Deputy Chief of Party II, Programs

Position duration: Tentative July 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027

Note: This position is contingent upon funding.

Project Overview

Catholic Relief Services is implementing a global emergency response initiative designed to deliver timely, life‑saving humanitarian assistance in rapidly evolving crises worldwide. Over 18 months, the program enables fast, flexible action to address urgent needs arising from sudden shocks and protracted emergencies. It supports critical humanitarian sectors through context‑appropriate assistance while emphasizing operational readiness, locally led implementation, accountability to affected communities, and safe, dignified programming. The initiative strengthens the organization’s ability to respond at speed and scale in complex and resource‑constrained environments, ensuring help reaches people most in need when it matters most.

Job Summary

The Deputy Chief of Party II will provide overall management of and have responsibility for an area of the RAPID project, and act on behalf of the Chief of Party as needed, including global representation to the donor to serve the poor and vulnerable. The incumbent’s management and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and advance the position of CRS as a leading agency in the Humanitarian Response field. As a senior leader the Deputy Chief of Party II will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Manage key programmatic aspects of the development, implementation and consolidation of the RAPID project. Serve as a point of contact to Department of State (DOS) / Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response (DHR) as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders, when needed. 
• Manage key functions of the project to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget. Contribute to ensuring coordination between program and operations leads. Contribute to ensuring the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Contribute to the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior staff. 
• Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security policies and plans and ensure the updating of such plans. 
• Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Help ensure compliance with DOS / DHR grants, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to DOS / DHR. 
• Maintain relationships with key staff of consortium partner organizations. Contribute to coordination of the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in implementation in line with CRS partnership principles. 
• Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff and recommend trainings and technical assistance.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.
• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship. 
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching skills. 
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy.

Required Languages: Proficiency (verbal and written) in English and at least one of the following languages:  French, Spanish, Arabic. 

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% (i.e., 4 months out of the year); duration of deployment will generally be from 2 to 4 weeks. Candidates should have the capacity to live and work in difficult/stressful environments and serve wherever agency needs to dictate.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

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.