Job Summary
The Technical Advisor II – Emergency Response and Recovery Surge Support for East and Southern Africa (ESRO) serves as a field-focused emergency response specialist, delivering immediate program quality enhancement, operational management, and leadership serge assistance to CRS country programs across ESRO during both sudden-onset and protracted crises. Positioned within HRD’s Emergency Program Response Team (EPR) and accountable to the Regional Focal Point for Emergency Response in ESRO, this role ensures the delivery of high-caliber emergency response and recovery initiatives in alignment with CRS program quality standards, donor mandates, and established humanitarian best practices.
The position encompasses a range of essential duties and key accountabilities, ensuring the effective execution of assigned tasks and the achievement of organizational objectives. Responsibilities include managing daily operations, overseeing project timelines, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive results. The role demands strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize tasks efficiently in a fast-paced environment. Additionally, the individual must demonstrate proficiency in relevant software tools, effective communication abilities, and a commitment to maintaining high standards of accuracy and professionalism.
Provide swift, surge deployment support to ESRO country programs in response to humanitarian crises, offering hands-on guidance in program quality and management.
Collaborate with country programs to assume emergency program management and leadership responsibilities, offering support in establishing and overseeing emergency field offices, teams, and relief operations as required during deployments.
Deliver tailored technical solutions to both remote and onsite country teams to support emergency program planning, initiation, execution, and closure, while ensuring full alignment with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor specifications, and recognized best practices.
Deliver superior project design by integrating established project management standards with robust MEAL methodologies, ensuring alignment with project scope, contextual factors, and technical specifications.
Collaborate in shaping and executing regional and country program (CP) strategies, standards, tools, and best practices for Emergency Response and Recovery, fostering meaningful engagement with partners, donors, and governments. Support the integration of cross-cutting priorities, including gender equality, safe and dignified programming, and disaster risk reduction, to strengthen overall program effectiveness.
Document regional knowledge by capturing lessons learned, promising practices, and response innovations from field deployments, then disseminate these findings to the RFP and key HRD and regional stakeholders.
Collaborate with country programs to integrate program design and implementation standards, partnership principles, and MEAL methodologies, thereby ensuring execution of the highest quality.
Support the enhancement of Emergency Response and Recovery programming by designing and implementing learning and training strategies, agendas, and curricula for staff and partners. Facilitate capacity-building through the delivery of trainings and workshops, as well as mentoring and coaching for CP staff. Employ diverse capacity-strengthening methods, such as formal and on-the-job training, the development or streamlining of operational policies and systems, and partner accompaniment, as deemed appropriate.
By facilitating knowledge management and organizational learning, you will gather and analyze program data, assess strategic initiatives, support impact measurement efforts, document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices, and conduct research to produce internal reports.
Serve as CRS and partner representative at various cluster, donor, and coordination meetings in the field, as needed.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required; CPA or CMA certification preferred. Minimum of five years of progressive accounting experience, including at least two years in a supervisory or management role. Proficiency in financial software and ERP systems, such as SAP, Oracle, or QuickBooks, is essential. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills are necessary. Excellent communication abilities, both written and verbal, to effectively collaborate with stakeholders at all levels. Knowledge of GAAP and regulatory compliance is critical. Experience with financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting is required. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Basic Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business Administration, Computer Science, or related discipline) or equivalent practical experience. At least three years of professional experience in a similar role, with a proven track record in project management, data analysis, or strategic planning. Proficiency in industry-standard software tools (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, project management platforms, or data visualization tools). Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively across teams. Demonstrated leadership in driving initiatives and managing cross-functional projects. Familiarity with compliance standards and regulatory requirements applicable to the industry. Commitment to continuous learning and staying updated with emerging trends and best practices.
A bachelor’s degree in international development, disaster response, or a closely related discipline is mandatory.
A minimum of eight years of progressive international experience in advisory or managerial capacities is required, preferably within an international NGO, including at least three years dedicated to Emergency Response and Recovery program management interventions.
Applicants must have a proven track record in delivering technical support and crafting effective proposals to secure external donor funding.
