Job Description

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 in the Philippines, though a pilot project, will support the government’s efforts to make communities safer and more climate resilient by promoting the use of digital tools for smarter land use and urban planning. Working closely with DHSUD, the pilot will help local governments become more familiar with modern, risk informed planning approaches, gather lessons from early adopters, and encourage wider use of innovative planning technologies across the country. It will also help strengthen partnerships and explore long term funding opportunities to ensure that these digital solutions can continue to grow and benefit more communities nationwide. CRS will also coordinate with MHSD in BARMM, building on the existing CRS–MHSD partnership to scale resilient shelter solutions across the region.

Job Summary

You will provide technical advice, coordinate with government partners and support to a range of program design and implementation issues in Urban Development 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. Your advice, knowledge, and support will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ Urban Resilience programming such as land use and shelter planning is across the globe. You will lead the implementation of the resilient shelter pilot implemented by CRS Philippines.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and contribute to the implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools and best practices in Urban Development and Resilience, Resilient land use and shelter planning processes, that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• Provide technical solutions to CP teams and government partners, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and the application of standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E, helping to ensure high-quality implementation. Apply experience in comprehensive land use planning (CLUP), Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAP), and the integration of Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA) into local government unit (LGU) planning.
• Contribute to, and in some cases lead, the development of the technical design for proposals. Support the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of project concepts and full-fledged proposals. As needed, act as a technical writer on proposal development teams. Advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.
• Support capacity strengthening initiatives in Urban Development and Resilience programming for staff and partners through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conduct trainings and workshops, and coaching.
• Collect and analyze program data, capture and share lessons learned and best practices for specific projects to facilitate improvements in decision-making and contribute to the Urban Resilience, Shelter and Settlements Planning learning agenda.
• Contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions, participate in forums in Urban Development and Resilience to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.
• Lead the development, co-development of climate resilient proposals defined in the project.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in urban development, or Environmental Management, Nature-based Solutions, or similar fields related to Climate Resilience. required. A registered architect and/or environmental planner is a plus.
• Minimum of three years’ relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of three years’ relevant field-based experience in Climate Resilience and urban development.
• Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in Urban Development and Resilience. General knowledge of other related disciplines such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in project design and proposal development. Experience in writing content for proposals.
• Knowledge of capacity strengthens 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

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

Required languages – English proficiency in speaking and writing.

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

Supervisory Responsibilities – None.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Head of Programs, programming teams – emergency response, climate resilience

External: DHSUD, MHSD, DENR, CCC, LGUs and NGOS supporting the project

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

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.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

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, 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.