Project Manager at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Title: Project Manager, Vitalizing Opportunities in Circular Economy and Sustainable Solutions in Lake Tanganyika (VOICES)
Reports to: Country Manager, Tanzania
Location: Kigoma, Tanzania
Salary Grade: 9

Job Summary

• CRS Tanzania is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Project Manager for the Vitalizing Opportunities in Circular Economy and Sustainable Solutions in Lake Tanganyika (VOICES) project implemented in Tanzania and Zambia.
• The position is based out of CRS’ office in Kigoma.
• As Project Manager, you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing strategies and program activities to promote circular economy principles within the VOICES project.
• Your role will involve building and managing a two-country project team to analyze current business practices, identifying opportunities for resource optimization, and developing innovative solutions to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency in the Lake ecosystem.
• You will lead cross-functional Tanzanian and Zambian teams and collaborate closely with national government agencies, LGAs, financial institutions, accelerators, civil society organizations and private sector partners to drive community engagement, generate buy-in and support for VOICES activities and sustainability goals.
• You will ensure effective technical and operational management systems and processes are in place that support highquality programming advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable.
• Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that VOICES delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its Circular Economy programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall strategic and technical leadership of the project, ensuring that technical approaches deliver program targets. Lead annual work planning processes and regular team and individual progress reviews.
• Lead donor engagement and reporting, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and regulations.
• Effectively manage and supervise program team and ensure staff well-being. Provide tailored coaching to direct reports, contribute to the recruitment and onboarding of project staff, and complete performance management process.
• Prioritize data, monitoring and learning throughout the life of the project, leading regular data-driven analysis to inform reflection meetings and facilitating timely adaptation of approaches/models in response to data. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and ensuring compliance with CRS and EU MEAL policies. Proactively identify issues/challenges to discuss with the donor to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Monitor and evaluate the progress of initiatives, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess effectiveness and identify opportunities for optimization.
• Engage with internal teams, and industry partners to foster a culture of sustainability and drive collective action towards project goals. Provide training and guidance to community groups on circular economy concepts, practices, and tools. Represent the project with donors, INGO working groups, UN, relevant local partners and relevant local government and community actors advancing circular economy.
• Coordinate activities required for ensuring the financial, material, and human resources for the quality implementation of the project in Tanzania and Zambia. Conduct periodic budget reviews and follow-up with partners on timely submission of financial reports to facilitate proper tracking of resource use.
• Identify capacity gaps and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and contribute to capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.
• Represent the project externally. Prepare reports and presentations to communicate program progress, achievements, and challenges related to circular economy initiatives. Engage with government, donors, private sector, and other stakeholders to advocate for investment in circular economy projects and initiatives.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and business models relevant to circular economy principles. Conduct research and pilot projects to test new approaches and technologies for enhancing resource efficiency.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in environmental science, natural resources management, sustainability, business administration, or related field.
• Proven experience (5 years) working in a similar role preferably leading watershed protection or environmental sustainability programs.
• Experience with leading EU programs.
• Deep understanding of circular economy principles, with demonstrated experience in developing and implementing circular economy strategies.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive initiatives from conception to implementation.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to conduct thorough assessments and evaluate complex data sets.
• Effective communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build consensus and influence decision-making at all levels of the organization.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a passion for driving innovation and positive change towards a circular economy.

Required Languages & Travel

• Fluency in English and Kiswahili are required.
• Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% to project locations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including the EU.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• MEAL skills and experience required.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Supervisory Responsibilities & Key Working Relationships

• Supervisory Responsibilities: Project team comprising of Senior Project Officers and Project Officers.
• Internal: Country Manager, Sub-Office Coordinator, Head of Operations, Finance Manager, CRS Zambia team, Technical Advisors, Operations staff.
• External: Project Implementing Partners; Ministries, NEMC, Research Institutions, other NGO, and other relevant working groups.

Application Process

• Interested qualified candidates should submit their letter of application together with their CV in PDF or Word format in a single attachment which outlines their experience and sustainability of the position applied to email address [email protected] not later than 24th March 2025.
• The applicants should clearly state the Job title applied for in the subject line of the email.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.