Proficiency in program monitoring and evaluation is essential, encompassing the application of data collection tools and methodologies, rigorous data analysis, and the effective presentation of findings.
Seasoned professionals with a proven background in business development, project design, and the creation of compelling proposals for emergency response initiatives are encouraged to apply. Candidates should possess strong technical writing skills to effectively communicate complex ideas and strategies.
Preferred Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, complemented by a minimum of two years of relevant industry experience. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or C++ is essential, alongside familiarity with software development methodologies and version control systems like Git. Additionally, experience with cloud platforms, including AWS or Azure, and containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes is highly advantageous. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment are also required. Knowledge of Agile and Scrum practices is preferred, as is prior involvement in full-cycle software development projects.
A master’s degree in international development, disaster response, or a closely related discipline is preferred.
Possesses a proven track record of working in intricate and fragile environments across East and Southern Africa.
Proficiency in humanitarian principles, standards, and systems is essential, with a strong preference for expertise in CRS and Caritas Internationalis emergency programming and standards.
Possesses a strong passion for coaching, mentoring, and facilitating on-the-job training initiatives. Demonstrates hands-on experience in guiding and developing individuals through structured learning opportunities and professional growth interventions.
Proficient in Information and Community Technology (ICT) and Information Management with a comprehensive understanding of practical applications and operational strategies.
We are seeking a candidate with a robust understanding of the required field, along with the technical and soft skills necessary to excel in the role. The ideal applicant will possess relevant educational credentials, hands-on experience, and a proven ability to perform the outlined responsibilities effectively. Strong problem-solving capabilities, attention to detail, and the capacity to work both independently and collaboratively are essential. Additionally, the individual must meet all specified job requirements and demonstrate proficiency in the key areas identified for success in this position.
Demonstrates practical application of technical principles and concepts within Emergency Response and Recovery frameworks. Possesses a broad understanding of related disciplines to facilitate an effective cross-sectoral approach.
Demonstrates exceptional expertise in implementing robust security protocols and effectively managing emergency programs within high-risk settings.
Demonstrated proficiency in collaborating effectively with regional partner organizations.
Proficiency in the design requirements and regulatory frameworks established by key emergency donors, such as the US Government, the European Union/European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), and United Nations agencies, is essential.
Skilled in utilizing Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, as well as web conferencing tools, information and budget management systems, and knowledge-sharing networks.
Proven expertise in mentoring, coaching, facilitation, and training, with a strong foundation in adult learning principles and methodologies.
Proficiency in networking and cultivating relationships with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based civil society partners is required. Familiarity with partnership principles is essential.
Strong interpersonal skills are essential for fostering and maintaining relationships, enabling the ability to persuade and secure stakeholder alignment even with those outside direct reporting lines. Additionally, the role requires the capacity to effectively collaborate with individuals across varied geographical locations and multicultural environments.
Demonstrated capacity to uphold high performance standards while fostering productive working relationships across varied cultural settings and under conditions of both psychological and physical strain.
Individuals must possess robust strategic and analytical capabilities, exceptional problem-solving skills, and a knack for systems thinking, enabling them to grasp the broader context and deliver well-informed, sound judgments.
Possesses exceptional proficiency in both written and verbal communication.
Demonstrated proficiency in delivering compelling presentations, leading engaging training sessions, and providing effective mentorship and coaching to teams and individuals.
Proactive, resourceful professionals driven by results are sought for this role. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to take initiative, leverage available resources effectively, and consistently achieve measurable outcomes. The ideal applicant will exhibit a strong sense of accountability and a commitment to delivering high-quality results in a timely manner.
Proficiency in English is essential, with fluency in French and Portuguese considered advantageous.
Must be prepared to travel extensively, with up to 50% of annual time spent on the road—roughly six months per year—where deployments typically range from two to eight weeks, contingent upon the specific requirements of the country program. Should demonstrate resilience to thrive in challenging and high-pressure environments while remaining adaptable to assignments dictated by agency needs.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
8 years
