I. About CRS: 

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. 

II. Job Summary: 

As Strategy and Partnership Manager, you will lead and implement CRS Honduras' efforts to establish, manage, and strengthen partnerships with key strategic partners across sectors. Your role will be essential in enhancing CRS’ visibility, positioning, and influence in-country, ensuring our mission and programs are evidence-based, effectively communicated, and supported. You will supervise the country program’s MEAL (monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning), strategic growth, and Communications activities, to ensure quality standards, learning, accountability, and strategic communications are met. You will work across teams to facilitate and foster collaboration, support strategic growth efforts, and amplify CRS’ value proposition to key actors, including donors, private sector entities, civil society, and government counterparts.  Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its general programming.

III. Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

General:

• Effectively manage and supervise Communications, strategic growth, and MEAL activities.  Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CP portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CP strategic priorities. Coordinate technical design, writing, budgeting, and staffing and activity plans for proposals, as required and appropriate.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in project management, Communications, and MEAL for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.

A. Strategic Partnerships

• Oversee the identification, assessment, and strengthening of partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools, and approaches.
• Develop and manage strong, long-term relationships with key partners, including donors, local NGOs, the private sector, and government institutions for maximum programmatic impact.
• Identify and pursue strategic partnership opportunities that align with CRS’ goals and programmatic priorities in Honduras.
• Serve as primary liaison with selected partners to coordinate joint planning, communication, and collaboration.

• Maintain a clear overview of all active and potential partnerships and ensure regular analysis of partner performance, alignment, and growth opportunities.

   

B. Positioning and Influence

• Lead initiatives to raise CRS’ profile among key stakeholders through targeted engagement strategies, strategic communication, and representation.
• Coordinate the development and dissemination of key messages and materials to highlight CRS’ comparative advantage and thought leadership in priority areas.
• Represent CRS at key forums, coalitions, and networks to advocate for programmatic influence, strategic collaboration, and increased visibility.
• Monitor trends, policy developments, and opportunities relevant to CRS' work and recommend strategies to adapt and align engagement efforts.

• Lead (or convene) time-bound working groups or longer-term communities of practice focused on the strategic use of evidence and learning for positioning, communications, and strengthening CRS' network.

   

C. Partner Engagement for Resource Development

• Collaborate with national, regional, and global team members to identify and cultivate leads with prospective donors and partners.
• Contribute to pre-positioning efforts for upcoming funding opportunities, including intelligence gathering, partner mapping, and influence strategies.
• Assist in negotiation of strategic roles in consortia and partnership arrangements that reflect CRS’ role and priorities.

Coordinate with the Business Development focal point for LACRO to ensure the accomplishment of CRS good practices and policies in the development of strong proposals for institutional donors and to apply to CRS private funds (restricted and discretionary).

D. Internal Coordination and Capacity Strengthening

• Facilitate internal alignment and coordination across departments to support partnership goals and shared learning.
• Provide guidance and training to CRS staff on effective partnership principles, relationship management, and external engagement.
• Collaborate with country and regional leadership to inform strategic decision-making based on partner dynamics and national context.

E.  Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (M.E.A.L)

• Oversee the application and compliance of CRS’ MEAL policies, standards, and procedures across the Honduras Country Program, ensuring alignment with CRS’ global MEAL framework and guidance.
• Ensure CRS Honduras fulfills annual MEAL-related commitments, including submission of global indicators and adherence to agency MEAL requirements.
• Support projects that do not have dedicated MEAL staff by providing oversight, guidance, and tools to ensure minimum MEAL standards are met.
• Coordinate with regional and HQ MEAL staff to align standards, access technical resources, and ensure consistency with global agency requirements and priorities.
• Promote cross-sectoral and cross-departmental learning by facilitating reflection sessions, sharing lessons learned, and ensuring evidence-based decision making.

F. Communications

• Provide strategic guidance and oversight for external communications, including media relations, donor visibility, and content development that highlights CRS’ comparative advantage and impact.
• Support internal communications to ensure information flow, staff engagement, and consistent messaging across departments.
• Alongside the Communications staff, provide technical assistance and capacity strengthening to project teams and partners.
• Coordinate with regional and HQ communications teams to align messaging, branding, and ensure timely visibility products for donors and key stakeholders.
• Oversee quality assurance of communication materials to ensure accuracy, clarity, and adherence to CRS’ branding and safeguarding guidelines.

 IV. Basic Qualifications

• Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations or in the field of Communications, Business development, etc. required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, preferably with at least 2-3 years working in the area of Business development,
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects, preferably with an international NGO.

Required Languages – Professional proficiency in English and Spanish. 

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 20 %.

V. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound judgments and decisions and offer innovative solutions
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

VI. Preferred Qualifications

• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality technical proposals.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations
• MEAL skills and experience required.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Key Working Relationships: 

Supervisory Responsibilities: Senior MEAL officer and Communications manager

Internal: Country Manager, Head of Programming, Programs team, Global BD team, DRD. 

External: Donors, government, civil society, and private sector representatives 

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff) 

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. 

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

***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 skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

By applying for this job, you understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all individuals with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Furthermore, you understand that, if you are a successful candidate, you will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and your personal/professional references will be requested to assess behaviors related to the safeguards.

Interested candidates: Please send your updated resume and cover letter at the following address: [email protected] with the job title "Strategy and Partnerships Manager (Program Manager II)" in the subject line no later than November 22,2025. NOTE: ONLY FINALISTS WILL BE CONTACTED.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer