Technical Advisor II - Food Security, Livelihoods and Markets

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, focusing on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to serving individuals without regard to race, religion, or nationality, and emphasizes a collaborative, mission-driven culture. CRS is dedicated to safeguarding vulnerable populations, including children, from abuse and exploitation, and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds who share its values.

Job Overview:
The Technical Advisor II position is embedded within the Humanitarian Response Department's Market-based Rapid Response and Recovery Team. This role involves providing technical advice and support on design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design and implementation issues related to security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security, particularly in humanitarian contexts. The advisor will focus on in-kind food assistance programming and Livelihoods and Markets, ensuring alignment with CRS program quality principles, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. The advisor will also manage the implementation of the Sudan Country Program's Preparedness Plan for nutrition" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food and Nutrition Security Crises (FNS Plan), which is a collaborative effort funded by the World Bank aimed at preemptively addressing food and nutrition security issues in Sudan. The position requires a strong commitment to delivering high-quality programming to vulnerable populations and contributing to the effectiveness and innovation of CRS's Market-Based programming globally.

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

• Developing and implementing agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in food security and livelihoods, ensuring effective engagement with partners, donors, and governments.
• Providing technical solutions to regional and Country Program teams, both remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and program design.
• Leading the development of technical designs for large and complex proposals, including monitoring systems and indicators.
• Advising project teams on integrating donor strategies and technical requirements into CRS's approach.
• Contributing to capacity strengthening initiatives for staff and partners through training, mentoring, and developing learning strategies.
• Coordinating the FNS Plan Secretariat, managing budgets and activities, and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders.
• Contributing to knowledge management by analyzing program data, evaluating projects, and sharing lessons learned.
• Participating in forums related to food security and livelihoods to promote CRS's work and collect best practices.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds. They should demonstrate strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills, along with excellent written and oral communication abilities. Proficiency in presentation, facilitation, training, and mentoring is essential. Candidates should be proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented, with experience in coordination and networking with donors and peer organizations. A solid understanding of partnership principles and diplomacy skills are also required.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s Degree in international development or related fields such as food security, livelihoods, and market-based response programming is required. A Master's Degree in a relevant field is preferred and considered an advantage.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of eight years of relevant international working experience in advisory or management roles, ideally with an international NGO. This includes at least three years of overseas experience as a technical advisor or program manager in Market-based Programs or multi-sectoral projects with a Food Security and Livelihoods component. Experience managing in-kind food assistance programs is highly desirable, along with a track record of successful proposal development for external donor funding.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required, while proficiency in Arabic is desirable. Candidates must be willing to travel up to 50%, with a strong preference for those based in East Africa.

Additional Notes:
This is a remote position, with a preference for candidates located in East Africa. CRS does not sponsor visas for remote employees. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and retirement savings plans. Benefits for candidates employed outside the U.S. will be based on the country of employment. The successful candidate is expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and commitment to safeguarding vulnerable populations.