Program Quality Technical Advisor II

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established in 1943, CRS has been dedicated to saving, protecting, and transforming lives in need across more than 100 countries. The organization has been operational in Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza (JWBG) since 1961, managing various programs through its field offices in Jerusalem, Gaza, Ramallah, and Bethlehem. CRS focuses on providing rapid emergency assistance, recovery efforts, and resilience support to conflict-affected communities, addressing sectors such as multi-purpose cash, shelter, psycho-social support, food assistance, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), and livelihoods. With a mission to serve the poor and vulnerable, CRS operates with a commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, welcoming individuals from diverse faiths and backgrounds who share its values.

Job Overview:
The Program Quality Technical Advisor II is a critical role based in Jerusalem, responsible for ensuring program quality support in accordance with CRS program quality principles, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. This position is integral to advancing the delivery of high-quality programming to conflict-affected, poor, and vulnerable populations in the Jerusalem, Gaza, and West Bank regions. The advisor will leverage their technical expertise in program quality, grants management, and business development to enhance the effectiveness of emergency response and recovery initiatives. The role involves collaboration with Program Managers to ensure effective grants management, development of high-quality reports for donors, and providing program quality management support throughout the program lifecycle. The advisor will also contribute to strategic planning, capacity strengthening initiatives, and knowledge management efforts within the organization, ensuring that CRS remains responsive to the evolving needs of the communities it serves.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Program Quality Technical Advisor II will undertake a variety of responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Collaborating closely with Program Managers to ensure effective grants management for the emergency portfolio, including the development and maintenance of the CRS grants management tracker.
• Preparing business development and funding overviews for internal stakeholders and coordinating the development of high-quality progress and final reports for donors.
• Providing program quality management support related to program start-up, implementation, close-out, and other key deliverables, acting as a gap-filler for senior Program Managers when necessary.
• Co-leading the development and ongoing updates of the Country Program strategy for emergency response and recovery, ensuring alignment with changing needs and gaps.
• Staying informed about internal displacement trends and multi-sectoral needs assessments, organizing meetings with the program team to share key information.
• Identifying information gaps and co-leading multi-sectoral assessments to inform design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design and implementation.
• Contributing to efforts to pre-position CRS for growth opportunities, including leading the development of technical designs for complex proposals and advising project teams on donor strategies.
• Acting as the lead writer for complex proposals and developing proposal annexes as needed.
• Providing technical support for strategic planning and ensuring the application of program design and implementation standards. 1
• Contributing to capacity strengthening initiatives through training, mentoring, and development of learning strategies for CP staff. 1
• Supporting knowledge management and learning efforts by measuring program impact and sharing lessons learned. 1
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, and other stakeholders, participating in relevant forums to promote CRS' work and share best practices.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the Program Quality Technical Advisor II position will possess the following qualifications:

• A Master's Degree in International Relations or a related field is required.
• A minimum of five years of relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role, ideally within an international NGO context.
• Proven experience in grants management and project management, with a strong track record of providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts, with a general knowledge of related disciplines to ensure a cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in business development, project design, and proposal development, including technical writing.
• Proficiency in mentoring, coaching, facilitation, and training, applying adult learning principles and practices.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation, including data collection methodologies, analysis, and presentation.
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills with donors, peer organizations, and civil society partners.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), web conferencing tools, and budget management systems.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a Master's Degree in International Relations or a related field. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate possesses the necessary theoretical knowledge and understanding of international development, humanitarian response, and program management principles that are critical for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant international working experience, particularly in advisory or management roles within international NGOs. Candidates should have progressive responsibilities that demonstrate their capability to manage complex projects and provide technical assistance effectively. Experience in grants management and project management is essential, along with a proven track record of developing successful proposals for external donor funding.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both written and verbal, is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Arabic is considered an advantage, as it may facilitate communication and engagement with local stakeholders and communities in the regions served by CRS.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified at salary grade 10 and is based in Jerusalem. The role may require up to 30% travel to the West Bank and Gaza, depending on operational needs and feasibility. The successful candidate will not have supervisory responsibilities but will work collaboratively with various teams within CRS. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan for U.S.-based staff. For candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits packages will be based on the country of employment. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and staff from exploitation and abuse, and all candidates are expected to adhere to the organization's Code of Conduct.