Job Title: Regional Technical Advisor II – Learning & Program Quality, CARO

Job Type: Full-time or Part-time (flexible)

Job Location: Remote

Reports to: Deputy Regional Director – Program Quality, CARO

Salary Grade: 10

 *NOTE: This is a remote position; CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens OR permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices. CRS does not sponsor visas for remote employees.

Job Summary: 

You will provide technical advice, guidance, and support to a wide range of program design and implementation issues with a focus on larger projects in the area of Learning and Program Quality (PQ) in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to regional and Country Program (CP) teams to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your technical knowledge, advice and guidance will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive, and innovative CRS’ programming is across the globe.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of country, region, and/or agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices for advancing learning and program quality that effectively engage internal and external stakeholders, including partners, peer organizations donors and governments.
• Support design and delivery of quality assurance systems, including how to best apply program PQ and technical standards, best practices, partnership principles, knowledge management, and M&E. Coordinate with appropriate headquarters and regional colleagues and help ensure cross-sectoral considerations integrating gender, safe and dignified programming mainstreaming, local leadership and climate change.
• Provide technical solutions to regional and CP teams, remotely and on-site, to enable them to generate evidence and learning aligned with their influence goals, share best practices, and promote CRS’ work. Ensure learning is documented, shared, and effectively disseminated.
• Contribute to agency, regional, and CP efforts to leverage results and pre-position CRS for growth opportunities. Lead or contribute to the development of the evidence-base for CRS’ core approaches. Lead or contribute to the development of the technical design for large and/or complex proposals, including defining appropriate monitoring systems and indicators. Advise project teams on integrating CLA/learning priorities.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives to support knowledge management, learning, and program quality though developing remote and in-person training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and mentoring and coaching to CP staff.
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning by coordinating research studies, analyzing program data, assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, preparing the regional newsletter, supporting design and delivery of learning events, and research and internal reports.
• Establish and maintain relationships with peer organizations, research, and other institutions. Leverage existing evidence and support the development effective learning products that promote CRS’ work and contribute to filling sectoral knowledge gaps.
• Provide program quality management surge support to fill short-term CP gaps and support projects during program start-up, close-out, or delivering other key milestones in the project cycle.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, or relevant field(s) related to research, monitoring & evaluation required.
• Minimum of five years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of three years working for programming interventions in international humanitarian assistance or development.
• Previous experience providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is required.
• Demonstrated experience designing or leading evaluation, field research, or learning studies using mixed methods. Knowledge of statistical analysis tools and software.
• Experience in business development, project design and proposal development, including technical writing.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation, and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation, including applying data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Required Languages – English and French

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

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• 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: None

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: Country Rep’s, Heads of Programming, CoPs, PMs, DRD/PQ, MEAL RTAs, other regional advisors; MarCom, MEAL, and Knowledge Management and Learning and other relevant HQ colleagues

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 or global telecommuter, 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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements