Job Summary
JOB DESCRIPTION
You will contribute to strategy development in Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration at a regional or global level and provide hands-on technical advice and leadership in aspect(s) of a Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration at a regional or global level, including as a focal point for Malawi and Lesotho, in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to Technical Advisors and Country Program (CP) teams to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable . Your expertise, advice and influence will significantly contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration programming is across Malawi and Lesotho, potentially supporting one to two additional countries where new opportunities arise. Support learning and strategic input across the ESARO region.
Roles And Key Responsibilities
- Contribute to the design, advocate for, and ensure implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments. Ensure a cross-sectoral approach that integrates gender, protection of mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
- Provide technical solutions remotely and on-site, for implementation, strategic planning and program design, including best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E to ensure high-quality implementation.
- Contribute to regional and country program staff efforts to pre-position CRS for strategic growth opportunities in Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration. Provide technical guidance in proposal development and project design with a focus on complex projects to ensure innovative programming solutions and technical excellence. Support CPs to appropriately staff project teams.
- Oversee and lead the delivery of capacity strengthening initiatives in aspect(s) of Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration for staff and partners through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curricula organizing and/or facilitating trainings, workshops and conferences; and mentoring and coaching staff in innovative CRS approaches and tools. Provide mentoring and coaching to TAs, and CP staff.
- In Malawi and Lesotho, lead aspect(s) of the agency knowledge management and learning agenda in Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration through helping implement conditions for collective learning that ensure the capturing, documenting, and sharing of key successes, promising practices, lessons learned, and evidence-based implementation research, internally and externally, including publications in peer reviewed journals.
- Support Malawi and Lesotho teams in establish and maintaining strong relationships with national and subnational levels of government, regional actors, private sector, donors, peers research institutions and others focusing on watershed/land restoration, basin management and ecosystem services and the interactions with agriculture, climate change and food systems.
- Maximize visibility and strategic positioning, including through organizing and representing CRS in a regional forum on watershed restoration. Develop opportunities and ensure collaboration and shared learning in Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration to influence technical partner approaches, future funding opportunities, and policies. Network with relevant organizations to increase CRS’ profile in Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration, influence in the regional or globalWatershed Restoration/Land Restoration community, and donor diversification.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in hydrology, natural resource management, agroforestry, agronomy, environmental science or field(s) related to Watershed Restoration, Agriculture or Land Restoration.
- Minimum of ten years of work experience in the area of Agriculture and Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with three years overseas in multiple regions as a technical advisor and/or program manager of a Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's Degree is strongly preferred.
- 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 Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration 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 Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration. 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 Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration .
- 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: Required Languages - English required. Knowledge of Chichewa and/or Sesotho is a plus.
Travel – Successful candidate is requested to travel up to 30%
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
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 strateg y 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. Salary and 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.
About Us
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.
About The Team
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.