Senior Gender and Protection Officer 

Job Description

CRS JOB ADVERT – INTERNAL/EXTERNAL 

CRS is recruiting for 1 Position: Senior Gender and Protection Officer 

If you are interested and your profile matches the requirements, please read the below job descriptions, and follow the instructions to submit your application package.  

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. 

CRS Sierra Leone Background 

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.  CRS launched its work in Sierra Leone in 1963 supporting relief and development operations in the country.  CRS Sierra Lone has proudly maintained a strong reputation and relationship with partners and the  communities we serve in the country implementing a multi-sector program portfolio based on the country’s  dynamic needs. Today, the Country Program has a portfolio built around several major programs in Health,  Nutrition, Education, Peace Building and Urban Resilience. CRS Sierra Leone has its main office in Freetown  and a field office in Kabala, with over 160 staff in total. 

Job Title: Senior Gender and Protection Officer 

Department: Pregaming 

Reports To: Head of Programs; technical reporting to Regional Technical Advisor for Gender Equality Country: CRS-Sierra Leone.  

Duty Location: CRS Freetown, must be willing and able to travel up to 10%. 

Job Summary:  

You will provide technical analysis and project support in the area of gender and protection in line with  Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best  practice to technical staff, and Country Program (CP) staff to advance the delivery of high-quality  programming to the poor and vulnerable. Working closely with the Regional Technical Advisor for Gender  Equality, your skills and knowledge will contribute to ensuring that the CP and its projects applies innovative  and best practices in gender responsive and gender transformative programming, and constantly works  towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

• Conduct gender analyses, risk analysis, and/or other relevant studies to support CP teams in achieving technical excellence in gender and protection programming and gender integration in ongoing programs/projects. 
• Provide remote and on-site support to CP teams with technical solutions for strategic planning and  how best to apply standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E to help ensure  successful and high-quality implementation in gender and protection.
• Support business development, including project design and proposal review to ensure integration  of gender-responsive and gender-transformative approaches and activities, as well as protection  mainstreaming in programs and projects. 
• Develop program/project documents and tools, as well as technical manuals or guidance, training  materials, and quality improvement and assessment guidelines. 
• Support capacity building initiatives in programming that include protection and gender as a cross cutting aspect for employees and partners by helping to develop learning and training strategies and  agendas and curricula, as well as conducting training and workshops and providing some  mentorship. 
• Prepare presentations and coordinate project communication needs through writing and editing  communication resources, such as case studies, brochures, briefs, peer-reviewed articles or reports,  for both internal and external audiences. 
• Coordinate and/or perform various activities in support of program/project design and  implementation, including but not limited to needs assessment, strategic planning, program design  and proposal writing, monitoring and evaluation, and technological solutions. 
• Collect and disseminate gender and protection related information and resources to CRS staff and  partners and assist with organization, design and coordination of training workshops to support  capacity building efforts. Identify new approaches and methods for online learning. 
• Contribute to the learning agenda by researching and analyzing information, conducting literature  reviews, mappings or information gathering from various internal and external sources on assigned  topics. Coordinate maintenance of virtual resource and documentation databases. 
• Document gender and protection success stories and lessons-learned and organize periodic learning  events to share lessons with consortium members and other partners. 
• Lead CP events / celebrations with the aim of advancing knowledge and impact related to gender  and protection. 
• Lead the CP in gender mainstreaming according to agency minimum standards through utilization of  gender audits and gender action planning, including but not limited to training workshops for new  and existing staff in unconscious gender bias, gender-based violence first response, and gender in  human resources. 
• Participate in gender community of practice for West Africa, and other gender-related learning  events and training workshops.  

Basic Qualifications 

• Masters in international development, gender studies, social sciences, or a field(s) related to gender  and/or protection required. 
• Minimum of three years of relevant work experience with an international NGO, with at least one  year of field-based programming experience. 
• Additional experience may substitute for some education. 
• General knowledge of technical principles and concepts in gender and protection
•  Knowledge of program design requirements and regulations of major donors. 
• Knowledge of project design and proposal development. 
• Knowledge of latest technological tools that have the potential to be applied in gender and  protection. 
• Strong English writing skills. 

Required Languages – English.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 25 %. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Good relationship management skills with ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary  and multicultural teams  
• Strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking capacity and skills 
• Good writing skills 
• Strong data collection and research skills and ability to interpret and analyze data • Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented 

Preferred Qualifications  

• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications,  knowledge-sharing networks 

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff): 

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create  an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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.  

• 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. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: none. 

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal 

Regional Technical Advisor for Gender Equality, Country Representative, Head of Programs, Head of  Operations, Chief of Party, Project Technical Leads, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor, Strategic Learning  Advisor, Project Managers, Project Officers. 

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 

***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.  

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with  dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further,  I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and  my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to safeguarding-related  topics. 

WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. CRS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER To apply for this position please send in your application and updated CV to email address below. SL_HR@crs.org 

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. 

Also send a copy of your application package to the desk Officers, Ministry of Employment and Social  Security, New England and Extension Offices in Applicants’ Locations 

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. 

Closing Date for the receipt of application packages is 26th April 2024.