Sr. Advisor, Learning and Capacity-Strengthening At Catholic Relief Services

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 Senior Advisor advances CRS’ ability to deliver a high-quality, consistent, equitable employee experience in several important ways. He/she guides GPR’s approach to the capacity-strengthening and career pathing of HR colleagues globally, so that our HR team is continuously elevating the quality of its service and support. He/she facilitates knowledge management, learning and feedback be tween Country Program (CP) users of GPR tools and guidance and the respective GPR Centers of Excellence (CoE) that develop these approaches. This ensures GPR initiatives incorporate the best ideas from our locations and appropriately respond to country-level needs. He/she plays a strategic role coordinating between CoEs and regions to effectively sequence initiatives and requests, taking into account global and regional priorities. Finally, he/she facilitates knowledge management and learning about GPR’s updated model of providing partnership to regions, enabling GPR to continually improve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

1. Guide GPR’s approach to capacity-strengthening and career pathing for HR colleagues in regions and CPs.

• Drawing upon the tools and expertise of the Talent Development team, continually strengthen the HR capability framework
• Develop/maintain materials that support career pathing for HR colleagues in CPs
• Guide talent mapping and succession planning efforts
• Provide high-level guidance to inform development planning
• As needed, coordinate capacity-strengthening opportunities for CP-level HR (e.g., training, mentoring, coaching, peer learning, online learning) aimed at developing HR capabilities and/or ensuring successful implementation of HR initiatives; deliver trainings as needed
• Lead monitoring, evaluating, learning and periodic reporting related to HR capacity building.
• Facilitate a GPR Community of Practice to nurture our global community of professionals and help us learn from one another

1. Guide the cycle of continuous feedback between CPs/regions and GPR CoEs

• Coordinate feedback from Country Programs to CoEs to inform CoEs’ design, development, and continuous improvement of GPR initiatives.
• Gather and share country- and regional-level lessons learned from the roll-out/implementation of GPR programs and initiatives

1. Facilitate smooth coordination between CoEs, countries and regions on implementation and sequencing of global initiatives.

• Gather and maintain up-to-date information about regional and GPR-level priorities
• Continually review and recommend how GPR and regions may achieve greater alignment Facilitate discussions between CoEs and regions/countries on the sequencing and roll-out of initiatives and support.

1. Develop and provide oversight for coordinated KML efforts across the Regional Experience team.

• Lead knowledge management and learning related to GPR’s updated model for providing partnership and support to regions.
• Develop metrics for the success of the new model and measure progress
• Document lessons learned and find creative ways for telling the “story” of our regional efforts
• Coordination and facilitation support, as needed, to global and/or regional HR Communities of Practice and/or other Global HR community meetings.

As with all members of the Regional Experience team, the Advisor may be asked to provide targeted support to CPs and Regions, in-person or remote, to fill identified gaps, advance capacity-strengthening, or meet emerging and/or elevated needs. The Advisor may also be asked to coordinate or facilitate Global GPR Community summits.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field, such as HR Management, adult education, or organizational development
• Minimum of 10 years demonstrated related experience in a global organization, including demonstrated familiarity with HR

Desired Languages: French, Arabic or Spanish a plus

Travel – Occasional

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision
• Excellent strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions
• Very good review, monitoring and planning skills
• Able to maintain confidential information
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented
• Strong customer service orientation with excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Proven experience in presenting, facilitating, coaching, and capacity building, preferably on HR topics and preferably both in-person and remote
• Experience in project management and change management.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and Web Conferencing Applications.

Supervisory Responsibilities: none

Key Working Relationships:

External: None

***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.

EOE/M/F/D/V – CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. (For all US and International positions)**

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.