CRS Project Officer

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to serve the poor and vulnerable, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing relief and development assistance without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization is committed to improving lives through various programs, including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS fosters a collaborative, mission-driven culture and welcomes individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its values. The agency prioritizes safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, reflecting its commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all people.

Job Overview:
As a lead for the project team, the CRS Project Officer will facilitate the achievement of project objectives by coordinating and reporting on all project activities. This role involves providing technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partners, ensuring that CRS's work effectively serves the poor and vulnerable. The Project Officer will utilize their coordination and relationship management skills to apply best practices and continuously improve the impact of the project’s benefits to the communities served. The position requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and a commitment to accountability throughout the project cycle, ensuring that learning accompanies all project activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Officer will organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan, ensuring alignment with CRS program quality principles, donor requirements, and good practices. Responsibilities include supporting accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities, guiding partners in reflecting on project experiences, analyzing implementation challenges, and reporting inconsistencies or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and schedules. The Project Officer will coordinate and oversee relationships with local project stakeholders, serve as a liaison to mobilize local actors, supervise and perform inspections at project sites, ensure proper tracking of resource use through budget reviews, and support capacity building and technical support activities. Additionally, the role involves coordinating logistical and administrative support for staff and partners, ensuring complete project documentation, and assisting with the preparation of trends analysis reports and case studies.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong analysis and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound judgments. Good relationship management skills are essential, along with a proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented mindset. Attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness in executing responsibilities are critical for success in this role. Preferred qualifications include experience working with partners, participatory action planning, community engagement, staff supervision, project monitoring, and data collection. Proficiency in MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) is also desirable.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor's Degree is required for this position, with a degree in International Relations or a related field being a plus. The educational background should align with the program area relevant to the project.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 4 years of work experience in project support, ideally within the field of the program area and for a non-governmental organization (NGO). Additional experience may be considered as a substitute for some educational requirements, emphasizing the importance of practical experience in the role.

Languages:
The job requires proficiency in English as a mandatory language. Additional languages may be beneficial, particularly those relevant to the local context and communities served by the project.

Additional Notes:
The position may involve travel, with candidates expected to be willing and able to travel up to a specified percentage. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. For candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits packages are based on the country of employment. The anticipated duration of the assignment for expatriates is informed by a term limit based on job type and agency needs. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and staff from exploitation and abuse, and successful candidates are expected to adhere to the agency's Code of Conduct.