Child Protection and Systems Strengthening 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 to save, protect, and transform lives in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing relief and development assistance without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and it welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds who share its values and commitment to serving those in need. The agency's work culture is collaborative and mission-driven, emphasizing the importance of improving the lives of the poor globally. CRS has a comprehensive benefits package for its staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and retirement savings plans, tailored to the country of employment for international staff. The organization prioritizes hiring local candidates and is dedicated to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly vulnerable populations.

Job Overview:
The Child Protection and Systems Strengthening Technical Advisor II will serve as a subject matter expert, providing technical advice, guidance, and support to enhance child protection, care, and development systems in Malawi. This role is crucial for the anticipated multi-country child development, care, and protection project aimed at strengthening national systems that protect vulnerable children and support families. The Advisor will be responsible for project implementation, systems strengthening, capacity development, and learning efforts to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families. The position requires collaboration with government, civil society, faith-based organizations, and community stakeholders to improve policies, practices, service quality, and sustainable system change. The Advisor will also support integrated project delivery across various technical areas, ensuring that project strategies and tools reflect current evidence and technical standards for program quality.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the project’s subject matter expert for Child Care and Protection System, providing technical advice and leadership in coordination with global technical counterparts and resource partners.
• Provide technical assistance to strengthen systems serving children and families in Malawi, supporting the development and implementation of relevant policies, regulations, and standards.
• Strengthen capacity and implementation quality by coaching, training, and providing technical troubleshooting to project teams and partners.
• Collaborate with the project team and other stakeholders to support coordinated technical approaches within a cohesive project strategy.
• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team to ensure relevant data is captured and used to inform programming and improve practice.
• Monitor technical quality and support risk mitigation, tracking safeguarding concerns and contextual risks.
• Contribute to reporting, documentation, and knowledge sharing, providing inputs for milestone reports and participating in relevant working groups and networks.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.
• Demonstrated working knowledge and experience in complex, multi-partner or multi-country development programs.
• Strong understanding of child protection systems and experience working with government, civil society, and community actors.
• Advanced ability for independent action, decision making, and initiative with strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency in budget planning and reporting systems, as well as computer applications such as MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required, with a Master’s degree preferred. The educational background should be relevant to child protection, social work, or a related discipline.

Experience:
A minimum of eight years of work experience in a departmental-specific area of specialization is required. Candidates should have previous experience managing multiple projects and working with various stakeholders, including government and civil society organizations. Experience in applying technical knowledge to program implementation and facilitating training and capacity strengthening is essential.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Malawi would be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position may require travel up to a certain percentage, which will be specified during the hiring process. The role is full-time and may involve working with both national and international stakeholders. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and expects the successful candidate to adhere to its Code of Conduct. The agency prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of Malawi.