Program Manager I – Emergency Response

• PositionProgram Manager I – Emergency Response
• CompanyCatholic Relief Services (CRS) Uganda
• LocationKampala, Uganda
• Job TypeFull-Time
• CategoryNGO Jobs in Uganda
• IndustryHumanitarian & International Development
• DepartmentProgramming (reports to Head of Programming)
• DeadlineFriday, 23 October 2026 (5:00 PM)

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Founded in 1943, it now works in more than 100 countries, serving people based on need, not creed, race or nationality.

CRS employs over 7,000 staff worldwide and works mainly through local partner organisations. Its programmes cover emergency response, health, agriculture, water, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

In Uganda, CRS runs development and humanitarian programmes from its Kampala office, including emergency response and recovery work in refugee-hosting areas.

The Program Manager I – Emergency Response leads management and technical oversight of all Shelter and WASH programming in the proposed refugee settlements. You will make sure the systems and processes are in place for high-quality programming, from project design and start-up through implementation and close-out, in line with CRS quality standards and donor rules.

Reporting to the Head of Programming, you will supervise Project Officers, Senior Project Officers and MEAL staff, lead capacity strengthening for staff, partners and government counterparts, manage project spending against financial plans and help grow the emergency portfolio by writing proposals. The role may involve travel of up to 30%. CRS is recruiting ahead of an expected award, so hiring depends on the project being funded.

• Provide management, guidance and technical oversight of all Shelter and WASH activities throughout the project cycle, in line with CRS quality principles, donor guidelines and industry best practice.
• Manage talent for emergency response and recovery programmes, including team dynamics, staff well-being, coaching, development plans and performance management for direct reports.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening in emergency and humanitarian response for CRS staff, local partners, government counterparts and other stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership to strengthen humanitarian systems, policies, standards and practices in Uganda, supporting government, civil society, faith-based and community actors to develop frameworks, SOPs and tools.
• Work with CRS Uganda Programming leadership and the global CRS Humanitarian Response Department to document and share lessons learned, promising practices and innovations.
• Contribute to growing CRS’s emergency portfolio by identifying funding opportunities and serving as technical lead or writer on proposals.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to Shelter, WASH and humanitarian response.
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditure in line with financial plans and efficient stewardship of project resources.
• Represent CRS in coordination forums, clusters and technical working groups with government, donors, UN agencies and partners.
• Undertake other duties assigned by the supervisor in line with the scope of the position.

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, International Relations, Community Development, or disaster management, climate adaptation or resilience.
• Preferred: a Master’s degree in International Development, International Relations, Community Development, disaster management, WASH or engineering.

Work Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based project management experience.
• Experience managing moderately complex projects.
• Experience in an international NGO.
• Experience working closely with local partner organisations.
• Good experience in grants management and project design, preferably for multiple public donors including the US government and UN.

Additional Requirements

• Strong knowledge of Shelter, WASH and humanitarian response, Uganda’s coordination mechanisms and protection principles.
• Open to Ugandan nationals only.
• Fluent English is required. Working proficiency in a local language is a plus.
• Willingness to travel, possibly up to 30% of the time.

Technical Skills

• Humanitarian programme management: Shelter and WASH project cycle from start-up to close-out.
• Grants management: Designing and managing projects for USG and UN donors.
• Proposal writing: High-quality technical proposals and reports.
• Partner capacity strengthening: Building local and government partner systems.
• Microsoft Office and information systems: Excel, Word, PowerPoint and web conferencing tools.

Soft Skills

• Staff management: Building a learning-focused team environment.
• Critical thinking: Creative problem solving and sound judgement.
• Relationship management: Relating strategically to people at all levels.
• Facilitation: Strong presentation and multi-stakeholder convening skills.
• Integrity and accountability: Living CRS guiding principles.

CRS has not published the salary for this role. You would lead Shelter and WASH programming for a major international humanitarian agency, with access to CRS’s global Humanitarian Response Department and technical networks.

• Lead a full Shelter and WASH portfolio in refugee settlements.
• The role is reserved for Ugandan nationals.
• Work alongside CRS’s global Humanitarian Response Department.
• Represent CRS in national clusters and coordination forums.
• Build donor proposal experience with USG and UN funding.
• Supervise a team of Project Officers and MEAL staff.

Apply online only, through the official CRS careers portal (Program Manager I – Emergency Response). The position is open to Ugandan nationals only, and applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Friday, 23 October 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. CRS is recruiting in anticipation of an award, so all hiring depends on the project being funded. Explore more NGO jobs in Uganda.

• Lead with your Shelter and WASH project management experience, with project sizes and locations.
• Show at least 5 years of field-based work. CRS asks for it as a minimum.
• Name the donors you have managed grants for, such as USAID, BPRM, ECHO or UN agencies.
• Include proposals you wrote or led, and whether they were funded.
• Mention refugee settlement experience, for example in West Nile or the south-west.
• Highlight cluster or working group coordination roles you have held.