Program Manager I, Jamaica

Job Location: based in Jamaica for the entirety of the assignment

Dotted line to: Caritas Antilles Emergency Response Coordinator 

LOE: FTE 100%

Length of Assignment: 6 months with potential for extension, pending funding

Start Date: January 8, 2026 

End Date: July 7, 2026 

 

CRS’ Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) is in its fourth phase of EMPOWER (Empowering Partner Organizations Working on Emergency Responses) project with local partners based in the Latin America and Caribbean (LACRO), Central and West Africa regions.

Job Summary

You will be seconded to Caritas Antilles in Jamaica to support the Hurricane Melissa Emergency Response implementing projects advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in localization and serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the local partner delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

The PM I will work closely with Caritas Antilles and the Dioceses in Jamaica’s emergency responders and their primary role will be to strengthen the emergency response capacity of local partners and support these partners in implementing high quality emergency projects in response to hurricane Melissa. Caritas Antilles, in partnership with its diocesan networks and with technical accompaniment from CRS under the EMPOWER program, is implementing a multi-funded response including emergency relief, WASH support, multi-purpose cash assistance, livelihood recovery, and strengthened pathways into Jamaica’s national social protection system. 

To further strengthen delivery capacity during this critical phase, CRS will second a PM I to Caritas Antilles to provide operational support, coordination, technical support, and systems strengthening, ensuring alignment across funding streams (AMBFF, IRUSA, Emergency Appeal, and future mobilizations). The seconded PM I will support Caritas Antilles in managing the Melissa response portfolio, ensuring timely, coordinated, safe, and quality program delivery. The role will provide hands-on operational support while also strengthening systems, workflows, and implementation capacity of diocesan teams in Jamaica. The position will serve as a supporter—not a replacement for local leadership—and will ensure alignment with localization commitments, donor requirements, safeguarding standards, and humanitarian principles. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Support Caritas Antilles in the management and implementation of all activities throughout Hurricane Response 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. Ensure coherence across all donors - CRS, IRUSA, AMBFF, EA -  and any other emerging funding streams. 
• 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 Caritas Antilles Hurricane Melissa Response, 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

Additional Responsibilities

• Represent Caritas Antilles (when delegated) in coordination pla