Program Manager II

Job Title: Program Manager II

Reports to: Head of Programming

Department: Programming

Location: Kampala

This position is open to Ugandan nationals only

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply by November 6, 2026 no later than 5pm.

Note: CRS is recruiting in anticipation of an award – recruitment for all candidates is contingent upon successful award of the project.

Job Summary:

CRS is seeking to hire for an anticipated five-year health systems strengthening project in Uganda. The project aims to support the sustainability and resilience of faith-based health services through strengthened institutional capacity, improved community health financing mechanisms, enhanced governance, and locally led solutions that contribute to improved health outcomes. As Program Manager II of this project, you will lead, manage, and provide technical oversight for the development, implementation, and monitoring of project activities. You will ensure high-quality program delivery, effective coordination with faith-based and government stakeholders, strong partnership management, and compliance with donor and CRS requirements., advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. The Program Manager will oversee project planning, budgeting, reporting, learning, and adaptive management while fostering locally led solutions that strengthen health systems, improve community health financing mechanisms, enhance governance, and contribute to sustainable health outcomes.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage and implement all activities throughout the project cycle, including start-up, implementation, monitoring, learning, and close-out, ensuring quality delivery in accordance with CRS program quality standards, donor requirements, and best practices. Ensure project staff and partners effectively utilize approved systems, tools, and processes. Work closely with partner leadership and technical teams to support partner-led implementation, jointly address challenges, and ensure effective coordination throughout project delivery.
• Foster and maintain collaborative relationships with faith-based health institutions, church structures, government entities, private sector actors, and other stakeholders to support project objectives and strengthen health system outcomes.
• Lead the development, implementation, and coordination of community health financing and other innovative approaches that promote sustainable access to quality health services and increased community ownership.
• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships that contribute to project goals, strengthen local leadership, leverage resources, expertise, and opportunities for improved health outcomes. Support local partners to develop strategic relationships that enhance their influence, credibility, sustainability, and leadership within the health financing ecosystem.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with project stakeholders, ensuring effective communication, coordination, joint planning, and alignment of project activities. Facilitate transparent dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and shared decision-making to foster trust, mutual accountability, and effective partnership performance.
• Support project design, business development, and proposal development efforts related to health systems strengthening, health programming, and institutional capacity strengthening.
• Strengthen and manage partnerships using CRS partnership principles, tools, and approaches, ensuring mutual accountability, collaboration, and long-term impact. Maintain regular engagement with partner leadership and staff, proactively address partnership challenges, facilitate joint planning and reflection processes, and support implementation of agreed Partnership Capacity Strengthening (PCS) priorities.
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs, through planning and oversight to ensure efficient use of project resources.
• Supervise, coach, and mentor project staff, fostering professional growth, high performance, teamwork, and commitment to CRS values and program quality standards.
• Represent CRS in technical working groups, stakeholder forums, learning events, and coordination meetings at national and sub-national levels, promoting project visibility, collaboration, and influence
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of high-quality technical, financial, and donor reports, while documenting lessons learned, best practices, and project achievements.
• Ensure the integration of safeguarding, accountability, gender, localization, and locally led development approaches across all project activities and partnerships.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 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.
• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USG, UN and other relevant donors
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality technical proposals.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations
• 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
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports

Required Languages - Fluency in English is required

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 40%.

Supervisory Responsibilities - Program Manager I – Community Based Health Insurance, Project Manager – MEAL.

 Key Working Relationships:

Internal: CRS Country Representative, Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Uganda-based technical experts for MEAL, Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion (GYSI) and Partner Capacity Strengthening (PCS), Technical Health team, Regional and Headquarters technical staff. 

External: Local partner staff, representatives from for-profit and other non-profit organizations and relevant national, district, sub-county, parish and other government stakeholders, community leaders.

***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 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 protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 

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

CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, Social Sciences, development studies and Health related management or relevant experience in related field.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 3 years’ working experience managing complex health, development, or health systems-strengthening programs in a leadership or management role.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public health, Health Systems Management, Health Services Administration, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Business Administration, or related field.
• Experience in an international NGO an advantage
• Experience working in partnerships with local organizations and supporting partner-led implementation through technical accompaniment, capacity strengthening, coaching, and organizational development.

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.

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.

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.