LSP, MGCSP, the PMU, World Bank representatives, local government authorities, and other key stakeholders.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with government agencies, civil society organizations, women's groups, community leaders, and development partners.
• Represent CRS in relevant coordination meetings, technical working groups, and project review forums.

Strategic Planning and Reporting

• Lead annual work planning, budgeting, and periodic project reviews.
• Provide regular updates to the Program Director, Agriculture, Livelihoods and Landscapes, on project progress, challenges, opportunities, and risk mitigation measures.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound judgment
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and lead cross-functional teams 
• Ability to work independently and lead the timely delivery of project interventions
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented individual
• Strong grasp of Market Systems Development (MSD) approaches and agricultural value-chain integration
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in agriculture, Project Management, International Development, Gender & Development Studies, Development Economics or related fields.
• Minimum of 7 years of specialized experience directly designing and managing enterprise development, financial inclusion, and livelihoods projects, ideally within a women’s economic empowerment or agricultural value-chain framework. 
• Experience linking rural women entrepreneurs, smallholder farmers and cooperatives, and cross-border traders directly to larger commercial buyers and formal financial institutions within Liberia.

Required Languages - English

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 20 %. 

Supervisory Responsibilities - Project Assistant

Key Working Relationships:

Internal

External

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Project Management, International Development, Gender & Development Studies, Development Economics or related fields.
• Requires a minimum of 5 years of experience, with an explicit 3 years coordinating or managing Agriculture and livelihoods projects, preferably with an international NGO.
• Have a good understanding of livelihood improvement opportunities for rural communities 
• Have knowledge of Market Systems Development (MSD) initiatives to integrate small-holder farmers into sustainable enterprises
• Experience working with different stakeholders, including private sector and local government authorities/institutions
• Demonstrated track record leading, mentoring, and evaluating cross-functional teams
• Digital skills including MS Office and Internet

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.

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, 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.