Technical Advisor – Homes and Communities

About CRS

CRS 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.

CRS has worked in Bangladesh through our local partner Caritas Bangladesh for more than 2 decades, supporting partner capacity strengthening, DRR programming and emergency response. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and is also one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to natural disasters and climate change impact. CRS is currently working directly with Caritas Bangladesh to support emergency response activities in Cox’s Bazar to address the needs of more than 1 million Rohingya Refugees with shelter and protection activities and to support Caritas Bangladesh’s wide range of emergency response activities. CRS and Caritas Bangladesh are also actively responding to other emergencies across the country with funding from START Fund, IOM and others. CRS in Bangladesh has a large portfolio of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) work including; USAID-BHA funded DRR activities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and MAC Philanthropies funded work in Monpura. CRS Bangladesh is a pilot country for the Homes and Communities strategic platform for CRS Vision 2030 and is actively engaged in forwarding CRS ambitious targets to promote reach of activities and CRS influence in shelter and settlement.

Job Summary

You will provide technical advice and support to a range of program design and implementation issues in the area of Homes and Communities in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to Country Program (CP) teams to advance the delivery of high-quality programming in line with CRS 2030 Strategy for Homes and Communities to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your advice, knowledge, and support will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ Homes and Communities programming is across the globe.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

· Support the development and contribute to the implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools and best practices in Homes and Communities that effectively engage and influence partners, donors, and governments for scaling. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.

· Provide technical solutions to CP teams, 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 and influence for scaling.

· Provide leadership in ensuring that Homes and Communities approaches and tools are integrated throughout CRS Bangladesh programming. Lead the development, implementation and use of learning systems and processes to capture Homes and Communities evidence across CRS Bangladesh programming.

· Contribute to, and in some cases lead, the development of the technical design for proposals. Support the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of project concepts and full-fledged proposals. As needed, act as a technical writer on proposal development teams. Advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.

· Support capacity strengthening initiatives in Homes and Communities programming for staff and partner through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings 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 Homes and Communities learning agenda.

· Contribute to maintaining relationships with Governments, donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions, participate in forums in the area of Homes and Communities to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.

Basic Qualifications

· Master’s Degree in Urban planning, architecture, engineering or related field required.

· Minimum of three years relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of two years relevant field-based experience in shelter and experience on Homes and communities will be preferred.

· Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in shelter and urban resilience. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.

· Experience in project design and proposal development. Experience in writing content for proposals.

· Knowledge of capacity strengthening best practices.

· Experience working with Department of Disaster Management/ Ministry of Disaster Management and relief in Bangladesh.

· Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis.

· Experience and skills in networking and relations with government, donors, peer organizations, university, researchers, faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.

Required Languages – English, Bengali

Travel- Must be willing and able to travel up to 40%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

· Strong 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.

· Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment.

· Good technical writing skills

· Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills

· Proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

· Excellent English writing skills.

· Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Experience working with partners a plus.

· Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.

· Some experience and abilities in capacity strengthening – developing curricula and facilitating trainings.

· Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

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.

· Integrity

· Continuous Improvement & Innovation

· Builds Relationships

· Develops Talent

· Strategic Mindset

· Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisor Responsibilities: NA

Key Working Relationships: **

Internal – Head of Programs, Finance Manager, Country Manager, Shelter TA, Emergency Coordinator, DRR TA, DHOP and PMs, H&C platform members sub-regionally, regionally and globally.

External – CRS Bangladesh partner organizations, local and national government representatives

*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.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

*Employment Application Clause:

– “By applying to this job/consultancy, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to demonstrate dignity and respect to all people, and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to background check, and my personal /professional references will be asked · related to the above safeguarding. -related topics.”