Project Officer – Agriculture/Market Systems

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 are accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS Timor-Leste currently has a diverse portfolio of projects, including agriculture livelihoods (nutrition-sensitive agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, technical assistance for enhanced productivity), peacebuilding, saving and internal lending communities (SILC), disaster risk reduction (DRR), humanitarian response, and water security. Current donors include United States Agency of International Development (USAID), USAID/Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, Australian Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), UN Women, and Latter-Day Saints Church.

Following implementation of the Resilensia Di’ak (Good Resilience/ReDi) project in Timor-Leste in 2020-2021 with, CRS Timor-Leste, as part of a consortium led by Mercy Corps, has applied for funding to USAID/BHA to implement a three-year follow-up program called Resilensia Di’ak Ples (Good Resilience Plus/ReDi+). The overall goal of the ReDi+ program is for poor and vulnerable rural households in Timor-Leste to become more resilient in the face of recurring natural disasters. ReDi+ will build off partners’ experience and learnings from implementing disaster risk reduction (DRR), agriculture, and economic recovery and market systems (ERMS) programs in Timor-Leste since 2011. CRS will be responsible for implementing DRR, climate-smart agriculture (CSA), ERMS and SILC programming in the municipalities of Baucau and Lautem in eastern Timor-Leste.

Job Summary:

As a member of the ReDi+ project team, you will plan, monitor, and report on all agriculture and market systems project activities in support of CRS’ work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

This position will be based in Baucau.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Support the planning, coordination and implementation of all agriculture and market systems project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Support accountability through coordinating project monitoring, evaluation, and accountability activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data and feedback per specified mechanisms and tools. Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule.
• Collect information on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Complete project documentation for assigned activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.

Basic Qualifications

• High School diploma required. Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or another relevant field preferred.
• Minimum of 4 years of work experience in project support. Experience in agriculture or market systems programming for an NGO would be a plus.
• Additional education may substitute for some experience.
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Required Languages – Tetun and English.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% to field locations in Lautem and Baucau.  This position is based in Baucau.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Observation, active listening, and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members.
• Attention to details, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with climate smart agricultural strategies.
• Experience with value-chain strengthening activities.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Experience designing and conducting trainings.

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

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Internal: Project Manager, Program Quality Manager, Sub-Regional Head of Programming, Head of Office, Operations Manager, Country Manager, Finance Manager, Agriculture Program Manager, SILC Technical Advisor, MEAL Manager.

External: Other International Non-governmental organizations (INGO), local partners, donors, and government stakeholders.

***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.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

HOW TO APPLY

Suitable qualified female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

Sent a cover letter, current CV, and professional references by email to CRS Timor-Leste HR at [email protected]

or

Delivery by hand at CRS Dili Office at Rua Dom Boaventura Nu.12, Vera Cruz, Motael, Dili or

CRS Baucau Office at Avenida David Alex ’’Daitula’’. Buibau, Baucau, and CRS Maliana Office at Avenida Martires da Patria Maravilha Holsa-Maliana 

Deadline: February 19th, 2024, at 5pm the latest.