Exciting Career Opportunities with CRS

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. 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.

CRS Bangladesh

CRS has worked in Bangladesh through our local partner Caritas Bangladesh for more than 2 decades, supporting partner capacity strengthening, DRR programming and emergency response. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and is also one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to natural disasters and climate change impact. CRS is currently working directly with Caritas Bangladesh to support emergency response activities in Cox’s Bazar to address the needs of more than 1 million Rohingya Refugees with shelter and protection activities and to support Caritas Bangladesh’s wide range of emergency response activities. CRS and Caritas Bangladesh are also actively responding to other emergencies across the country with funding from START Fund, IOM and others. CRS in Bangladesh has a large portfolio of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) work, including USAID-BHA funded DRR activities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and MAC Philanthropies funded work in Monpura. CRS Bangladesh is a pilot country for the Homes and Communities strategic platform for CRS Vision 2030 and is actively engaged in forwarding CRS ambitious targets to promote reach of activities and CRS influence in shelter and settlement.

Senior Project Officer- GESI and Protection (01 position- based in Bandarban/ Bangladesh)

Job Summary:

As the protection, gender, equity, and social inclusion technical lead for the Landslide early warning system you will play a critical role in informing the design and delivery of this disaster risk reduction project.  You will help ensure the project addresses the unique needs of at-risk populations including women, youth, minority groups and people with disability are integrated into the design and delivery of a landslide early warning approach.  You will directly contribute to the delivery of the project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all project activities.  By providing optima best practice technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) you will help advance Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

  • Design and facilitate the GESI and protection analysis.
  • Support the development and integration of the GESI and protection action into the project’s detailed implementation plan.  Ensure all project activities meet agency and donor protection gender, equity and inclusion requirements and best practice. 
  • Ensure GESI and protection related learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through related input into project monitoring and evaluation activities and guide partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
  • Regularly report on and update the GESI and protection action plan internally and externally.
  • Perform ad-hoc monitoring at project sites to ensure timely protection, gender sensitive and inclusive activities are occurring.
  • With the MEAL team, support the collection and analysis of evidence and lead in the adaptation of project activities to effectively respond to context, finding and best practices in protection and GESI to create an optimal Landslide Early Warning system for at risk communities.
  • Identify staff, partners and related stakeholder protection and GESI related capacity needs and administer technical support to address key shortfalls.  Support may include training, mentoring or coaching.
  • Facilitate an engaging process of ongoing learning and sharing of best practices in protection, gender, equity and social inclusion with and amongst project staff, partners, participants and other key internal/external stakeholders.
  • Serve as the primary technical resource, mentor and coach for project staff on protection and GESI ensuring key innovations, approaches and principles are fully contextualized and where appropriate applied.
  • Serve as the project protection and GESI subject matter expert at key working groups and provide input as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned. 

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in gender and development, sociology or related field would be a plus
  • Minimum of 4 years of work experience in the field of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and for an NGO.
  • Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Required Languages - Professional fluency in written and spoken English. Bangla required. Any local languages a plus.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 60 % to project sites (Bandarban District and Teknaf Upazilla).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
  • Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners
  • Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
  • Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
  • Demonstrated skills in capacity building relating to Gender Equality and Social Inclusion;
  • Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
  • Staff supervision experience a plus.
  • Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
  • Candidates with GESI diversity is a plus, including gender (female); marginalized groups (ethnic/ religious minorities); and, persons with disability.
  • Local expertise w/ permanent address in project district and local language competency is a plus.

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

Internal – LEWS Project Manager, DRR Senior Project Officer, MEAL Manager/Team, Operations Manager, Finance Manager, Country Manager, Head of Programs, Human Resources Manager, Communications Manager, Business Development Specialist, Emergency Coordinator, Technical Advisors and Project Managers.

External –Caritas Bangladesh Head of Disaster Management, Regional Director Chattogram Office, Disaster Management Officer, Finance Manager, Finance Officer, and Project Manager. Relevant government bodies, relevant autonomous bodies, and peer organizations.

To apply for above position, please click on this link BD_HR@crs.org by 12th August 2023, 5:00 PM.   

NOTE: While uploading any file: please make file name as:  Name_ Resume/ Name- Cover letter

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. 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 protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

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.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.