Oficial de Proyecto Senior

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to save, protect, and transform lives in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing assistance without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various areas including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and it welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds who share its values and commitment to serving those in need. The agency's processes and policies reflect its dedication to protecting the rights and dignity of all individuals, especially those who are most vulnerable. CRS also emphasizes the importance of integrity, accountability, and collaboration among its staff, fostering a culture of learning and innovation.

Job Overview:
The Senior Project Officer will lead the Positive Youth Development component of the Horizontes initiative, ensuring the implementation approach is effectively constructed and objectives are met. This role requires the adaptation of the positive youth development approach and its integration with other components of the initiative. The officer will coordinate and report on all youth-related activities, ensuring synergy between components. A key aspect of the role involves guiding, training, and advising CRS staff and shared value partners in developing competencies. The officer will design and implement comprehensive actions aimed at youth, manage resources allocated for programmatic activities, and consider scaling interventions by collaborating with a wide range of public, civil, and private sector actors. The ability to represent and manage relationships will be crucial to applying best practices for youth development and building strategic connections that enhance the initiative's impact and sustainability.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Project Officer will be responsible for proposing updates to the implementation approach for positive youth development objectives within the Horizontes initiative, ensuring integration and synergy with other programmatic areas. They will design strategies for youth participation and capacity development in value chains, entrepreneurship initiatives, and the sale of goods and services. The officer will lead the implementation and consolidation of positive youth development work, ensuring high-quality programmatic standards and achievement of proposed objectives in activities such as youth camps, experience exchanges, scholarships for formal education, vocational training, and business incubation and acceleration. They will monitor and conduct ad-hoc inspections of various processes and resources at initiative sites to ensure timely implementation of project activities and adherence to established standards. The officer will cultivate respectful and effective relationships with shared value partners involved in youth interventions, promote innovation in youth integration mechanisms, and contribute to the development and implementation of a social media communication strategy to engage youth in initiative priorities. They will also facilitate horizontal collaboration mechanisms among youth and establish commercial links between youth-led social enterprises and CRS supply chains.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree, preferably in International Relations or Social Sciences. A minimum of 5 years of work experience supporting projects, ideally in youth development or youth business initiatives for an NGO, is required. Experience working with youth sector actors, including Municipal Youth Offices and civil organizations, is essential. Knowledge of community development principles, microfinance, savings groups, and economic development is necessary. Candidates should have skills in implementing life skills methodologies at scale through local institutions and knowledge of psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">psychosocial support methodologies for youth. Experience in project monitoring and relevant data collection is preferred. A valid driver's license for a 4-wheel vehicle and proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio) and web conferencing applications are also required.

Educational Background:
A university degree is required for this position, with a preference for candidates holding a degree in International Relations or a related field in Social Sciences. This educational background is essential to understand the complexities of community development and youth engagement in various socio-economic contexts.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience, particularly in supporting projects related to youth development and business initiatives. Candidates should have a proven track record of working with youth sector stakeholders and implementing community-based programs that foster youth engagement and development.

Languages:
Fluency in Spanish is mandatory, and proficiency in English is desirable. The ability to communicate effectively in both languages will enhance collaboration with diverse stakeholders and facilitate the implementation of project activities.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, and may require travel up to 60% of the time to project intervention areas. The role is full-time and is subject to the availability of project funding. CRS is an equal opportunity employer and promotes a workplace culture that values diversity and inclusion. The successful candidate will be required to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and undergo a comprehensive background check. The duration of the contract is contingent upon project funding and internal processes based on local law.