Director I, Emergency Program Response Team (EPRT)

The Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) provides leadership and support to CRS emergency programming. The HRD strengthens CRS’ impact through high quality, innovative programs; improved technical and management capacity at the field level; and active engagement in global efforts to promote excellence and learning in humanitarian response. The HRD has technical staff that supports emergency program planning, rapid response, and capacity strengthening of staff and partners worldwide.

Management of HRD PQM team

• Provide leadership and direction for HRD’ EPR Team, including strategic vision, organization and action planning to support advancement of CRS’ programming in ERR.
• Provide oversight for the design and management of HRD-managed projects related to general ERR programming (e.g., MACP Emergency Rapid Response Fund)
• Coordinate closely with HRD and Regional leadership to monitor ERR support needs for CRS programs and partners; identify and support successful completion of deployments for EPRT members, including providing timely follow up on any challenges encountered.
• Provide oversight to direct reports regarding EPRT activities, operational challenges, and the attainment of established departmental goals and objectives.
• Accountable for staff hiring, training, performance appraisal, and career development.
• Recommends salary actions, disciplinary actions, and terminations. Ensure adherence to CRS Performance Management system, completion of development plans, coaching and performance reviews.
• Commits to developing a high-performing team through personal mentoring and capacity strengthening. Identify and support access to opportunities for learning for EPRT – both internal and external.
• Support wellbeing and staff care for EPRT team members.

ERR Program Quality and Capacity Strengthening

• Support EPR team members in keeping abreast of trends, best practices and donor requirements in humanitarian programming.
  • Ensure provision of remote ERR program quality support to requesting CPs and partners, including sharing of forms/templates/guidance, review of proposals, remote support for proposal development, etc.
    • Ensure the EPRT identifies and develops/updates learning and guidance resource needs related to ERR Program Quality, Information management, risk management and Capacity Strengthening.
      • Promote the appropriate use of technology for humanitarian programming and the development/adaptation of CRS ICT4 platforms, as needed.
      • Foster close linkages between the EPRT and CP-based Emergency Coordinators/ Emergency Managers via regular ERR capacity strengthening/learning calls, webinars and COP meetings.
      • Coordinate with and support HRD technical teams to ensure sound ERR program quality, management and MEAL practices are factored into technical approaches.
      • Work with Technical team and HRD Emergency Communications Director on the development and dissemination of learning including research opportunities, case studies and other publications.

Representation and Coordination

• In coordination with other HQ-based HRD staff and working closely with the Advocacy and IDEA teams, ensure strategic and consistent representation of CRS in Interaction, USG emergency donor and UN meetings focused on humanitarian programming in the US.
• Prepare and make presentations to internal and external audiences for HRD, as needed.
• In the event of a major emergency response, serve as the convener for the HQ level Emergency Response Working Group in the absence of the HRD Department Lead and HRD Technical Director.

HRD Team Leadership

• Represent the EPRT on the HRD SMT and support SMT initiatives, as requested.
  • Provide HRD representation and/or leadership for agency-wide initiatives or policy/process changes (e.g., Agency strategy development; Enterprise Risk Management Council), as requested; ensure that these initiatives are adapted to ERR programming needs, as relevant.

• Knowledge of humanitarian codes, principles and practice and experience in their use
• Knowledge of design requirements and regulations of major donors including the United States Government, Caritas, the EU/ECHO, DfID and UN agencies.
• Strong proposal development and writing skills; including leading proposal development efforts.
• Excellent technical and non-technical writing skills.
• Excellent representation and speaking skills.
• Strong negotiation and persuasion skills.
• Good practical knowledge and experience in Information and Communication technology (ICT) and Information Management.
• Ability to maintain performance expectations and strong working relationships in diverse cultural contexts, including psychologically and physically stressful environments.

• Professional level in either French, Spanish, Arabic, or Portuguese is required.

• Travel is expected to be approximately 40% (up to four months of the year); duration of a deployment will generally be from 2 weeks to 2 months, depending on the needs of the country program.
• Candidates should have capacity to live and work in difficult/stressful environments and serve wherever agency needs dictate.

• The position will oversee the 15+ member EPRT, directly supervising five EPRT unit leads.
• The position may undertake temporary supervision/management roles within CRS country programs during deployments, as requested.