Job Vacancy at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) – Technical Advisor 11 (Sierra Leone)
CRS is recruiting for the position of Technical Advisor 11 – Infrastructure, Shelter & Settlement
If you are interested and your profile matches the requirements, please read the below job description, and follow the instructions to submit your application package.
About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, health (including malaria), agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
CRS/ Sierra Leone and Program Background
Catholic Relief Service (CRS) started work in Sierra Leone in 1963 carrying out the commitment of the Catholic bishops and the Catholic community of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. For over 57 years, CRS has been on the front lines in responding to emergencies and promoting health, education, agriculture, and urban resilience in Sierra Leone.
To date, the Country Program has a robust portfolio built around several major programs in Health, Agriculture, Nutrition, Education and Urban Resilience such as the USDA/McGovern Dole Food for Education and Nutrition (All Pikin for Learn) Program, Global Fund Malaria Program and COVID-19 Response Mechanism Project. In addition, the country program is working on several high-profile opportunities to improve water security in Freetown and support Freetown City Council to deliver its Transform Freetown strategy through slum regeneration
Job Title: Shelter & Settlement Technical Advisor
Department: Programming
Reports To: Program Director – Urban Resilience
Country: CRS-Sierra Leone.
Duty Location: CRS Country Office, Freetown with 10% travel to project locations
Job Summary
You will provide research coordination, technical advice, guidance, and support to a wide range of program design and implementation issues in the area of Infrastructure, Shelter and Settlement in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to regional and Country Program (CP) teams to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable in informal settlements in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Your technical knowledge, advice and guidance will contribute to advancing the implementation of the Transforming Lives initiative, in collaboration with key project partners and stakeholders. You will coordinate with the CRS Homes & Communities platform to ensure that learning from the Transforming Lives initiative around strategies for scaling is captured and disseminated across the agency. You will also help to coordinate the slum upgrading activities with other research and projects taking place in the two target communities, such as the multi sectoral urban malaria research and an 18-month global PrEPD project to strengthen local capacity to integrate protection in disaster risk reduction.
Roles and Key Responsibilities
• Collaborate with Freetown City Council, INGO consortium and other partners to ensure effective implementation of the Transforming Lives initiative.
• Support coordination of the slum regeneration consortium led by CRS in partnership with Action Against Hunger (AAH), CARE International, Concern Worldwide and GOAL.
• Design and oversee the implementation of research activities in pilot locations.
• Monitor the progress of research activities; develop and maintain records of research activities, prepare periodic and ad hoc reports as required.
• Supervise and coordinate the provision of support services to study sites and teams, and community structures.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in management and operations for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Develop and nurture relationships with government stakeholders, private sector actors, donors, as well as academic and research institutes to generate support and visibility for the overall initiative.
• Support the creation and coordination of a national platform that will advocate for participatory and pro-poor slum upgrading in Sierra Leone.
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Through planning and oversight ensure efficient use of project resources
• Engage with the CRS Homes & Communities Strategic Change Platform to capture and disseminate successful scaling strategies and approaches.
• Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding for scaling up pilot interventions under Transforming Lives.
Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals in per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.
• Help identify, assess and strengthen partnerships relevant to Transforming Lives, applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
Basic Qualifications and experience:
• Master’s Degree connected with the built environment, or similar, and Bachelor’s Degree in construction-based engineering, architecture, urban planning, or related disciplines required • Minimum of 7 years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience in housing, slum upgrading, or infrastructure development is required.
• Experience in design, planning and construction project management, including construction contract administration for owner driven and contractor led approach.
• Experience of bid procedures, Bill of Quantities, construction quality assurance and quality control system, construction safety plan, operations and maintenance procedures, project close-out is a must.
• Knowledge of Housing, Land and Property policies and regulations in Sierra Leone. • Experience with urban resilience and crosscutting objectives (e.g., gender, youth). • Proven experience of working with communities in informal settlements.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks, AutoCAD, 3D (ArchiCad, Revit, SketchUp, or similar).
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in Infrastructure, Shelter and Settlements program. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach. • Knowledge of an additional priority area, such as solid waste or watershed management, a plus. • Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings. • Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Good technical writing skills
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented
Required Languages – Fluency of English is required. Fluency of Krio is highly desirable but not required. Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 10%.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal Program Director Urban Resilience, Head of Programming, BD Specialist, Urban Malaria Technical Advisor, PrEPD Program Manager, Partnership Advisor, region and HQ Technical Advisors. External: Freetown City Council, Consortium Partners (Action Against Hunger, CARE, Concern Worldwide, GOAL), Civil Society Organizations (CODOHSAPA, FEDURP), government, donors, consultants
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Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship
***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to safeguarding-related topics.
WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. CRS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
To apply for this position please send up-to-date CV and a supporting letter, copies of relevant certificates to [email protected]. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be done on rolling bases.
Also send a copy of your application package to the desk Officers, Ministry of Employment and Social Security, New England, and Extension Offices in Applicants’ Locations
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Closing Date for the receipt of application packages is 18th February 2022.
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