2021 Catholic Relief Services International Development Fellows Program

The International Development Fellows Program is designed for individuals dedicated to a career in international development, with a focus on program management or operations. All Fellows complete a comprehensive practical training that includes project management, project design and proposal development, partnership and capacity sharing, monitoring and evaluation, budget and resource management, supply chain, logistics, human resources and security protocols.

Overseas placements are determined by CRS, and include locations around the world. Most Fellows continue to work for CRS, in a wide variety of positions, upon successful completion of the fellowship.

Primary Responsibilities

Under the supervision of an experienced staff member, the Fellow will support programming and operations in the following areas:

Project Management

• Support implementation of current projects (activity planning with CRS staff and partners, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning activities, etc).
• Support timely and accurate reporting and learning (write/edit reports in collaboration with CRS staff and partners, document lessons learned, etc).
• Support effective management of cash and in-kind resources (budget analysis, cash forecasting, financial reporting, commodity management, etc).
• Serve as acting project manager, as appropriate.

Project Design and Proposal Development

• Support research & analysis to inform new project design (data collection/assessments, problem identification, stakeholder analysis, gender analysis, gap analysis, theory of change, etc).
• Work with CRS staff and partners to develop proposals (design workshops, technical and cost applications, packaging/editing, etc).

Partnership & Capacity Sharing

• Work for CRS partners by supporting activity planning & implementation, project design, proposal development, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning.
• Support partnership strengthening and capacity sharing (partnership reflection workshops, learning events, etc).

Operations

• Support procurement by participating in bid analysis and vendor selection, contracting, receipt and warehousing of goods.
• Support staff recruitment by drafting job descriptions, reviewing applications, participating in interview panels.
• Support security by reviewing security protocols and manuals.
• Support supply chain management by reviewing systems for delivery, storage and distribution of goods, assisting with inventory counts, data collection, analysis & verification.  
• Support strong financial management by analyzing budgets/spending, reviewing supporting documentation for financial transactions, etc.
• Support risk management and compliance by reviewing internal controls, systems for fraud prevention, CRS & donor guidelines, audit reports, mitigation plans, etc.
• Support roll-out of Project Insight, CRS’ integrated HR, Supply Chain and Finance system.

Agency-wide Competencies

Based on the mission, values, and guiding principles of the agency, CRS competencies are to be exemplified by all staff in fulfillment of his or her respective roles and responsibilities.

• Builds Relationships
• Integrity
• Accountability
• Develops Talent
• Continuous Improvement and Innovation
• Strategic Mindset

Key Working Relationships

Internal: CRS Country Representative, Head of Programming, Head of Operations, Program Managers, Operations staff

External: CRS partner organizations, local bilateral and multilateral institutions, host government, donor agencies, local/international NGO offices.

Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in field relevant and applicable to international development (e.g. Agriculture, Health, Engineering, Business, Public Administration, Finance, Supply Chain)
• Fluency in English with strong oral and written communication skills
• Professional proficiency in a second language (preference given to major languages spoken where CRS works)  
• At least six months of work or volunteer experience in a developing country (or 5+ years living in a developing country)
• Able and willing to be based in locations with tropical and infectious diseases and limited access to medical facilities.

Skills Required:

• Strong interpersonal skills; able to cultivate strong relationships while working with a wide range of individuals in and outside the agency    
• Effective communicator; able to develop tailored and influential messaging for varied audiences
• Proactive; willing and able to take on additional responsibility, challenge assumptions and facilitate change
• Results driven; able to set and achieve ambitious goals and instill confidence
• Strategic thinker; able to formulate guiding questions, leverage resources and find creative solutions
• Discerning; able to maintain focus and provide good judgment amidst complexity and uncertainty
• Develops others; able to listen, coach and mentor
• Agile; able to operate effectively in a   stressful, fast changing environment      where security could change unexpectedly
• Aligned; able to support and champion the   mission, vision, and values of CRS     
• Motivated; interest in a career in   development or emergency relief
• Flexible; willing to work in various regions and developing countries around the world 

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should Click Here to Apply

CRS is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and nationalities. Candidates are not required to have U.S. work authorization, green cards or U.S. citizenship. CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

If, due to a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please e-mail: [email protected].