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Job Summary 

The Regional Focal Point for Humanitarian Programming in LACRO will provide and coordinate technical advice and strategic leadership for CRS' Humanitarian Programming in Latin America and the Caribbean Region and contribute to implementation of CRS' Humanitarian Programming strategy globally, promoting the capacity of CRS' regional and country teams and local and national partners to implement high quality humanitarian programming in line with agency program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Support region and country teams in the adaptation and implementation of agency strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in humanitarian programming in LACRO, including emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience.  Promote effective engagement of partners, donors, and governments. Ensure a cross-sectoral approach that integrates gender, safe and dignified programming, and disaster risk reduction.  Contribute to the development and implementation of global strategies and tools for humanitarian programming by documenting and sharing lessons learned from LACRO with others in CRS' global Humanitarian Response Department.   

• Oversee and lead the development and delivery of capacity strengthening initiatives for humanitarian programming for regional and country teams and partners in LACRO. Lead the development of learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums; organize and/or facilitate trainings, workshops and conferences; and provide mentoring and coaching for staff in CRS approaches and tools for emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience programs. 

• Contribute to regional and country program staff efforts to position CRS for strategic growth opportunities in humanitarian programming.  Coordinate and/or provide technical guidance in proposal development and project design to ensure technical excellence, including coordination of support from advisors in relevant technical sectors such as Food Security and Markets, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Shelter and Settlements, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Safe and Dignified Programming. 

• Promote high-quality implementation and M&E for humanitarian programs in LACRO by coordinating or providing technical solutions for country and regional teams and partners.  Support CPs to appropriately staff project teams.

• Contribute to the agency knowledge management and learning agenda in humanitarian programming by promoting conditions for collective learning that ensure the capturing, documenting, and sharing of key successes, promising practices, lessons learned internally and externally.

• Represent CRS in targeted regional forums to develop opportunities and better ensure collaboration and shared learning in humanitarian programming to influence technical partner approaches, future funding opportunities, and policies. Network with relevant organizations to increase CRS' profile in humanitarian programming, influence in the regional humanitarian community, and donor diversification.

• Assume temporary leadership roles such as proposal coordinator, technical design lead, or lead writer on proposal development teams or program manager, emergency coordinator, or chief of party for program management teams for strategic humanitarian programs in LACRO or in other regions as needed. 

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services' relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  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 safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, 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 committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS Code of Conduct.

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.

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

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate's ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in international development, International Relations or a relevant technical area. 
• Minimum of ten years of work experience in humanitarian programming with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with three years overseas in multiple regions as a technical advisor and/or program manager in humanitarian programming.

• Fluency in English, Spanish  and French required.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master's Degree is a plus. 
• Technical and/or academic publication(s) is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Experience in the development and production of curricula, tools, and other products to support humanitarian interventions and programming. Demonstrated experience in transferring knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and informal methods.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation including development of indicators, data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills to represent the organization at meetings with donors, government, international NGOs, local partners - faith-based and civil society. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Strong understanding and application of technical principles and concepts in humanitarian programming.  Good knowledge of related disciplines to ensure a proper cross-sectoral approach. 
• Track record of contributing to successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding in humanitarian programming.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications and strong understanding of information and budget management systems and knowledge-sharing networks.
• 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.
• Very strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Very strong written and oral communication skills
• Very strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Required Languages: Fluency in English, Spanish  and French required.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes 

Agency 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.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Support region and country teams in the adaptation and implementation of agency strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in humanitarian programming in LACRO, including emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience.  Promote effective engagement of partners, donors, and governments. Ensure a cross-sectoral approach that integrates gender, safe and dignified programming, and disaster risk reduction.  Contribute to the development and implementation of global strategies and tools for humanitarian programming by documenting and sharing lessons learned from LACRO with others in CRS' global Humanitarian Response Department.   
• Oversee and lead the development and delivery of capacity strengthening initiatives for humanitarian programming for regional and country teams and partners in LACRO. Lead the development of learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums; organize and/or facilitate trainings, workshops and conferences; and provide mentoring and coaching for staff in CRS approaches and tools for emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience programs. 
• Contribute to regional and country program staff efforts to position CRS for strategic growth opportunities in humanitarian programming.  Coordinate and/or provide technical guidance in proposal development and project design to ensure technical excellence, including coordination of support from advisors in relevant technical sectors such as Food Security and Markets, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Shelter and Settlements, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Safe and Dignified Programming. 
• Promote high-quality implementation and M&E for humanitarian programs in LACRO by coordinating or providing technical solutions for country and regional teams and partners.  Support CPs to appropriately staff project teams.
• Contribute to the agency knowledge management and learning agenda in humanitarian programming by promoting conditions for collective learning that ensure the capturing, documenting, and sharing of key successes, promising practices, lessons learned internally and externally.
• Represent CRS in targeted regional forums to develop opportunities and better ensure collaboration and shared learning in humanitarian programming to influence technical partner approaches, future funding opportunities, and policies. Network with relevant organizations to increase CRS' profile in humanitarian programming, influence in the regional humanitarian community, and donor diversification.
• Assume temporary leadership roles such as proposal coordinator, technical design lead, or lead writer on proposal development teams or program manager, emergency coordinator, or chief of party for program management teams for strategic humanitarian programs in LACRO or in other regions as needed.