Catholic Relief Services
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.
About IPE:
The USAID Improving Pathways to Education (IPE) activity in Honduras aims to increase access to safe, quality basic education for children and youth, by improving socio-economic opportunities, contributing to the multi-sectoral impacts of violence prevention efforts, and decreasing irregular migration. This activity will focus on basic education in Honduras, with a particular emphasis on upper primary and the transition to secondary. The IPE Activity will be implemented over a five-year period in selected municipalities and communities across Honduras characterized by high levels of out-migration and insecurity. CRS is a member of 5 institution consortium led by RTI.
Job Summary:
The SEL Lead will work as part of a team on a large project and provide oversight of a key function of the USAID Improving Pathways to Education (IPE) project. The SEL Lead is one of three key positions for CRS. The other two positions are the Retention and Reintegration Manager, the CRS top position in the consortium, and Alternative Modalities Lead.
The SEL Lead will coordinate the implementation of the project activities and provide technical expertise for the project under Objective 2: Increased access to and retention in inclusive, quality education, particularly for the most marginalized learners. The SEL Lead will work under the leadership of the Teaching and Learning Lead (RTI) and work together with the Math Specialist (RTI) and Alternative Modalities Lead (CRS). The SEL Lead will provide technical leadership focused on strengthening social and emotional learning outcomes for vulnerable, at-risk students. This will be done through the development of improved learning materials and workshops to strengthen instructional capacity, amongst other activities.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
- Support the development and contribute to the implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in SEL that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
- Provide technical solutions to IPE, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and how to best apply standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E, helping to ensure high-quality implementation.
- Support capacity-strengthening initiatives in SEL programming for staff and partners through the development of learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting training and workshops, and coaching.
- Collect and analyze program data, capture and share lessons learned and best practices for specific projects to facilitate improvements in decision-making and contribute to the SEL learning agenda.
- Represent the project and contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, research, and other institutions, and participate in forums around SEL to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work providing evidence-based recommendations and best practices and learnings from the project. Represent CRS and SEL at the technical working group along with the RTI Reading and Math leaders.
- Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
- Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs through planning and oversight to ensure efficient use of Project resources.
Basic Qualifications and requirements.
- Master’s Degree in Education, International Development, Social Work, or a relevant technical area required.
- Minimum of three years relevant work experience in Education with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with a minimum of two years relevant field-based experience in SEL. Demonstrated experience implementing education development programs in primary and/or middle school, particularly in SEL in Honduras preferred.
- Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in SEL and basic education. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure a proper cross-sectoral approach.
- Demonstrated experience in successful management, including management of functions of complex, multi-activity projects.
- Knowledge of capacity-strengthening best practices.
- Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis.
- 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, and knowledge-sharing networks.
- Desired Languages– Professional proficiency in English and Spanish in both written and oral communication is desired.
- Travel– Must be willing and able to travel at least 50% within Honduras to the project implementation zones including Tegucigalpa, Comayagua, La Ceiba, Santa Rosa de Copan and Juticalpa.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong relationship management skills with the ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under the direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings
- Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving, and systems thinking skills with the capacity to see the big picture and the ability to make sound judgment
- Good technical writing skills
- Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
- Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented
How to apply
***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. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. The length of employment for this position is subject to the duration of project and/or country program funding, as well as other internal processes based on local law. When applying for this job, it is understood and acknowledged that CRS requires its staff to treat all persons with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. It is further understood that, if you are a successful candidate, you will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and your personal/professional references will be requested to assess behaviors related to the above safeguarding issues.
To apply: Interested applicants, please send your Updated CV to[email protected], with the name of the post in the Subject “SEL Technical Advisor” before January 2nd, 2023.
NOTE: ONLY FINALISTS WILL BE CONTACTED TO BE PART OF THE SELECTION PROCESS.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer