Country Program Early Recovery Lead

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to serve those in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, focusing on various areas including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to saving, protecting, and transforming lives without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS values diversity and welcomes individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its mission and commitment to serving vulnerable populations. The agency emphasizes safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, ensuring that its processes and policies reflect this commitment. CRS is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive work environment for all staff and program participants.

Job Overview:
As the Country Program Early Recovery Lead, you will play a pivotal role in facilitating the achievement of project objectives through effective coordination and reporting on all project activities within the assigned area. This position requires you to provide technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partners, ensuring that Catholic Relief Services’ work effectively serves the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will be essential in applying best practices and continuously improving the impact of the project’s benefits to the communities served. You will be responsible for leading the implementation of project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan, adhering to CRS program quality principles, donor requirements, and established good practices. Additionally, you will support accountability through project evaluation activities and guide partners in reflecting on project experiences, ensuring that learning accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your primary duties will include organizing and leading the implementation of all assigned project activities, ensuring they align with CRS standards and donor requirements. You will analyze implementation challenges, report inconsistencies, and adjust plans as necessary. Coordination with local project stakeholders is crucial, as you will serve as the liaison between them and the project team, mobilizing local actors to promote project activities. You will oversee inspections of project sites to ensure timely implementation and adherence to standards, track resource use through budget reviews, and provide logistical and administrative support to staff and partners. Additionally, you will ensure that project documentation is complete and filed according to agency and donor requirements, assist in preparing trend analysis reports, and document case studies and promising practices.

Required Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, a Bachelor's Degree is required, preferably in Emergency Response and Early Recovery. Additional experience may substitute for some educational requirements. Candidates should have a minimum of 2-5 years of work experience in project support, ideally in Emergency Response and Early Recovery, WASH, Shelter, and Cash- and voucher-based programming. Experience working with partners, participatory action planning, and community engagement is essential, along with experience in monitoring projects and collecting relevant data. Proficiency in MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) is also required. Strong analysis and problem-solving skills, along with good relationship management abilities, are necessary for success in this role.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field, such as Emergency Response and Early Recovery. Further education in International Relations or related fields would be advantageous. The educational background should align with the requirements of the position, emphasizing the importance of knowledge in emergency response and recovery processes.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2-5 years of relevant work experience in project support, particularly in the fields of Emergency Response and Early Recovery, WASH, Shelter, and Cash- and voucher-based programming. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in working with partners, community engagement, and participatory action planning. Experience in monitoring projects and collecting data is also essential, as is familiarity with the operational aspects of project management.

Languages:
Fluency in Filipino and English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing communication with diverse stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
This position is contingent upon donor funding and may involve travel up to 50% of the time, primarily within the Bicol Region or Cebu Province. The role includes supervisory responsibilities and requires strong internal and external relationships with various stakeholders, including local partners, UN agencies, and NGOs. The successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and commitment to safeguarding program participants and community members from exploitation and abuse. The organization prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates.