Technical Advisor II – Emergency Response and Recovery Surge Support

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 worldwide. The organization is committed to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS's work encompasses various sectors, including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The agency's mission is driven by a collaborative culture that values integrity, accountability, and trust, and it actively seeks to safeguard children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. CRS welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to service.

Job Overview:
The Technical Advisor II – Emergency Response and Recovery Surge Support for Europe, Middle East, and Asia (EurAsia) is a critical role designed for a field-oriented emergency response generalist. This position involves providing rapid deployment program quality, management, and leadership surge support to CRS country programs during sudden-onset and protracted emergencies. The advisor will be embedded in the Emergency Program Response Team (EPRT) and will report to the Regional Focal Point for Emergency Response for EurAsia. The primary expectation is to contribute to high-quality emergency response and recovery programming that aligns with CRS program quality principles, donor requirements, and humanitarian best practices. The role requires a proactive approach to emergency program management, ensuring that country programs receive the necessary support during humanitarian crises, including acting in emergency program management roles and assisting in the establishment and management of emergency field offices and operations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Technical Advisor II will be responsible for providing rapid deployment surge support to EurAsia country programs during humanitarian responses. Key responsibilities include delivering practical program quality and management accompaniment, working with country programs to fulfill emergency program management roles, and supporting the setup and management of emergency field offices and relief operations. The advisor will also provide technical solutions for emergency program planning, implementation, and close-out, ensuring alignment with CRS standards and donor guidelines. Additionally, the role involves leading high-quality project design, contributing to regional strategies and best practices in Emergency Response and Recovery, and ensuring a cross-sectoral approach that integrates gender and disaster risk reduction. The advisor will document lessons learned and innovations from deployments, support capacity strengthening initiatives for staff and partners, and represent CRS at cluster and donor meetings as needed.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must demonstrate a strong application of technical principles and concepts in Emergency Response and Recovery, with general knowledge of related disciplines to ensure a cross-sectoral approach. Proficiency in security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security protocols and management of emergency programs in insecure environments is essential. The role requires the ability to work effectively with local partner organizations and knowledge of design requirements and regulations of major emergency donors, including the US Government, EU/ECHO, and UN agencies. Proficiency in MS Office, web conferencing applications, and information management systems is required. Experience in mentoring, coaching, and training using adult learning principles is also necessary, along with strong networking skills and the ability to influence and build relationships in diverse cultural settings.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in international development, disaster response, or a related field is required for this position. A Master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred and may provide an advantage in the selection process.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of eight years of relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role, ideally with an international NGO. This experience should include at least three years of working on programming interventions in Emergency Response and Recovery program management. Previous experience in providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is required, along with experience in program monitoring and evaluation, data collection methodologies, and project design.

Languages:
Proficiency in English (verbal and written) is mandatory, and candidates should also have proficiency in at least one additional language, preferably Arabic, to enhance communication and effectiveness in the role.

Additional Notes:
This is a remote position, with a preference for candidates based in a favorable time zone for the Europe, Middle East, and Asia region. The role requires a willingness to travel up to 75% of the time, with deployments typically lasting between 2 to 8 weeks, depending on the needs of the country program. The successful candidate must be capable of living and working in challenging environments and will not have supervisory responsibilities. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a retirement savings plan. For candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits and salary packages will be based on the country of employment.