About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
Background:
The primary work of the Solutions Architect is to:
- craft learning, process and performance improvement solutions that address clients’ business needs, improve end user experience and support data collection and use; and
- lead a responsive, service-oriented systems team to leverage the agency’s talent management and learning systems.
Key Responsibilities:
Solutions Design
- Partner with Talent Management Business Partner to collect and analyze business requirements from key stakeholders, internal client, and end-users and translate them into innovative and practical solutions. Provide technical leadership in advising in requirement feasibility, cost, and level of effort required to implement.
- Prioritize data collection, use and measurement within the best possible experience for end users.
- Leverage enterprise and SOA tools and design principles so that solutions are successful within the larger framework.
- Stay current on the latest technologies in performance improvement and learning systems, including opportunities for success in platform and technology implementation.
- Own the tool evaluation and scorecard process, identifying integration points with the current platforms early in the tool selection process.
- Support key decision makers and guide them in their tool evaluation process, capturing and sharing information on interoperability, security and ease of implementation.
- Create and enforce standards and best practices around tool evaluation and platform integration.
- Oversee systems’ Learning, Performance, and Succession management modules and ensure that programs are documented and compliant with agency and HR strategies and policies.
- Ensure consistent, professional communications with, and appropriate mentorship and coaching to, other teams, departments, divisions and global communities, recognizing the unique needs and expectations of each audience.
- Overall accountability for data integrity to include quality, accuracy, and usability of employee data and related interfaces in collaboration with Human Resources, Finance, Global Knowledge and Information Management and Overseas Operations.
Team Leadership
- Lead Talent Development’s business-level ownership of CRS’ talent and learning management systems.
- Lead a team of three professionals with expertise in talent management and learning systems administration. Manage team work planning, individual assignments, and group collaboration to ensure efficient, effective performance.
- Model the application of best practices among all team members, and support best-practice adoption among other CRS teams and departments in this space.
- Develop and oversee performance metrics to assess team’s contributions to agency strategic objectives and progress toward department goals.
- Oversee staff and external vendors for system configuration, release management, testing, and other system changes.
- Oversee contracts, service level agreements and issue resolution.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervise Systems Specialist, System Coordinator(s), interns and consultants.
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.*
- Serves with Integrity
- Models Stewardship
- Cultivates Constructive Relationships
- Promotes Learning
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Senior Advisor for Performance Improvement, Talent Development colleagues, Human Resources, Global Knowledge and Information Management, Data Stewardship Group, ICT4D, Marketing and Communication, and staff members of departments and divisions in strategic collaboration with Talent Development.
External: Technology, talent, performance improvement and learning networks and associations; software vendors, peer organizations and Learning for International NGOs (LINGOs).
Personal Skills:
- Strong leadership skills in both solution design and team management.
- Strong internal consulting and relationship-building skills with all levels of staff.
- Excellent verbal and written communication, including persuasive messaging and communicating complex issues to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Accomplished interpersonal skills, especially the ability to collaborate effectively and proactively in a complex organization.
- Entrepreneurial spirit and strong capacity for independent action and initiative.
- Ability to influence and facilitate change without being in a position of line authority.
- Customer service oriented; ability to cultivate new relationships and instill confidence.
- Proactive and willing to take on additional responsibility, challenge assumptions and elevate issues as needed.
Technical Qualifications:
- At least 5 years of proven experience with increasing responsibility in the area of enterprise-level system selection and implementation in collaboration with various business units.
- At least 5 years proficiency with Cornerstone on Demand, SumTotal Maestro or similar learning or talent management system administration.
- Demonstrated success leveraging multiple technology platforms and providing strategies and recommendations that meet business goals.
- Demonstrated experience with system upgrades, requirements, documentation, and report creation, including Change Control processes
- Demonstrated experience in applying a software/systems development methodology a plus (e.g. Agile, Scrum).
- Familiarity with SCORM, SCORM Dispatch, Experience API, Learning Record Stores and data visualizations.
- Excellent skills in research, evaluation and value proposition.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving and diagnostic skills that enable working creatively with complex and often ambiguous data from multiple sources to recommend viable solutions.
Professional Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development, Information Systems, Educational Technology, Business Administration, Instructional Design or related area. Master’s Degree preferred.
- At least 3 years of supervisory and team leadership experience.
- Demonstrated ability to adapt, thrive and succeed in a fast-paced, demanding and changing environment.
- Ability to manage complex, multidisciplinary efforts.
- Ability to handle multiple priorities and produce results in critical areas both as a leader and as a team member
- International development background and/or overseas work experience a plus.
- Understanding of, and willingness to work within, Catholic Church structure and policies.
- Ability to travel occasionally as needed.
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.
NOTE: All interested applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of application.
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