Advisor II, Procurement

Position duration: (Tentative July 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027)

Note: Position is contingent on funding.

Project Overview 

Catholic Relief Services is implementing a global emergency response initiative designed to deliver timely, life‑saving humanitarian assistance in rapidly evolving crises worldwide. Over 18 months, the program enables fast, flexible action to address urgent needs arising from sudden shocks and protracted emergencies. It supports critical humanitarian sectors through context‑appropriate assistance while emphasizing operational readiness, locally led implementation, accountability to affected communities, and safe, dignified programming. The initiative strengthens the organization’s ability to respond at speed and scale in complex and resource‑constrained environments, ensuring help reaches people most in need when it matters most.

Job Summary  

The Advisor II, Procurement will provide technical advice, support and capacity building to procurement and non-procurement staff in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) procurement policies and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. The Advisor will work with global, regional and country colleagues (both CRS and Partner) to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. This role will contribute to effective, adaptive, and innovative procurement throughout CRS. In-depth technical knowledge in procurement and donor regulations as they pertain to the project along with critical skills such as learning design, influencing without authority, and communication will be required for success.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Technical Procurement Enablement: Tools, Templates, and Advisory Support

Empower procurement and non-procurement staff through expert guidance, practical tools, and direct support to ensure effective and compliant procurement execution.

• Provide guidance to global, regional and teams, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and how to best apply procurement planning and implementation standards, best practices, tools, and M&E, ensuring high-quality implementation of procurement processes and procedures.
• Contribute to global, regional, and country efforts to pre-position CRS for procurement-related growth by advising project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities, and technical requirements.
• Offer hands-on support for complex procurement activities, including contract negotiations, strategic sourcing initiatives, development of large and/or complex proposals, including defining procurement processes and indicators, and project start-up processes.
• Support the development of tender and evaluation templates, as well as contract templates, in close coordination with the Procurement Contracts Manager and the Office of General Counsel (OGC).
• Support supply chain readiness through the mapping of and prepositioning of vendors, goods and service providers in target countries

Strategic Procurement Capacity Building

Develop and implement learning strategies to strengthen procurement capabilities across the agency. 

• Support capacity building efforts through close coordination with Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) Knowledge Management and Learning (KML), Global Procurement Managers and Specialist IIs. 
  • Create and support learning opportunities for staff, help to develop trainings and facilitate workshops. Provide mentorship and coaching to global, regional, and CP staff. 
  • Engage with non-procurement staff responsible for submitting and approving requisitions to ensure understanding of their role and importance in the procurement process. 
  • Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing procurement data, evaluating strategic procurement initiatives, measuring impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.
  • Support capacity building needs for procurement modules in Insight (CRS’ Oracle-based ERP system), in partnership with Procurement BPO.

Compliance Oversight

Ensure procurement policies and procedures are current, compliant, and well-understood across the agency. 

• Identify gaps and update content for CRS policies, procedures and processes related to procurement ensuring they are up to date with donor regulations and best practice. 
  • Coordinate with the GSCM KML to edit, finalize, publish and disseminate new or updated policies/procedures. 
  • Advise staff on compliance requirements, including responding to questions about specific donor regulations and interpreting complex procurement rules.

Direct Procurement

In situations where procurement staff are not present, understaffed or capacity does not match the needs of the context, the Procurement Advisor II may need to conduct direct procurement

• Execute end‑to‑end procurement processes under tight timelines, including cost estimates, solicitation documents, bidding process facilitation, negotiations, and preparation of purchase orders, contracts, and related documentation for emergency goods, services and partner agreements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision. Ability 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 judgments.
• Ability to network and build relationships with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• In-depth knowledge of donor procurement regulations, including USAID, Global Fund, DFID, KfW, etc.
• Proficient in MS Office packages, Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Ability to leverage a proactive, resourceful and results-oriented mindset.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in supply chain management/Procurement, Public Administration, Business Administration or related field.
• Certifications in Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Project Management Professional (PMP), UN Procurement Training, or Fritz Institute/CILT UK’s Certification in Humanitarian Logistics (CHL)/ Certification in Humanitarian Supply Chain Management (CHSCM)

Required Languages: Fluency in English required. Fluency in French, Spanish or Arabic highly desirable.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel 30% of the time 

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  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 safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.