Technical Advisor III, Outbreak Response

 Job Summary 

The Technical Advisor III (TA III) contributes to strategy development in health and outbreak response at a global level and provides technical advice and leadership in design and development of high-quality health and outbreak response programs aligned with national health policies and evidence-based practices. The TA III is also responsible for the provision of strategic technical assistance to improve program quality and achieve desired project outcomes, implementation focusing on the development, testing and scale-up of effective approaches integrating health with other sectors. This TA will provide technical leadership for Catholic Relief Service (CRS) responses to health outbreaks, and will be the focal point for humanitarian response and development programs operating in outbreak contexts.   The Technical Advisor’s expertise, advice and influence will significantly contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ health and nutrition programming is across the global portfolio. This TAIII will also provide (approximately 20% FTE) operational health guidance and support internally to CRS staff responding to public health outbreaks.  The operational scope includes, but is not limited to, development and delivery of health education, pre-travel health briefings, health capacity assessments and recommendations, creation of medical incident management plans, and review of staff medical clearance submissions.  On occasion, the Technical Advisor may be asked to support 24/7 call for health emergencies and/or medical evacuation.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, advocate for, and ensure implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in outbreak response that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments. Ensure a cross-sectoral approach that integrates gender, protection of mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction. 
• Provide technical solutions globally, for regional and/or CP teams for strategic planning and how to best apply and adapt program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E in health andoutbreak response.
• Lead the efforts in HQ, regional, and country program staff level to pre-position CRS for strategic growth opportunities in health and outbreak response. Provide technical guidance in proposal development and project design with a focus on complex projects to ensure innovative programming solutions and technical excellence. Support CPs to appropriately staff project teams.
• Oversee and lead the delivery of capacity strengthening initiatives in health and outbreak response  interventions and integrated, multisectoral projects with health components globally for staff and partners through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums; organizing and/or facilitating trainings, workshops and conferences; and mentoring and coaching staff in innovative CRS approaches and tools. Provide mentoring and coaching to TAs, as well as CP and regional staff.
• Oversee and lead relevant elements of the agency knowledge management and learning agenda in health and outbreak response through helping implement conditions for collective learning that ensure the capturing, documenting, and sharing of key successes, promising practices, lessons learned, and evidence-based implementation research, internally and externally, including publications in peer reviewed journals. 
• Represent CRS in targeted regional or global forums to develop opportunities and better ensure collaboration and shared learning in health and outbreak response to influence technical partner approaches, future funding opportunities, and policies. Network with relevant organizations to increase CRS’ profile in health nutrition, influence in the regional or global health nutrition community, and donor diversification.
• Develop health resources, preventive guidance and education materials in response to health trends and outbreaks,
• Support the ongoing medical clearance review process and subsequent risk mitigation plans
• Provide direct staff support during medical needs, including identifying and escalating urgent and emergent medical needs, as relevant.   

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Strong understanding and application of technical principles and concepts in health and outbreak response. Good knowledge of related disciplines to ensure a proper cross-sectoral approach. 
• Track record of contributing to successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding in public health.
• Ability to interpret evidence-based guidelines into staff health guidance and/or mitigation measures.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications and strong understanding of information and budget management systems and knowledge-sharing networks.
• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Very strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Very strong written and oral communication skills
• Very strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Required Languages: Fluency in English required. Proficiency in French, preferred.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 30 %. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree in public health, epidemiology, nursing, medicine or a health-related field required. 
• Active clinical license 
• Minimum of five years of clinical practice in acute or primary care
• Minimum of (combined) ten years of work experience in clinical and public health with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with three years overseas in multiple regions as a technical advisor and/or program manager of a health or nutrition and/or multi-sectoral project with a health / nutrition component.
• Experience in the development and production of curricula, tools, and other products to support nutrition interventions and programming. Demonstrated experience in transferring knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and informal methods.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation including development of indicators, data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation. 
• Experience and skills to represent the organization at meetings with donors, government, international NGOs, local partners – faith-based and civil society. Understanding of partnership principles.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master's Degree in a related field. 
• Occupational or travel health experience
• Technical and/or academic publication(s) is a plus.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions. 
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  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 safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, 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 committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

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.

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

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.