Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration Technical Advisor

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 serving 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-driven culture emphasizes collaboration and a commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. CRS welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds and faiths who share its values and commitment to humanitarian work.

Job Overview:
The Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration Technical Advisor will play a crucial role in developing strategies for watershed and land restoration at both regional and global levels. This position involves providing hands-on technical advice and leadership, particularly focusing on Malawi and Lesotho, while also potentially supporting additional countries as new opportunities arise. The advisor will work closely with Technical Advisors and Country Program teams to ensure high-quality programming that adheres to CRS program quality principles, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. The role requires a strong emphasis on learning and strategic input across the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) region, contributing to the effectiveness and innovation of CRS’s programming in watershed restoration and land restoration.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Technical Advisor will be responsible for several key functions, including:

• Designing and advocating for the implementation of agency-wide strategies and best practices in Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration, ensuring effective engagement with partners, donors, and governments.
• Providing technical solutions both remotely and on-site, focusing on strategic planning and design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design to ensure high-quality implementation.
• Contributing to efforts that pre-position CRS for strategic growth opportunities in the sector.
• Offering technical guidance in proposal development and project design, particularly for complex projects.
• Leading capacity strengthening initiatives for staff and partners, including developing training strategies and facilitating workshops.
• Overseeing the agency's knowledge management and learning agenda in watershed restoration, ensuring the documentation and sharing of successes and lessons learned.
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with government entities, private sector actors, and research institutions to enhance collaboration and influence in the field.
• Maximizing visibility and strategic positioning for CRS in regional forums related to watershed restoration.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in hydrology, natural resource management, agroforestry, agronomy, environmental science, or related fields. A minimum of ten years of work experience in Agriculture and Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration is required, with progressive responsibilities ideally within an international NGO context. Candidates should have at least three years of overseas experience as a technical advisor or program manager in the relevant field. Preferred qualifications include a Master's Degree and technical or academic publications.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Bachelor’s Degree in relevant fields such as hydrology, natural resource management, agroforestry, agronomy, or environmental science. A Master's Degree is strongly preferred, indicating a higher level of expertise and knowledge in the field.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of ten years of relevant work experience, with a focus on Agriculture and Watershed Restoration/Land Restoration. This experience should include progressive responsibilities and ideally involve working with an international NGO. Candidates should also have at least three years of overseas experience in multiple regions, serving as a technical advisor or program manager.

Languages:
English is a mandatory requirement for this position. Knowledge of Chichewa and/or Sesotho is considered a plus, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in the local context.

Additional Notes:
The anticipated duration of this position is for 12 months. The role does not have supervisory responsibilities but requires the successful candidate to travel up to 30% of the time. 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., salary and benefits packages will be based on the country of employment. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and ensuring the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults.