ECE-PLAY Project Manager

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

ECE – PLAY Project Manager

Work Location: VTE Office, Vientiane Capital

(This position is available to LAO nationals only)

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) 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, nutrition, health, agriculture, education, environment, microfinance and peacebuilding.

Job Summary:

Early Childhood Education – Play, Learn, Achieve All Yearlong (ECE-PLAY) is a four-year project (2025–2029) funded by the EU and CRS, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES). The project is part of the EU’s Civil Society Organizations in Laos (CSO-LA) program, contributing to the EU-Lao Roadmap for engagement with civil society. ECE-PLAY is implemented by CRS and Namjai Community Association (NCA) with the aim of strengthening the technical capacity of CSOs to deliver cost-effective, inclusive Early Childhood Education models focusing on rural areas and vulnerable groups. The project supports Laos’ Education Sector Development Plan (ESSDP) 2025–2030. The project will be implemented in Savannakhet Province (Thapangthong District), Bokeo Province (Paktha District), and Vientiane Capital. Working with eight CSOs, the project will build CSO capacity and expand the reach of ECE programming.

Your project management skills and knowledge of the program area will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works toward improving the delivery of ECE programming through CSOs, focusing on rural locations and vulnerable groups.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead technical, budget management, monitoring and reporting activities through most of the project cycle – start-up, implementation and close-out – in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage ECE-PLAY team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and supporting the project MEAL officer to carry out MEAL Policy. Proactively identify issues and report them to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Foster and strengthen partnerships of selected CSOs and apply appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Identify capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and contribute to capacity strengthening and required interventions to support improved and expanded delivery of ECE programming in Laos.
• Serve as the ECE-PLAY focal point for CRS with MOES, NCA, CSOs, development partners, working groups, relevant local partners, and government/community actors on topics related to ECE and CSO roles in ECE programming.
• Coordinate activities required for ensuring the financial, material, and human resources for the quality implementation of the project. Conduct periodic budget reviews and follow-up with partners on timely submission of financial reports to facilitate proper tracking of resource use.
• Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and disseminate results. Review project documentation to ensure project file is complete with all required documentation and is filed per agency and donor requirements.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required. Master’s Degree related to education, non-profit management, early childhood education, development studies, project management, or a related field would be a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in project management.
• Experience supervising staff.
• Previous experience working with NGOs is a plus.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Required Languages – Fluency in written and spoken Lao is required. Excellent proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in English.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Previous experience working with MOES and the education sector.
• Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with local stakeholders. Representation abilities.
• Ability to lead a team of supervisees to drive results in a collaborative manner.
• Ability to contribute to written reports in English.
• Proactive, takes initiative, self-motivated, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working with CSOs and/or ECE programs.
• Knowledge of the education system and CSOs in Laos.
• Comfort assessing areas for organizational and technical growth and developing capacity development plans.
• Relevant grant management experience, especially for EU or other public donors is a plus.
• Experience working with stakeholders, specifically government partners, at various levels, and CSO partnerships a plus.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Supervisory Responsibilities: CSO Capacity Strengthening Officer, ECE Education Officer, MEAL Program Officer

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Head of Programs, MEAL Manager, Partnership and ECE/Education technical advisors

External: Government partners, NCA, select CSOs (8)APPLICATION INFORMATION: To apply for this position, please submit an application letter stating your expression of interest along with your most current CV by emails to: LA_HR@crs.org.

Closing date for applications: December 12, 2025, Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.