Senior Project Support Officer, Carbon Finance Contracts

NOTE: This is a global remote position; CRS will give preference to candidates who are based in countries where we have existing offices. CRS does not sponsor visas for remote employees.

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

CRS has a long history of supporting agricultural livelihoods, land restoration, natural resource management, agroforestry practices and climate smart agriculture. Together with our local partners, CRS is working to scale restoration of degraded land to break cycles of poverty, increase food security and improve livelihoods for vulnerable and smallholder farming families. Carbon finance is a growing source of support for land restoration efforts. CRS has begun implementing projects funded by carbon credit investors and is exploring additional opportunities. To guide this new area of work, CRS is establishing a Carbon Finance Support Unit.

The Senior Project Support Officer – Carbon Finance Contracts will provide support in the pursuit, negotiation and implementation of contracts related to carbon finance projects. The Senior Project Support Officer will play a key role in supporting the expansion and diversification of CRS’ donor base by supporting teams to win contracts from investors and project primes in the carbon finance space and administration of subcontracts flowing from those agreements. The Senior Project Support Officer will play a leading role in ensuring that contracting processes are efficient and compliant with funder requirements and CRS policy. The Senior Project Support Officer will assist in the development and revision of CRS’ current business processes to ensure that relevant stakeholders are consulted at appropriate times during contract review processes and that these are smooth and timely.

The Senior Project Support Officer will work closely with, and report to, the Director of the Carbon Finance Unit and have a dotted line to the contracts team within IDEA. The Senior Project Support Officer will provide targeted capacity strengthening of CRS staff and local partners engaged in subcontracts. The Senior Project Support Officer will play a strategic role in developing new tools and guidance, and championing contract and subcontract management best practices for carbon finance programming. Knowledge of regulations and experience managing government and non-commercial contracts and/or subcontracts are required and experience with commercial contracts is preferred.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work closely with the Director of the Carbon Finance Support Unit and colleagues in IDEA to review and improve CRS’ approaches to pursuing and managing carbon financing contracts.
• Support enhanced due diligence processes for carbon finance investors, primes and partners.
• In close collaboration with the IDEA contracts team, manage the bid review process for carbon finance and related opportunities and participate in efforts to enhance the bid review process as needed.
• Collaborate with others to create new templates, processes, tools, and guidance for Country Program and Regional teams to use for pursuit of carbon finance programming opportunities.
• In close collaboration with the Director of the Carbon Finance Unit, negotiate contract and subcontract terms and conditions with support from the IDEA contracts team.”
• Advise business development teams including, but not limited to, review and guidance on bid terms and conditions, review of budget documents, completion of compliance documentation, and management of the subcontracting process.
• Support local partners in their understanding of subcontract terms and support CRS country teams in those efforts.
• Ensure efficient administration of contracts and subcontracts during implementation including, but not limited to, file management, modification management, change proposals, review and submission of invoices, and closeout preparations.
• Facilitate trainings on the pursuit and implementation of carbon finance contracts and financing mechanisms tailored to Country Program, Regional Office, and/or Headquarters needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

Qualifications

• Minimum Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in business/public administration, law, supply chain, international development, international relations, or related fields.
• Candidates with extensive experience in international business and/or investment banking and/or corporate social responsibility and/or carbon financing will be strongly considered.
• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in supporting commercial contracts, preferably in an international context. Experience supporting INGO institutional donor contracts will also be considered.
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience with carbon financing project proponents and/or investors preferred. Experience with contracts from other institutional donor agencies such as USAID (Assistance and Acquisition), CDC, World Bank, FCDO, and the Global Fund will also be considered.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in interpreting and applying statutory and regulatory language from private sector investors, multilateral and bilateral public donors.
• Track record of contributing to business development.
• Experience managing active award portfolios (contracts or subcontracts); commercial contracts is a plus.
• Experience managing audit compliance.
• Ability to train and strengthen the capacity of colleagues and partners.
• Excellent interpersonal communication, negotiation, and representation skills.
• An interest in the climate financing space and carbon markets is a plus.
• Oral and written fluency in English and ability to work and communicate in French/Spanish or Arabic a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel). Web Conferencing Applications and strong understanding of information and budget management systems and knowledge-sharing networks.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None at this time. As the CRS portfolio of carbon finance programs expands, this may evolve if more contracting support is needed.

Key Working Relationships

Internal: Director of CFSU; IDEA team, Chiefs of Party and country team staff managing carbon financing contracts, Deputy Regional Directors for management quality and other regional staff in management quality functions, Business development regional staff, Overseas Finance, Office of Global Counsel, Global Risk and Compliance, Program Impact and Quality Assurance (PIQA), Global People Resources

External: Project investors and primes involved in contract negotiations, subcontractors and key local partners, key contacts within peer organizations managing similar contracts in carbon finance projects, external legal counsel.

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.

Physical Requirements/Environment

Normal conditions for an office environment. This position will require travel up to 10%, including in developing country contexts.

NOTE: This is a global remote position; CRS will give preference to candidates who are based in countries where we have existing offices. CRS does not sponsor visas for remote employees.

***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.

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.

EOE/M/F/D/V – CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. (For all US and International positions)