Technical Advisor II (MEAL 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, 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, dedicated to improving the lives of the poor globally. CRS has a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, and benefits for international staff are based on the country of employment.

Job Overview:
The Technical Advisor II (TA II) will play a crucial role in providing technical assistance, guidance, and support in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) at both regional and country levels. The TA II will contribute to global approaches and provide a range of MEAL technical support based on the needs of various projects, including business development, project start-up, implementation, and close-out, as well as emergency responses and global awards. The TA II's support will align with CRS program quality principles and standards, MEAL Policies and Procedures, donor guidelines, and industry best practices, ensuring the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. The TA II will coordinate their efforts with Regional Focal Points for MEAL, sector MEAL TAs, and other Program Quality and Humanitarian Response staff at various levels.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The TA II will be responsible for providing MEAL technical assistance both remotely and in-country to projects and country teams. This includes developing or reviewing MEAL budgets, designing MEAL systems, creating data collection tools, conducting data analysis, establishing learning agendas, and performing evaluations. The TA II will support business development by contributing to country efforts to position CRS for strategic growth opportunities and providing technical MEAL guidance for proposal development and project design. In humanitarian responses, the TA II will deploy to emergency programs, establish and manage MEAL systems, design or review tools and reports, conduct real-time evaluations, and provide MEAL inputs to humanitarian response proposals. The TA II will also support specific sectors such as social cohesion, WASH, and youth by developing indicators, designing learning agendas, visualizing data, and identifying evidence. Additionally, the TA II will contribute to the design and implementation of strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in MEAL, engage partners, donors, and governments, and contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives for staff and partners through training and mentoring. Establishing and maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, and research institutions is also a key responsibility, along with participating in MEAL forums to share best practices and promote CRS' work.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must demonstrate a solid application of technical principles and concepts in MEAL, along with general knowledge of program sectors. Experience in business development, particularly in the MEAL components of project design and proposal development, is essential. Strong relationship management skills are required, with the ability to influence and gain buy-in from individuals across diverse geographical and cultural settings. Candidates should possess accompaniment, mentoring, and coaching skills, recognizing the capacities and solutions of partners and colleagues. Experience in facilitation and training, applying adult learning principles, is also necessary. Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving, and systems thinking skills are essential, along with proficiency in MS Office packages and digital data collection tools. Excellent written and oral communication skills are required, and candidates should be proactive, resourceful, flexible, and results-oriented.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s Degree in international development, statistics, economics, or a related field is required for this position. A Master’s degree is preferred but not mandatory. Candidates should have a strong academic background that supports their understanding of MEAL principles and practices.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of eight years of work experience in international development and/or MEAL, with progressive responsibilities ideally within an international NGO. This experience should include at least three years as a MEAL technical advisor and/or program manager, along with experience working overseas. Candidates should have a proven track record in project monitoring and evaluation using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, including the development of indicators and data collection methodologies.

Languages:
Written and verbal fluency in English is required for this position. Knowledge of additional languages such as French, Spanish, or Arabic is considered a major plus, enhancing the candidate's ability to work in diverse environments and with various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is remote, and CRS will only consider candidates who are based in countries where they have existing offices. The successful candidate must be willing and able to travel up to 40%. There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this role. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. For successful 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 the job type and level, as well as the agency's needs.