Program Manager – WASH

Job Description

Job Announcement

Program Manager – WASH

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of health, emergency, education, agriculture, and capacity strengthening of partners. In 2023, CRS implemented a portfolio of 18 malaria programs globally, in 15 countries (Africa and the Greater Mekong Region). Catholic Relief Services has been working in Liberia since 1957 with a current programmatic focus targeting health, nutrition, peacebuilding, and agriculture.

Job Summary:

You will manage programming in the Country Program (CP) for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), designing and implementing projects advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Title: Program Manager – WASH

Location: Monrovia, Liberia

Type of Role: Fixed-Term Contract

Reports to: Head of Programming

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and implement all activities throughout relevant project cycles – project design, start-up, implementation and close-out – to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. Ensure project
• team and partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools.
• Lead the implementation of the CP’s WASH Strategy, including partner coordination, capacity building, and external representation on WASH.
• Support the effective implementation of the CP’s Localization, Gender, and Climate Change strategies.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Champion learning with project staff and partner teams. Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy.Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.
• Act as a key resource person in project design and proposal development in respective programming area, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.
• Coordinate the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.
• Help identify, assess and strengthen partnerships relevant to WASH, applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs, through planning and oversight ensure efficient use of project resources
• Ensure high-quality, timely project reporting in compliance with organizational and donor requirements for all projects in the Health, Nutrition and WASH portfolio, including the AQUARISE initiative.
• Ensure strategic use of MEAL to foster program quality, generate evidence-based learning, strategic positionings to scale successful models and approaches, and to catalyze transformational change at scale.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, Water Resources Management/Engineering, Environmental Science or Engineering, Sanitary
• Engineering or in the field of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) required.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.

Required Languages – Strong English speaking and writing proficiency is required; knowledge of Liberian dialects is a plus.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% within Liberia.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• Project management experience in WASH is highly desirable.
• MEAL skills and experience preferred.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and are used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

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.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

Lead Change – Continually look 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.
Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes (1). You will supervise one WASH Engineer on a service contract to the AQUARISE project

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Country Representative, Head of Programming, Technical Lead for Health/Nutrition, Business Development Specialist, Finance Manager, Senior/Regional Technical Advisors: Water Environment & Sanitation (WES).

External: Partners (including LWSC, NWASHC, MOE, MOH, County and District Leadership), Communities, CBOs, FBOs, Private Sector, etc.

Applications:

Please send a cover letter and a resume/CV to LR_HR@crs.org by October 15, 2025, with the subject line “Program Manager – WASH.” Both the cover letter and CV/resume should be in PDF format and submitted as a single document. Applications will be reviewed and assessed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls, please. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity; however, if you don’t hear from us after two months of the vacancy deadline, kindly note that your application was not successful.

CRS follows an equal opportunity policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all, especially women and people living with a disability.

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviours related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

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

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.