Technical Advisor I, Cash & Markets

NOTE: This is a remote position, with a preference for candidates based in Africa; CRS will also give preference to candidates who are based in countries where we have existing offices. CRS does not sponsor visas for remote employees.

Catholic Relief Services is implementing a global emergency response initiative designed to deliver timely, lifesaving 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. This role will support cash readiness efforts of Country Programs and partners, as well as provide technical support for ongoing programming, and new emergency programs, related to cash, market-based programming, and emergency food security and livelihoods.

Job Summary:  

This position is embedded in the Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) Market-based Rapid Response and Recovery (MBRRR) Team. The HRD MBRRR Team is the agency lead for Cash & Market-based Programming and the emergency Food Security & Livelihoods Sectors. As part of this team, you will provide technical advice and support to a range of program design and implementation issues in Cash & Markets as well as Food Security & Livelihoods, in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to Country Program (CP) teams and partners to advance the delivery of high-quality humanitarian assistance programming to the poor and vulnerable impacted by crises. Your advice, knowledge, and support will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive, and innovative CRS’ Cash and Market-based programming is across the agency. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

• Support the development and contribute to the implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in relation to Cash and Market Based Programming that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• Provide programmatic and operational (including administrative and finance) technical solutions to CP teams, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and how to best apply standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools and M&E, helping to ensure high-quality implementation. 
• Contribute to, and in some cases lead, the development of the technical design for proposals.  Support the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of project concepts and full-fledged proposals. As needed, act as a technical writer on proposal development teams. Advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.
• Support capacity strengthening initiatives in relation to Cash and Market based programming for staff and partners through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and coaching.
• Collect and analyze program data, capture, and share lessons learned and best practices for specific projects to facilitate improvements in decision-making and contribute to the Cash and Market Based Programming learning agenda.
• Contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, research, and other institutions, participate in forums in the area of Cash and Market Based Programming to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.
• Support Country Programs and partners in strengthening their cash readiness through targeted technical support, particularly in relation to developing capacities, identifying suitable cash delivery mechanisms and Financial Service Providers (FSPs), developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and tools, and supporting the design and implementation of pilot cash programs.

 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Strong 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
• Good 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
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Required Languages – English and Spanish required. French, Portuguese and Arabic highly desired. 

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%, including at short notice and to emergency situations.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:  

• Internal: HRD Cash and Markets TAs; HRD Regional Focal Point for Program Quality and Management; other HRD Technical Advisors (e.g. Program Quality and Management, Shelter and Settlement, Safe and Dignified Programming, Operations, and WASH); Regional Technical Advisors including Agriculture and Livelihoods; Country Program staff
• External: Partners; donors; peer agencies

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor's Degree in humanitarian assistance, social policy, economics or related field required.
• Minimum of five-eight  years relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of two years relevant emergency response and field-based experience in cash and market-based programming, including in protracted and rapid onset crisis contexts.
• Experienced trainer in CVA Programming. Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in cash and market-based programming, including experience with multiple CVA delivery mechanisms. 
• Demonstrated experience in designing CVA Programs, particularly for US Government funding, and designing and implementing Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) or sectoral cash and voucher programs related to Food Security, Livelihoods, Shelter or WASH sectors. Experience in other sectoral cash programming, such as Nutrition, DRR, and/or Protection, desirable. Experience with e-voucher platforms highly desirable.
• Knowledge of, and experience in, conducting market assessments and response analysis to inform modality decisions across different areas of programming, particularly in emergency rapid-onset humanitarian contexts.
• Experience in innovative project design for rapid response with market-based programming in a diversity of contexts. 
• Experience in proposal development, for government and/or private donors. 
• Knowledge of capacity strengthening and technical accompaniment best practices, with a focus on collaboration and supporting partner-led responses.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), data analytics and PowerBi. 
• Master's Degree in humanitarian assistance, social policy, economics or related field is an advantage.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions. 
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

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.