Program Quality Technical Advisor II – Moldova & Ukraine

Job Title: Program Quality Technical Advisor II

Reports to: Head of Programs Moldova & Ukraine

Department: Moldova & Ukraine CP

Location: Moldova, open to Global Telecommuting

Salary Grade: 10

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.

Job Summary:

You will provide program quality technical and management support in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to the Ukraine and Moldova Country Program (CP), to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the conflict-affected, poor and vulnerable in Ukraine and Moldova. Your technical knowledge and grants management experience and skills will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS and partners’ programming is in the Ukraine Response.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide program quality management support to Program Managers related to program start-up, implementation, close-out, and other key deliverables. When required, act as gap-filling for senior Program Mangers.
• Provide grants management support to CRS and partners, in particular for complex projects. Develop and update the CRS grants manager tracker. Coordinate development of CRS progress and final reports to donors in support to the Program Managers and ensure communication to donors is timely and aligned with requirements.
• In close coordination with the HoP, CR and PMs, co-lead the development of the CP strategy for emergency response and recovery for both Ukraine and Moldova, and keep it updated over time reflecting changes in needs and gaps.
• Keep abreast of internal displacement trends, multi-sectoral needs assessment, and key UN-led coordination meetings, and organize recurrent meetings with the program team to feedback key information and ensure. Identify information gaps and co-lead multisectoral assessments.
• Contribute to CP efforts to pre-position CRS for growth opportunities. Lead the development of the technical design for large and/or complex proposals, including design workshops with CRS and partners’ program teams. Advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS’ approach. Act as lead writer for complex proposals.
• Provide technical support, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and how to best apply program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E, ensuring high-quality implementation. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives for CP staff through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and mentoring and coaching to CP staff.
• In close coordination with the MEAL Manager, contribute to knowledge management and learning through assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports. Co-lead cross-program learning sessions and support Program Managers in after action reviews and reflection events.
• Support establishing and maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions. Participate in relevant forums to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work. Contribute to communication materials for internal and external communications and events.

Required Languages – English required. Knowledge of Romanian and/or Ukrainian desirable

Travel– 50% travel to Ukraine expected

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Head of Program Moldova and Ukraine, Program Managers,MEAL Manager, Country Representative, Country Manager, EMECA BD Manager

External: Partner Organizations, Donors, Clusters

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

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in International Relations or a related field required.
• Minimum of five years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO.
• Previous experience providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is required.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• 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.

Agency REDI 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.

• Personal Accountability
• Acts with Integrity
• Collaborates with Others
• Builds and Maintains Trust
• Open to Learn
• Strategic Mindset
• Develops and Recognizes Others
• Leads Change

***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.

Disclaimer:This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

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.

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 an Equal Opportunity Employer