Catholic Relief Services
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.
Job Summary:
The Safeguarding & Safe and Dignified Programming (SSDP) Advisor will provide tools and technical
support to the Country Program to effectively implement CRS’ Safeguarding Policy and ensure protection
mainstreaming across programming. The SSDP Advisor will ensure safeguarding program quality
standards and safeguarding-related MEAL policies and procedures are effectively met and exceeded, and
that protection mainstreaming guidelines are adhered to in both relief and development programming.
The SSDP Advisor will receive guidance, technical support and capacity building from the Ethics Unit’s
Global Safeguarding Advisors, Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) Safe & Dignified Programming
Advisors, and other Regional and Global Technical Advisors (Gender, Social Inclusion, Disability, etc), as
pertinent. The SSDP will be responsible for leading or supporting the mentorship and capacity building of
any additional in-country Safeguarding focal points.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
· Working with the Global Safeguarding Team and HRD’s Safe & Dignified Programming Team, lead the
implementation of CRS’ Safeguarding Policy and SDP Strategy at the Country Program (CP) level,
securing technical support from Regional and Global Technical Advisors on specific thematic areas as
needed;
– Help the Country Program to identify and action internal safeguarding priorities and capacity building
opportunities, including for example: CP Safeguarding Checklist & Action Plan, Legal Analysis, CP-level
Safeguarding Risk Assessment, and others;
– Provide regular updates to the Country Program on the agency and CP safeguarding and SDP efforts,
lessons learned, and best practices; and ensure safeguarding and protection mainstreaming are
regular agenda items in leadership and staff meetings;
– Coordination and train any in-country generalist or project specific Safeguarding Focal Points,
including exchange of learning opportunities, facilitating regular meetings, etc.;
– Ensure Essential Service Mapping / referral pathways (across CP and project-level) are kept up to date
and reviewed on an annual basis;
– Serve as a reporting channel to receive safeguarding allegations from colleagues and associates, and
log these into EthicsPoint;
– Triage initial safeguarding or protection related concerns or queries from colleagues; help ensure
survivors receive immediate support and/or appropriate referrals following disclosure;
– Provide tools and technical support to Program Managers for awareness raising of program
participants and communities of intervention on their rights, CRS’ Code of Conduct & Ethics, reporting
expectations, etc.;
– Become familiar with, and facilitate linkages with relevant REDI resources, e.g. on responding to
microaggressions, unconscious bias, and gender equity.
– Plan and facilitate safeguarding and protection risk assessments and mitigation planning for projects
in the design phase, ensuring adherence to the Safeguarding Risk Management Policy and Procedure
and SDP tools;
– Review project designs/proposals to ensure minimum requirements for safeguarding and protection
are included, such as: risk assessments, mitigation measures, functional FCRMs, meaningful
participation, staff and budget, etc.
– Contribute to the design and monitoring of FCRMs, ensuring they are functional, safe, accessible, and
effective for communities, and especially, vulnerable and marginalized populations;
– Train project frontline staff on identifying, receiving, and escalating safeguarding and protection
reports, suspicions, and concerns;
– Support the implementation of Common Humanitarian Standards (CHS) action planning for
safeguarding and protection;
– Participate in and contribute to in-country PSEA/Protection/GBV networks and cluster forums and
ensure Country Program staff and programs are kept abreast of global and local initiatives and
resources;
– Support Global Safeguarding Advisors and HRD’s Safe & Dignified Programming Advisors by informing
/ contributing to discussions on safeguarding programming, and protection mainstreaming initiatives
and efforts.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
· Ability to develop integrated plans that propel initiatives forward and identify ways in which to work
collaboratively across departments.
– Ability to communicate in a timely manner to enable others to plan accordingly.
– Ability to assess, organize and interpret information to draw reasonable conclusions.
– Ability to easily collaborate with others, and influence without formal authority, working towards
common goals and objectives.
– Ability to explain ideas and processes clearly and address sensitive subject matters. Ability to facilitate
discussions with various levels of staff.
– Personal and professional commitment to treat all people with fairness, honesty, dignity and respect.
– Demonstrates gender-positive, disability-positive, and survivor-positive attitudes
– Knowledge of industry safeguarding/sexual exploitation and abuse principles and standards
Preferred Qualifications
· Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Key Working Relationships:
Internal – CP: Senior Management Team; Safeguarding Focal Points; MEAL Unit
Regional & Global: Global Safeguarding Advisor for SARO; Humanitarian Response
Department (HRD) Advisors; Regional Directors/Deputy Directors; other Regional and Global
Technical Advisors
External: Local implementing partners, including Caritas; NGO and UN Safeguarding Staff; Donor
Safeguarding and SDP Representatives; local PSEA Networks.
Basic Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Human Rights Law, Gender, International Development,
Social Work, Psychology, or equivalent professional experience. - Two or more years of relevant experience (safeguarding, protection, gender) in an advisory or
management role with progressive responsibilities. NGO experience preferred. - Experience advising or providing direction to staff by using effective interpersonal and communication
skills; influence others both within and outside of functional areas of responsibility. - Experience creating and rolling out culturally sensitive training and capacity-building programs,
materials, and communications. - Solid organizational/time management skills: the ability to be flexible and work well under pressure
in a fast-paced multi-tasking team environment. - Strong analytical and report building skills; strong computer skills including facility with standard
desktop applications. - Humble and approachable; a problem solver who seeks to find constructive solutions within
compliance and policy requirements.
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
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.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.
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.
CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, 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 an Equal Opportunity Employer
ABOUT US