Technical Advisor

Date Posted: Sep 04, 2023

Job Detail

Location:

Bamian
Company:

CRS
Type:

Full Time/Permanent
Shift:

Rotating Days
Career Level:

Experienced Professional
Positions:

1
Vacancy number:

CRS/BIN/23/133
Experience:

5 Year
Gender:

Any
Salary:

As per Company salary scale
Degree:

Masters
Apply Before:

Sep 23, 2023

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About CRS

CRS began direct operations in Afghanistan in early 2002. CRS maintains four main offices throughout the country: Kabul, Herat, Chaghcharan, and Bamiyan, with sub-offices in of all these provinces as well as Daikundi. The CRS strategic plan for Afghanistan focuses on poverty and risk reduction, human development, and emergency response in rural areas in western and central Afghanistan. CRS works to:

Support people, especially girls and women from marginalized communities, gain basic education
Support poor rural and peri-urban households to have increased livelihood security
Support vulnerable communities to survive shocks without long-term negative impacts on their livelihoods.
Support the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) needs of vulnerable households through community-driven construction and rehabilitation projects and hygiene promotion.

CRS launched a high-profile, multi-sectoral livelihoods and WASH early recovery response in July 2021 that will help households meet immediate needs following the recent drought through food security interventions and water source rehabilitation and development. Additionally, the project will focus on building the capacity and long-term livelihood resilience of participants through training events on simple, low-cost, low-risk, agriculture practices that are proven to yield quick and positive results in a single growing season. Lastly, the early recovery response features a hygiene promotion component that emphasizes behavior change related to water treatment and storage, as well as household hygiene practices. The WASH response will support communities through participatory approaches to implement small and community-driven infrastructure projects that rehabilitate water sources and facilitate access to safe drinking water. CRS is currently looking for a Project Officer (PO) with a project management background, preferably experienced in managing agriculture or WASH projects in the Central Highlands. The PO will be responsible to lead the day-to-day implementation of multiple projects in Ghor Province.

Job Description

The WASH Technical Advisor (TA) will provide technical advice and hands-on support to a range of program design and implementation issues in the area of WASH in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to Country Program (CP) teams to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. You will play a key role in designing WASH programs and supporting implementation of all WASH activities in the field, projects, and programs within the country program. You will provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the Country Program (CP) WASH programming, which may include borehole rehabilitation, wells deepening, handpumps repair household water treatment promotion, construction of new water points or systems, sanitation facilities, and hygiene and sanitation promotion. The WASH TA is expected to take a very hands-on approach to this support role, with significant time spent in the field overseeing and reviewing WASH activities. Your advice, knowledge, and support will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ WASH programming is across the globe.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

Provide technical solutions to CP teams for strategic planning and how to best apply standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools and M&E, helping to ensure high-quality programming throughout the project cycle is in line with CRS quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.
Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CP WASH sector portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CP WASH strategic priorities. Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals in WASH per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals. Advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.
Support capacity strengthening initiatives in WASH programming for staff and partners through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and coaching.
Work with WASH program teams in the field to oversee the implementation of WASH projects and ensure that projects are safe, high-quality, and aligned with community needs and best practices. Collaborate with project teams to resolve any challenges or delays.
Support teams in the assessment of community WASH needs and the development and review of supporting documentation for WASH projects, including BOQs.
Contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, local authorities, research and other institutions, participate in forums in the area of to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work. Represent CRS in regional and national WASH cluster meetings.
Support teams to manage timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial and procurement plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
Identify opportunities for learning, research and publications in the area of WASH. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.

Job Requirements

Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations, Civil Engineering, or related field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
Minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of WASH, including design and construction of rural community water systems.
Experience in overseeing WASH projects ranging in complexity, preferably with an international NGO.
Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in WASH. General knowledge of other related disciplines preferable to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
Experience in project design and proposal development. Experience in writing content for proposals.
Knowledge of capacity strengthening best practices.
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. Understanding of partnership principles.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No direct supervisory responsibilities anticipated. The WASH TA will provide technical oversight to field-based WASH Senior Project Officers and field staff.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Head of Programming, Deputy Head of Programming, Supporting Transformation for Afghanistan’s Recovery (STAR) Project Director, Fostering Resilience in Afghanistan through Multi-Sector Emergency Support II Program Manager, in-country technical staff, MEAL Technical Advisor, Heads of Offices, Head of Operations, Procurement Manager, Global Technical Advisors for WASH, Regional Technical Advisor for MEAL

External: Donors and key coordination forums.

Required Languages – Fluency in spoken and written Dari and English; proficiency in Pashto a plus.

Travel – Position will be based in Bamiyan. Must be willing and able to travel up to 75% to other CRS provincial offices across Bamiyan, Daykundi, Ghor, and Herat, as well as to Kabul for coordination meetings.

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 judgement
Good technical writing skills
Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID
Experience engaging with partner organizations
Demonstrated MEAL skills and experience
Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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.

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.

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.

EOE/M/F/D/V - CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Protection Acknowledgment: CRS prohibits all forms of abuse and exploitation towards children and vulnerable adults. As a professional candidate, you commit to adhering to the Agency’s policy on the protection, rights, and dignity of children and vulnerable adults and to safeguard them from abuse and exploitation as defined in CRS’ Safeguarding Policy.

Skills Required

Excellent report-writing skills

Submission Guideline:

Submission of Applications:

Applications comprise a one-page cover letter to explain your interest and suitability for the post and your CV. Please do not attach your education documents and work certificates unless requested.

Dear Applicants!

The process of submitting a CV/Application has been changed to the online system. Therefore, interested candidates are encouraged to apply using the link provided below. Applications sent to any other email address or location will not be considered. Please ensure to rename your application file according to your name entered on the first page of the application forms.

Interested candidates can submit their applications by clicking on this link.

Please note that applications received after the closing date (i.e., September 23^rd, 2023), will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for tests and interviews.

Job Detail