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, ensuring that all staff members adhere to a strict Code of Conduct. The agency promotes equal opportunity employment and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those from the regions where it operates.

Job Overview:
The Senior Project Officer, also known as the Coordinator of Positive Youth Development, will lead the Positive Youth Development component of the Horizontes initiative. This role involves ensuring the implementation of a comprehensive approach to achieve the component's objectives. The officer will adapt the positive youth development approach and integrate it with other components of the initiative. Responsibilities include coordinating and reporting on all youth-related activities, fostering synergies among components, and guiding CRS staff and partners in developing competencies. A key focus will be on designing and implementing holistic actions for youth, managing resources effectively, and scaling interventions by collaborating with a wide range of public, civil, and private sector actors. The officer's ability to represent and manage relationships will be crucial in applying best practices for youth development and building strategic partnerships to enhance the initiative's impact and sustainability.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Project Officer will propose updates to the implementation approach for positive youth development objectives within the Horizontes initiative, ensuring integration and synergy with other program areas. Responsibilities include designing a strategy for youth participation and capacity development in value chains and entrepreneurial initiatives, collaborating on market opportunity analyses for youth-oriented income generation, and leading the implementation of high-quality youth development activities such as camps, experience exchanges, scholarships, vocational training, and business incubation. The officer will monitor and inspect various processes and resources to ensure timely project activity implementation and adherence to established standards. Building respectful and effective relationships with partners involved in youth interventions is essential, as is cultivating relationships with strategic allies in the public, civil, and private sectors. The officer will promote innovation in youth integration mechanisms, develop a social media communication strategy to engage youth, explore innovative business models led by youth, and facilitate horizontal collaboration among youth and mentorship programs. Additionally, the officer will provide technical assistance, support performance evaluations, ensure monitoring and evaluation processes, and assist in project reporting and documentation. The role also involves integrating cross-cutting themes such as social cohesion and safeguarding into interventions, advising on youth program integration at municipal or departmental levels, and ensuring comprehensive documentation for assigned activities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree, preferably in International Relations or Social Sciences. A minimum of five years of work experience in project support, ideally in youth development or youth business initiatives within an NGO context, is required. Experience working with youth sector actors, including municipal youth offices and civil organizations, is essential. Candidates should have knowledge of community development principles, microfinance, savings groups, and economic development. Familiarity with life skills methodologies and psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">psychosocial support for youth is preferred, along with experience in participatory action planning and community engagement. Proficiency in MS Office applications and a valid driver's license are also required.

Educational Background:
A university degree is required, with a preference for degrees in International Relations or Social Sciences. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of youth development and community engagement.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant work experience, particularly in supporting projects related to youth development and business initiatives. Experience in collaborating with various stakeholders in the youth sector is crucial, as is familiarity with community development practices and methodologies.

Languages:
Proficiency in Spanish is mandatory, and knowledge of English is desirable. This language proficiency will facilitate communication with diverse stakeholders and enhance the effectiveness of the role.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, and may require travel to project intervention areas approximately 60% of the time. The role is full-time and is subject to the availability of project funding. The successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the dignity of all individuals, particularly vulnerable populations.