Job Title: Procurement Technical Advisor II, JWBG

Base location: Jerusalem

Reports to: Operations Manager

Salary Grade: 10

Job Summary: 

The Technical Advisor will provide technical advice, support and capacity building to procurement and operations staff in the JWBG Country Program and other countries supporting the Gaza response. The Technical Advisor will ensure adherence with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) procurement and supply chain policies and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your technical knowledge, advice and guidance will contribute to an effective, adaptive and innovative response in line with CRS and donor regulations (USAID, GFFO, GAC, UN, etc.).

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives in procurement for staff and partners through helping develop learning and training strategies, conducting trainings and workshops, and mentoring and coaching to CP staff. Facilitate mentorship, coaching, and capacity building for the JWBG procurement team.
• Provide technical solutions to the CP for strategic planning and how to best apply relevant standards, best practices, and tools, ensuring high-quality implementation. Provide feedback and guidance about best practices for efficient and compliant procurement practices.
• Coordinate with the Egypt CP and CRS counterparts in Jordan to enable timely and agile procurements, transport, warehousing, and other supply chain-related needs for the Gaza response.
• In collaboration with GSCM, HRD and other internal interlocutors, facilitate CRS purchasing from the international market for the Gaza response.
• Ensure proper procurement documentation is in place for JWBG Country Program.
• Ensure strategic engagement with Logs Clusters and facilitate follow up within CRS on logistics issues needed to enable a robust response
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing procurement data, evaluating strategic procurement initiatives, assisting with measuring impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.
• Identify potential gaps in procedures or processes and lead the dissemination of policies, procedures, and processes and support staff understanding and compliance.
• Advise staff on compliance requirements. Answer questions about specific donor requirements and interpretation of regulations.
• Create tools, templates, and guidance documents to help support staff implementing steps in the procurement process.
• Provide guidance 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.
• As appropriate, maintain relationships with donors, peer organizations, and other institutions on matters related to procurement and supply chain for the Gaza response

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience required. Master’s or equivalent experience preferred.
• Minimum of five years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of three years working in procurement.
• Previous experience providing technical assistance and developing successful capacity building initiatives for external donor funding is required.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts in procurement. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in reviewing and disseminating guidance on compliance requirements, capacity building and policy development in procurement, including technical writing.
• In-depth knowledge of donor procurement regulations, including USAID.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Required Languages –    English required, Arabic (desirable)

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• 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
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

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.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal

• Operations unit, JWBG CP
• Programs team, JWBG CP
• Supply Chain Regional Technical Advisor
• Regional Compliance Manager
• Humanitarian Response Department, Headquarters
• Director of Global Procurement, Headquarters

External 

• Donors
• CRS Partners
• Peer Agencies

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 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.