JOB OPPORTUNITY AT CRS RWANDA

Job Title: Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives Manager

Department: Program 

Band: 10

Reports to: Country Manager

Location: Rwanda (Kigali)

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.

Summary 

You will provide strategic advice, coordination, and support to the Country Manager on the execution of the Program Office’s (PO) priorities, particularly for selected strategic initiatives, partnerships, special projects, and external engagement efforts, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support program quality of existing programs, organizational positioning, and sustainable growth in advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your strategic coordination, relationship management, business development, and project management skills and knowledge will contribute to ensuring that the PO effectively advances priority initiatives, strengthens key partnerships, and continuously works towards improving the relevance, quality, and impact of its programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the implementation of CRS in Rwanda’s Strategic Plan by supporting the Country Manager to coordinate priority actions, track progress, and ensure timely follow-up on engagements, commitments, related expenditures, and deliverables in support of effective stewardship of CRS resources.
• Provide creative solutions and coordination support for selected strategic initiatives, special projects, and partnership priorities within the PO to ensure alignment with national agendas, agency priorities, quality standards, and relevant program design and implementation approaches.
• Contribute to regional and PO business development efforts by identifying strategic collaboration and funding opportunities and leading the development of proposals, briefs, and materials to support leadership decision-making, external positioning, and partner engagement. Advise project teams on integrating donor trends, priorities, and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.
• Provide solutions to regional and PO teams, remotely and on-site, for planning and application of program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E in support of high-quality implementation of market friendly initiatives.
• Contribute to learning and knowledge management by identifying opportunities for innovation, documentation, and application of lessons from partnerships, special initiatives, and external engagement, and by supporting the capture and communication of partnership insights and emerging opportunities that inform Country Program decision-making and adaptive programming.
• Establish and maintain relationships with new and non-traditional stakeholders across government, private sector, civil society, faith-based institutions, donors, and development partners, and support the Country Manager in strengthening CRS in Rwanda’s visibility, credibility, and influence in the development ecosystem.
• Provide timely and high-quality guidance to program teams and partners to strengthen partnership engagement, market-driven programming, and implementation of selected strategic initiatives.
• Contribute to the identification, assessment, development, and strengthening of relevant partnerships.
• Represent CRS in Rwanda in high-level meetings, strategic forums, technical discussions, and stakeholder engagement platforms as delegated, and contribute to positioning CRS effectively with external actors and platforms relevant to the PO’s priorities.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, Business
  Administration, Public Policy, Development Studies, Project Management, Social Sciences, or related field required. Master’s Degree is an added advantage and additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience in strategic initiatives, partnerships, program development, business development, or project management required, with preferably at least 3 years working experience in partnership development, high level coordination, stakeholder engagement, or related areas.
• Experience in managing moderately complex strategic initiatives, multi-stakeholder engagements, or special projects.
• Previous experience supporting senior leadership in the execution of strategic priorities and external engagement processes is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in international NGO, private sector engagement, market systems
  development, resource mobilization, or systems-oriented programming is strongly preferred.

• Professional certification in Project Management or related area is an added advantage.

• Familiarity with the Rwanda development ecosystem and key actors is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Demonstrated skills in strategic planning, coordination, and execution. 
• Demonstrated skills and experience in partnership development, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management.
• Experience working in cross-functional and learning-oriented environments and collaborating effectively across teams.
• Proficient in MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web
  Conferencing Applications, and information management systems. 
• Experience in project management, including project design.
• Experience in business development, management, and program design support, including concept development and donor- and partner-facing engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality concept notes, strategic briefs, presentations, and technical or partnership documents. 
• Experience engaging with partner organizations, private sector actors, government institutions, donors, and other relevant stakeholders. 
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and judgment skills with ability to make sound decisions and offer innovative solutions.
• Strong relationship management abilities with the ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally and approach each relationship strategically. 
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.
• Ability to work independently, manage sensitive assignments with discretion, and effectively support senior leadership in a dynamic environment.

Required Languages: Excellent written and spoken English and Kinyarwanda required.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 25% within Rwanda and occasionally regionally, as required. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

***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

How to apply

Interested and qualified candidates should complete this Form and submit together with one page Cover letter plus updated CV (maximum three pages) all in/as one PDF document - via email only to: RW_HR@crs.org . Also include your full names and title “Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives Manager” in the subject line not later than Monday, April 6th, 2026 at 5:00pm.

Please, include the statement below in your cover letter:

“By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.”

Due to anticipated high interest in this post and the expected number of applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Kigali March 27, 2026