Background:

CRS has been working on behalf of Afghan communities since 2002, with hundreds of experienced Afghan staff working in offices across the country. We provide emergency relief, inclusive education, improved agricultural techniques, and other life‐enriching services to tens of thousands of households. The country’s long conflict has left many families displaced and impoverished, but the war’s end in 2021 has opened the possibility of reaching many previously inaccessible communities.

CRS is currently implementing programs in the provinces of Bamiyan, Daykundi, Ghor, Herat, and Kabul, and is exploring additional expansion. CRS maintains five main offices in the country as well as several sub-offices that support the direct implementation of program activities. With over 200 staff, the Country Program is growing to meet new needs throughout the country.

Over the last several years, the drought, conflict, transition, flash floods, earthquakes, and increase in returnees from Pakistan and Iran have led to significant and urgent multisectoral needs as well as widespread food insecurity and water scarcity across the country. CRS anticipates scaling up its emergency response through MPCA, WASH, education, and livelihoods support in current and new target districts, ensuring preparedness to provide both rapid and longer-term responses. CRS intends to expand and strengthen its capacity to catalyze outcomes at scale, to influence expansion of activities, strategies, and outcomes.

Job Summary:

You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the Country Program’s (CP) emergency preparedness, response and recovery programming, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming that advances CRS’ work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your knowledge and skills in emergency programming and your management abilities will ensure the delivery of high-quality emergency programming that applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• In close collaboration with the CP Country Management Team and global Emergency Technical Advisors, manage the planning, strategy and implementation of all emergency response and recovery activities in line with CRS quality standards, donor requirements, and national and international standards and ensure program components are implemented in an integrated manner with other ongoing CP programming, ensuring staff safety and security.
• Lead the development, validation, and/or rollout of key emergency strategies, SOPs, and tools that strengthen the preparedness of CRS and partners to mobilize rapidly in preparation for and/or response to diverse shocks and stresses, and to provide high-quality support to affected individuals, households, and communities.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of emergency staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Promote MEAL and knowledge management by leading program/project reviews and reflections with staff and partner representatives and documentation of good practices and lessons learned for assessments, to adjust strategies and implementation plans, to inform future programming initiatives and approaches, and to contribute to organizational learning.
• Represent the organization and collaborate, coordinate and communicate on a regular basis with donors, INGO key sectoral working groups, the UN, and relevant local government and community actors to keep abreast of changing needs and opportunities on the ground, to develop synergies, and to identify opportunities for growth.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to humanitarian response and recovery and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality emergency proposals per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.
• Identify emergency capacity building needs for staff, partner organizations, and other local stakeholders and take the lead on planning emergency training and capacity building programs and activities, developing curriculums, and delivering trainings.
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Strong strategic, analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions with limited or incomplete information and offer innovative solutions.
• Strong representation and relationship management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
• Ability to work long hours in a fast-paced environment and juggle multiple priorities.
• Able to live in an environment where everyday comforts are not ready available.
• Ability to function well in a stressful environment, stay focused, and maintain sufficient work life balance with limited options for downtime activity.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to represent the organization at coordination meetings with donors, local government, UN, and other international NGOs.
• Experience with emergency proposals and strategy design. Familiarity with policies, procedures, and priorities of USAID/BHA, OCHA, other UN agencies and Caritas agencies preferred.
• Strong experience implementing market-based approaches in emergency programming
• Experience in building and motivating diverse and talented teams.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Required Languages – Fluency in English (spoken and written) required. Proficiency in Dari or Pashto a plus.

Travel – This position is based in Herat. Candidates must be willing to commit to travel within Afghanistan (including to Bamiyan, Daikundi, Ghor, Kabul, and various districts of Herat) up to 75%. Occasional international travel may be required.

Supervisory Responsibilities: TBC

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: Head of Programming, Deputy Head of Programming, Head of Operations, Heads of Offices, Technical Advisors (CP, Regional, Global), Finance Manager, Supply Chain Manager, HR Manager.

External: Donor representatives, peer organizations, local and national NGOs, UN agencies, sectoral and line Ministries.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations or relevant field.
• Minimum of 5 years of field-based work experience in a program/project management position with an international NGO, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in emergency response programming.
• Strong knowledge of emergency guidelines and standards.

Agency REDI 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 a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

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, 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 or global telecommuter, 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.