Catholic Relief Services
Job Title: Technical Advisor II, Shelter and Settlements – Moldova and Ukraine
Reports to: Head of Programs
Department: Ukraine & Moldova CP
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:
The war in Ukraine has created a massive humanitarian crisis within that country and sent millions of refugees into neighboring countries. In response to this crisis CRS is providing humanitarian assistance to displaced people and returnees inside Ukraine in partnership with local actors, as well as playing a large role in assisting refugees in Moldova. CRS response to the Ukraine crisis include large-scale multi-donor Shelter and Settlements programs in both countries.
You will provide technical advice, leadership, guidance, and support to a wide range of program design and implementation issues with a focus on larger projects in the area of Shelter and Settlements, in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to the Moldova & Ukraine Country Program (CP) and partners’ teams to advance the delivery of high-quality Shelter and Settlements programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your technical knowledge, advice and guidance will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS and partners’ Shelter and Settlements programming is in the Ukraine Response.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
- Provide guidance and technical oversight of all existing and future Shelter and Settlements projects throughout the project cycle. Ensure project design, implementation and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.
- Provide shelter technical solutions to CRS and partners, 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 and harmonization across multiple programs.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of humanitarian to recovery strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in Shelter and Settlements that effectively engage partners, donors and governments for the Ukraine response. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
- Lead the development of tools and processes for Shelter and Settlements programming including technical assessments; Bill of Quantities; Scope of Work; monitoring and final inspection tools; health, safety and environmental considerations for household-led and contractor-led Shelter program in accordance with industry standards and agency best standards.
- In coordination with CRS and partners administrative staff, lead and contribute to the development of technical documents for pre-qualification and tender processes, including specifications, rating criteria, and contract templates, and participate in bid committees as technical lead. Lead the development of quality assurance and quality control systems together with partners.
- In close collaboration with partners, provide oversight of contractor’s construction performance and compliance with contract requirements, including regular site inspections to monitor and implement the agreed quality assurance and quality control systems. Pro-actively identify problems and risks and advice Program Managers in taking decisions regarding changes in project completion dates and budget expenditures.
- Contribute to CP efforts to pre-position CRS for growth opportunities in Shelter and Settlements. Lead or contribute to the development of the technical design for large and/or complex proposals, including defining appropriate monitoring systems and indicators. Lead project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS’ approach. Lead field technical assessments with partners.
- Contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives in Shelter and Settlements programming for staff and partner through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curricula, conducting trainings and workshops, and mentoring and coaching to CP staff.
- Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic projects, assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.
- Establish and maintain relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions. Participate and represent CRS in forums, Clusters and Working Groups in the area of Shelter and Settlements to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.
Required Languages – Full proficiency of English is required, knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian is an advantage
Travel– This position is based in Moldova with 70% travel to Kyiv, Ukraine and other field locations.
Supervisory Responsibilities: none
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Head of Programs, Program Managers, MEAL Coordinator, Partnership Coordinators, Country Representative, Country Manager, Head of Operations
External: Partners, Shelter Cluster and Technical Working Groups (TWiGs), UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs, contractors, donors, government authorities
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
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in developing humanitarian to recovery shelter response strategies in complex emergencies.
- Strong and proven experience of humanitarian, recovery and reconstruction activities in urban settings.
- Excellent track record in design, planning and implementing owner and community driven shelter and settlement programs using cash and market-based approaches.
- Excellent knowledge of tender procedures, construction quality assurance and quality control system, operations and maintenance procedures for shelter and infrastructure projects.
- Familiarity with Housing Land and Property key principles and approaches.
- Proven experience designing and implementing shelter and settlements programs with local partners. Ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Proficient in graphic design software and CAD.
QUALIFICATIONS
Basic Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in construction-based architecture, civil engineering or fields related to Shelter and Settlements programming are required.
- Minimum of five years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of three years working for programming interventions in Shelter and Settlements.
- Previous experience providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is required.
- Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts in the Shelter and Settlements sector. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
- Experience in business development, project design and proposal development in Shelter and Settlements, 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
- Builds and Maintains Trust
- Collaborates with Others
- Open to Learn
- Develops and Recognizes Others
- Strategic Mindset
- 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