Program Manager I MEAL

Job Summary:

Under the direction of the Emergency Coordinator, the MEAL Manager I will lead all MEAL related RAPID activities including, but not limited to: monitoring progress on project indicators, elaboration of M&E tools, conducting needs/market/post activity assessments, beneficiary database management, recalibration of beneficiary targeting at project mid-point, development and implementation of accountability mechanism as well as compilation of monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly reports. The MEAL Manager will be based in Makurdi, with occasional trips to other project areas and will work closely with MEAL Coordinator. This post will also work closely with the Program Manager and sector leads

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the project MEAL system, in coordination with the MEAL Coordinator, ensuring tools, processes, roles, and standards are clearly defined and consistently applied across all sectors and project sites.
• Track sector performance against monthly, semi-annual, annual, and life-of-award targets, regularly analyzing indicator progress, project milestones, quality expectations, and implementation gaps to support timely management decisions.
• Develop, adapt, field-test, and roll out project-specific MEAL tools, including digital data collection tools in CommCare, while promoting appropriate ICT4D solutions to improve data quality, efficiency, and reporting.
• Ensure timely, complete, accurate, and consistent collection, verification, analysis, and storage of MEAL data, including beneficiary data, in line with CRS responsible data standards and ethical data management requirements.
• Coordinate needs assessments, market assessments, baseline and end-line surveys, post-activity monitoring, household-level data collection, and related analysis, ensuring findings are documented and used to strengthen program quality.
• Support donor and CRS reporting by tracking reporting requirements and deadlines, compiling MEAL inputs, preparing monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, annual, and final report contributions, and providing evidence-based analysis to Program Managers and the Emergency Coordinator.
• Strengthen accountability to affected populations by supporting accessible feedback and response mechanisms, ensuring beneficiary and community input is documented, analyzed, shared, and used to inform program adjustments.
• Supervise and coach MEAL staff, including M&E Officers, Accountability Assistants, and MEAL Assistants, ensuring clear work planning, timely performance management, quality technical support, and alignment with CRS talent management standards.
• Facilitate regular MEAL field visits, review meetings, and action-planning sessions with program, sector, partner, and ICT4D teams to identify bottlenecks, assign follow-up actions, track deadlines, and ensure agreed improvements are implemented.
• Document, package, and share lessons learned, best practices, success stories, innovations, and end-of-project learning review findings, while ensuring gender, protection, and other cross-cutting themes are integrated into partner MEAL plans and program learning.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with local stakeholders.
• Data analysis (quantitative and qualitative) and database management skills.
• Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting in English.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented mindset.
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership experience in MEAL.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), standard statistical data analysis packages (SPSS, Stata or R), web conferencing applications, and information management systems.

Required Languages - Fluency in English and at least one local language.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Key Working Relationships:

Internal

External

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, International Relations, Sociology, Statistics, MEAL or in a related field.
• 5-7 years of relevant field-based MEAL experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
• Experience communicating with communities and implementing accountability mechanisms.

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.

Safeguarding:

CRS is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all people who interact with our work. We uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and expect all staff and partners to respect and protect the dignity and rights of everyone from any form of harm, abuse, harassment, or exploitation. All staff are required to follow CRS’s safeguarding policies and procedures and to complete mandatory safeguarding e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

What we offer

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

***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 prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Organization context

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.