Project Manager, Early Childhood Development (ECD)

OrganizationCatholic Relief Services (CRS)

DepartmentProgramming

Duty stationMbeya

Reports toDirector of Programming, TaMoLe + Malawi

Supervisory responsibilitiesYes

Vacancy date1 September 2026

Application deadline: 15 September 2026

Job summary

The Project Manager will manage, coordinate and monitor project activities and relationships with partners and other stakeholders to support the achievement of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) project’s objectives.

The role will advance Catholic Relief Services’ work serving poor and vulnerable communities. The Project Manager’s knowledge of the programme area and project management expertise will help the country programme deliver high-quality programming and continuously improve the project’s impact.

Roles and key responsibilities

The Project Manager will:

• Lead technical, budget management, monitoring and reporting activities throughout most of the project cycle, including start-up, implementation and close-out.

• Ensure project activities comply with CRS programme quality principles and standards, donor requirements and good practices.

• Manage and supervise staff effectively, including overseeing team dynamics and staff well-being.

• Provide coaching, develop tailored individual development plans, contribute to recruiting project staff and complete performance management for direct reports.

• Ensure that learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle.

• Support accountability by coordinating project evaluation activities in accordance with the MEAL Policy.

• Proactively identify issues and report them to inform adjustments to project plans and implementation schedules.

• Foster and strengthen partnerships relevant to Early Childhood Development, applying appropriate partnership concepts, tools and approaches.

• Represent CRS on ECD matters before donors, international NGO working groups, the United Nations, local partners, local government authorities and community actors.

• Determine the activities required to secure the financial, material and human resources needed for quality project implementation.

• Conduct periodic budget reviews and follow up with partners to ensure the timely submission of financial reports and proper tracking of resource use.

• Identify staff capacity needs and the technical assistance needs of partner organizations.

• Contribute to capacity-strengthening initiatives and other interventions required to support quality project implementation.

• Assist in preparing trend analysis reports and disseminating the findings.

• Review project documentation to ensure that project files contain all required documents and are maintained according to agency and donor requirements.

Basic qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required.

• A minimum of 5-8 years of project management experience is required, ideally within an NGO and in the Early Childhood Development field.

Preferred qualifications