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.
Job Summary:
The primary role of the Technical Advisor (TA) II for Vulnerable Children and Social Service Systems Strengthening (SSSS) is to provide technical assistance to CRS’ efforts backstop CRS’ orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) programming with emphasis on strengthen social service systems strengthening globally. The TA II will ensure technical excellence through contributions made to project proposal development, project implementation and monitoring and evaluation. The TA will support the implementation of learning agendas, tool development and relevant strategic initiatives. As a member of the CRS Health and Social Services technical team the TA II for Vulnerable Children and Social Service Systems Strengthening will provide technical assistance to the Agency, CRS regional offices and CRS country programs in order to build the capacity of staff and partners as well as to promote growth with a particular focus on the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) OVC programs. With SSSS’s interdisciplinary focus, the TA II will liaise closely with technical advisors from other sectors to ensure seamless quality programming. Finally, the TA II will ensure that organizational know-how, information, and experiences in vulnerable children programming and SSSS are shared within and outside the Agency.
Job Responsibilities:
1. Promote agency growth in OVC programs and Social Service Systems Strengthening
- Support CRS country programs in pre-positioning for imminent funding opportunities, particularly PEPFAR OVC programs, by providing guidance and hands-on support in conducting assessments, advising on partnerships and strategies and drafting proposal outlines of technical content;
- Provide technical assistance for proposal development including attendance at project design workshops; review project idea notes, concept papers and proposals;
- Take on a technical writing role for certain portions of grant proposal submissions;
- Liaise with technical advisors from other relevant disciplines and the CRS Business Development Team to ensure seamless and comprehensive support to country programs and regions as concerns growth opportunities
2. Support project implementation, monitoring and evaluation through promotion of sound practices and evidence-based research and capacity strengthening
- Stay abreast of state-of-the-art developments in quality and innovations related to OVC programming and social service system strengthening and share relevant information as appropriate
- Advise projects on technical issues related to OVC and SSSS programs such as financing of social services, strong coordination and referral mechanisms, social service workforce development, and service delivery with an emphasis on parenting, early childhood development, and household economic strengthening.
- Participate in the recruitment of country program staff with OVC/social service programming responsibilities
- Identify and inform country programs of opportunities to share CRS experiences and contribute to the knowledge/evidence base
- Support OVC/SSSS project implementation through communications with project staff, site visits and training workshops as necessary.
- Support the monitoring and evaluation efforts of OVC/SSSS projects by conducting on-site monitoring during field visits or participating in monitoring and evaluation teams.
3. Represent CRS internally and externally
- Represent CRS to relevant organizations and institutions and participate in relevant advisory committees.
- Interact with international organizations to build relationships between the Health and Social Services technical unit and other organizations to share experiences, increase learning and raise the visibility of CRS’ programs among key actors.
- Collaborate with relevant international development, donor and research institutions through relationship building, information sharing, and representation.
- Coordinate with CRS’ Advocacy, Publications, US Operations and other Departments on issues that concern SSSS.
Agency-Wide Competencies:
- Serves with Integrity
- Models Stewardship
- Develops Constructive Relationships
- Promotes Learning
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Program Impact and Quality Assurance Department, Business Development Team, Advocacy, Country Program and Regional Office staff, US Operations and other relevant departments in headquarters as necessary
External: Social service experts, early childhood development experts, parenting experts, donor representatives, vulnerable children and child protection networks, CRS partner organizations, other international development organizations, host country ministries dedicated to social welfare/service and/or public health
Qualifications and Skills:
- Advanced degrees in social work and public health or related fields
- Minimum of 8 years’ experience in international development either as a technical advisor or social services/health program manager, preferably in Africa
- Preferred area of expertise may include household economic strengthening, positive parenting interventions, early childhood development, social service workforce, and/or coordination/referral mechanisms/case management
- Experience working with and/or managing PEPFAR OVC projects
- Understanding of PEPFAR OVC programming priorities, strategies and monitoring and evaluation tools and systems
- Track record of designing and writing successful funding proposals in public health or areas related to social services systems strengthening.
- Technical expertise in principals, theories, concepts and techniques in the area of social service systems strengthening, including knowledge of and ability to integrate across related disciplines
- Knowledgeable of social service professionals and resources both within and outside of CRS
- Ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues at headquarters, regional office and country programs
- Ability to work independently and on a team
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Excellent computer skills, specifically in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Fluency in English (with proficiency in French preferred)
Travel requirements:
The position may be based in CRS’ Global headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, USA or elsewhere. The position will require up to 40% travel, primarily within Africa (with additional trips to Baltimore, if based outside of CRS’ headquarters).
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