Job Summary

CRS’ IDEA department advances the agency’s strategic position by engaging new and existing institutional donors to acquire and steward resources that deliver excellent programs to advance Vision 2030. Teams within the department focus on three main areas: engaging donors, prospects and strategic partners, acquiring new business, and delivering on the outcomes as outlined in the institutional award agreements, in compliance with donor requirements.

The Project Support and Delivery team advances the ‘deliver’ area objectives by managing and stewarding institutional donor relationship and resources, supporting the growth of CRS’ business and influence, and building the capacity of staff across the spectrum of resource acquisition and management.

The Project Support Officer (PSO) will be responsible for providing comprehensive project support to a portfolio of projects. The PSO will support the successful implementation of projects from start-up to close-out through close working relationship with Chiefs of Party, country program and regional office personnel, and with other CRS departments.  The PSO will represent CRS and the project interests externally through effective engagement with the donors and internally through close working relationships with other CRS units. The PSO will also contribute to business development efforts as needed, primarily, but not solely, within their portfolio.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with project, finance, and award management staff to ensure award compliance and timely submission of quality deliverables
• Identify trouble spots in project implementation, assess implications for both the country program and donor, and strategize viable solutions with award management staff, project staff and country program management.
• Steward the full lifecycle award management process that includes negotiating and processing awards and modifications, overseeing award compliance, resolving issues arising during implementation, and completing deliverables.
• Represent CRS and the projects in portfolio to external donors and stakeholders.
• Provide input on select business development opportunities on project design, donor preferences, and proposal reviews.
• Identify trouble spots in project implementation, assess implications for both CRS and the donor, and strategize viable solutions with project support staff, project staff, country program staff, and staff from other departments, as necessary.

Basic Qualifications (BQs)

Education and Experience – 

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum four years of relevant experience, including at least two years of experience traveling and working in low-resource settings.

Required Languages – 

• Fluency in English required; working ability in another language is preferred.

Travel –

• Ability and willingness to travel to low-resource environments in foreign countries as needed, up to 25-35% of job time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (SKAs) –

• Ability and desire to work well with diverse employees in a cooperative and friendly manner.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders in multiple geographic locations.
• Familiarity with USAID and/or USDA, including funding cycles, technical requirements, project deliverables, regulations and working preferences.
• Experience managing projects and supporting project implementation throughout the project lifecycle.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and experience in high-level negotiation and representation
• Individual must possess the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Experience at identifying, assessing, researching, and resolving issues throughout the project lifecycle, in the best interests of CRS and its mission.
• Individual brings a whole-agency approach to management of their portfolio, factoring in outside dynamics and interests to decision-making recommendations for projects.
• Individual brings a whole-agency lens to their portfolio, recognizing and pulling key information that is pertinent to CRS at agency level, and disseminating such information to relevant units/persons.

Preferred Qualifications –

• Knowledge of CRS programs, and Catholic Social Teaching principles.
• Master’s degree in international development, international relations, or related field.

Supervisory Responsibilities –

• None

Work Conditions/Environment Conditions

• Work may be required on weekends and evenings during emergencies
• The position requires approximately 25-35% travel, sometimes to hardship locations and for extended periods of time that can last several weeks or months.

Key Working Relationships

• External: Industry networks; and donor counterparts.
• Internal: IDEA staff, HQ-based and field-based Overseas Operations staff; Mission and Mobilization (Advocacy colleagues); Global Risk and Compliance; Office of General Counsel; Technical Advisors; and Overseas Finance.