Family Strengthening and Early Childhood Development Advisor
Job Description
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, focusing on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, ensuring that its programs are inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS values diversity and welcomes individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its mission and commitment to serving those in need. The agency's talent acquisition procedures reflect its dedication to protecting individuals from harm and exploitation, and it actively seeks to recruit candidates from the regions in which it operates.
Job Overview:
The Family Strengthening and Early Childhood Development Advisor will serve as a subject matter expert in a multi-county child development, care, and protection project. The primary goal of this role is to enhance national systems that protect vulnerable children and support families, thereby improving early childhood development through sustainable, locally led approaches. The advisor will provide technical guidance and support in family strengthening initiatives, utilizing a protective factors framework to facilitate alternative family-based care and the transition from residential care. The position requires the application of the Nurturing Care Framework to design and implement activities that promote young children's health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, early learning, safety, and caregiver well-being. The advisor will also engage in policy improvement, service quality enhancement, and sustainable system change through collaboration with various stakeholders, including government entities, civil society, and community organizations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The advisor will be responsible for providing technical guidance on family-based case management, family strengthening, and the prevention of child-family separation. This includes applying a protective factors model to enhance parental resilience, social connections, and caregiver knowledge of child development. The advisor will ensure that all approaches adhere to safeguarding principles and are inclusive of individuals with disabilities. Responsibilities also include supporting assessment, case planning, and documentation practices for families at risk of separation, as well as providing expertise on integrated early childhood development (iECD) approaches. The advisor will coordinate with global technical counterparts and contribute to the development of training curricula, job aids, and practical guidance for various stakeholders. Additionally, the advisor will document lessons learned from ECD workstreams and participate in relevant working groups to share insights and experiences.
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in a related field and have a minimum of eight years of relevant work experience. This includes experience managing multiple projects within a single department and working with government, civil society, and community actors. Candidates should demonstrate technical knowledge in family strengthening, child protection, and early childhood development, as well as experience in facilitation, coaching, and capacity strengthening. Strong relationship management skills and the ability to collaborate across technical areas are essential.
Educational Background:
A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required for this position. Advanced degrees or specialized training in child development, social work, or related areas may be preferred but are not mandatory.
Experience:
The position requires a minimum of eight years of work experience in a relevant area of specialization. Candidates should have previous experience managing departmental projects and working with various stakeholders, including government and community organizations. Experience in child protection, family strengthening, and early childhood development programs is highly desirable.
Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili is mandatory. Knowledge of the local language of the county is considered an added advantage, enhancing communication with local communities and stakeholders.
Additional Notes:
The position requires travel approximately 70% of the time within the project areas of operation. There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this role. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and emphasizes a collaborative, mission-driven culture. The organization is committed to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff to adhere to its Code of Conduct. The recruitment process is free of charge, and candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of their background.
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, focusing on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, ensuring that its programs are inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS values diversity and welcomes individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its mission and commitment to serving those in need. The agency's talent acquisition procedures reflect its dedication to protecting individuals from harm and exploitation, and it actively seeks to recruit candidates from the regions in which it operates.
Job Overview:
The Family Strengthening and Early Childhood Development Advisor will serve as a subject matter expert in a multi-county child development, care, and protection project. The primary goal of this role is to enhance national systems that protect vulnerable children and support families, thereby improving early childhood development through sustainable, locally led approaches. The advisor will provide technical guidance and support in family strengthening initiatives, utilizing a protective factors framework to facilitate alternative family-based care and the transition from residential care. The position requires the application of the Nurturing Care Framework to design and implement activities that promote young children's health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, early learning, safety, and caregiver well-being. The advisor will also engage in policy improvement, service quality enhancement, and sustainable system change through collaboration with various stakeholders, including government entities, civil society, and community organizations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The advisor will be responsible for providing technical guidance on family-based case management, family strengthening, and the prevention of child-family separation. This includes applying a protective factors model to enhance parental resilience, social connections, and caregiver knowledge of child development. The advisor will ensure that all approaches adhere to safeguarding principles and are inclusive of individuals with disabilities. Responsibilities also include supporting assessment, case planning, and documentation practices for families at risk of separation, as well as providing expertise on integrated early childhood development (iECD) approaches. The advisor will coordinate with global technical counterparts and contribute to the development of training curricula, job aids, and practical guidance for various stakeholders. Additionally, the advisor will document lessons learned from ECD workstreams and participate in relevant working groups to share insights and experiences.
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in a related field and have a minimum of eight years of relevant work experience. This includes experience managing multiple projects within a single department and working with government, civil society, and community actors. Candidates should demonstrate technical knowledge in family strengthening, child protection, and early childhood development, as well as experience in facilitation, coaching, and capacity strengthening. Strong relationship management skills and the ability to collaborate across technical areas are essential.
Educational Background:
A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required for this position. Advanced degrees or specialized training in child development, social work, or related areas may be preferred but are not mandatory.
Experience:
The position requires a minimum of eight years of work experience in a relevant area of specialization. Candidates should have previous experience managing departmental projects and working with various stakeholders, including government and community organizations. Experience in child protection, family strengthening, and early childhood development programs is highly desirable.
Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili is mandatory. Knowledge of the local language of the county is considered an added advantage, enhancing communication with local communities and stakeholders.
Additional Notes:
The position requires travel approximately 70% of the time within the project areas of operation. There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this role. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and emphasizes a collaborative, mission-driven culture. The organization is committed to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff to adhere to its Code of Conduct. The recruitment process is free of charge, and candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of their background.
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We are not liable for any decisions or actions taken by applicants in response to this job listing. By applying, you agree that all application processes, interviews, and potential job offers are managed exclusively by the listed employer or organization.
Beware of fraudulent job offers. Do not provide sensitive personal information or make any payments to secure a job.