Job Title: Technical Advisor II – Partner Capacity Strengthening & Localization

Department: Programming

Report to: Country Representative

Job Location: Kampala/Uganda

Vacancies: One (1)

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 has been working in Uganda since 1965 and has a vibrant portfolio of projects, serving over a million vulnerable Ugandans and refugees each year through the Country Program 2030 Strategy. CRS programs in Uganda currently support five strategic priority areas, including Health and Social Services Systems Strengthening, Resilient Food Systems, Emergency Preparedness and Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Local Leadership. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including international and local NGOs, Ugandan government departments and ministries, the Catholic Church, and community-based organizations for maximum impact and sustainability.

Job Summary:

The Technical Advisor II (TA II) for Partner Capacity Strengthening and Localization (PCS & LL) will serve as the head of the CRS Uganda PCS & LL Unit. You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the Uganda Country Program (CP) PCS & LL strategy, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming and budget management. In this role, you will also provide technical advice, guidance, and support to a wide range of program design and implementation across all programming areas and sectors, in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. The work of the TA II for PCS & LL will advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your technical knowledge, advice and guidance will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ programming is across the globe.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in PCS & LL that effectively engage partners, donors and governments. Within the Uganda CP, lead the development and implementation of the CP PCS & LL strategy toward strengthening the capacity of the strategic partners as local leaders.
• Effectively manage talent for the PCS & LL Unit and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Build and/or maintain strong and effective relationships between CRS and partners, through the committed application of Partnership Principles and other relevant methods.
• Lead the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning, research and publications in the area of PCS & LL. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
• Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CP PCS & LL sector portfolio in line. Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals in PCS & LL per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.
• Support design and facilitation of technical trainings for partners around institutional strengthening including capacity assessments of partner institutions and design/implementation of effective organizational development plans.
• Provide strategic leadership in the implementation of standardized agency approaches and best practices in local partner capacity strengthening.
• Provide ongoing technical assistance to project teams and CP PCS Agents to ensuring the quality and effectiveness of ongoing capacity building and institutional strengthening interventions.
• Support the adoption of Key Performance Indicators by the CP based on agency wide adopted PCS & LL indicators.
• Represent CRS at various forums to present CRS’ work and research in PCS & LL to influence technical partner approaches, future funding opportunities, and policies. Network with relevant organizations to increase CRS’ profile in PCS & LL, influence in the global PCS & LL community, and donor diversification.
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic projects, assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.

Basic qualifications:

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations or in the field of Program Management required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• 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 two to three years working in the area of Partner Capacity Strengthening and Localization.
• Excellent knowledge of approaches for partnership, preferably with faith-based and government partners.
• Good knowledge of approaches and strong skills for capacity building, including training and mentoring as well as developing training materials.
• Good knowledge of approaches and strong skills for institutional strengthening, including developing and/or improving business processes, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, communication, representation, and networking skills with partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
• Demonstrated ability to lead development of and write high-quality technical proposals.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation, including applying data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.

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

Required Languages: English fluency, including excellent oral and written skills are required.

Travel Requirement: Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% to project locations and field offices outside Kampala.

Key Working Relationships

• Supervisory: Supervision of staff in the PCS & LL Unit, including two Project Managers.
• Internal: Country Representative, Head of Programming, Deputy Head of Programming, Head of Operations, Deputy Head of Operations, Chiefs of Party, Program Managers, MEAL Staff, Finance Staff, Operations Staff, Colleagues from the East Africa Regional Office (EARO).
• External: Strategic Partners, Donors, Government Representatives, Members of the Uganda Charter for Change (C4C), etc.

Agency-wide 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.

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

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.