Job Announcement

Lead Climate Change Specialist

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.

The Government of Liberia, through the Liberian Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MGCSP) is implementing the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) (P173677) with financing from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group. The LWEP aims to improve social and livelihood services for women and girls in targeted communities, foster positive social norms, and strengthen the government’s capacity to advance women and girls’ empowerment through a “whole community” approach targeting multiple actors and levels. The World Bank views this project as creating a platform for the empowerment of women where policy dialogue happens, evidence of what works is produced and disseminated, and partnerships are strengthened. The project will be implemented by the Liberian Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MGCSP). Catholic Relief Services is a member of a consortium that has been awarded the contract of Lead Service Provider for components 1,2 & 3 of this project under the supervision of the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the MGCSP. Catholic Relief Services is leading the implementation of component 3 of the project. We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Lead Climate Change Specialist to join our team. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in leading climate-resilient strategies, approaches, training, and capacity building.

Job Summary:

As a Lead Climate Change Specialist, you will lead climate-resilient programming under the LWEP by designing and implementing climate-resilient agriculture strategies, approaches, and methodologies and leading capacity building of rural farmers. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the LWEP project component 3 focusing on resilient livelihood for women is successful. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Title: Lead Climate Change Specialist x1

Location: Monrovia, with frequent travel to the field

Type of Role: Fixed-Term Contract

Reports to: Lead LSP Manager

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead in developing training materials and curricula for climate-resilient livelihood capacity-building activities and oversee their delivery at the community level.
• Lead training sessions on climate change-related topics for project staff, CBAs, and community focal points.
• Lead and develop climate change communication and information materials and oversee work by CBAs and community focal points on raising climate change awareness.
• Lead and develop a system to screen all livelihood subgrants to ensure that all investments are climate resilient and support adaptation and mitigation.
• Lead and ensure the mainstreaming of climate adaptation and mitigation in all livelihood activities supported by the project, in accordance with the latest data on climate change projections and scenarios for the target areas; ensure that this is mainstreamed in all relevant project guidelines, manuals, and documents.
• Liaise with relevant climate change actors and stakeholders, identify opportunities, and develop partnerships with the private sector and civil society to foster solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the project’s livelihood activities.
• Lead and propose climate change-related indicators for tracking progress, support the documentation of successes and lessons learned, and share this knowledge across the target project counties.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Champion learning with project staff and partner teams. Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.
• Act as a key resource person in project design and proposal development in respective programming area, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.
• Coordinate the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.
• Review the applicable national and World Bank operational policies relevant to the LWEP, World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), relevant Environmental and Social Standards (ESS), and project documents to assess livelihood intervention activities for potential adverse environmental risks and impacts as well as planning and implementing impact mitigation measures.
• Support the screening of farming sites and ensure the screening process complies with the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF); and advice on the site-specific environmental risk management instruments required (e.g., Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs, etc.).
• Supervise the implementation of the ESMP and various environmental screening reports and documents in compliance with the Environmental Protection and Management Law (EPML) of Liberia and World Bank ESS and Safeguard Policies.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in climate change, sustainable development, agriculture, agribusiness, environmental management, natural sciences, development planning, or related program.
• At least 8 years of relevant field-based work experience in coordinating or managing climate change adaptation and mitigation in livelihood development or community-driven development programs, preferably with an international NGO.
• Have a good working knowledge of climate change policies and activities in Liberia
• Demonstrate excellent experience incorporating climate resilience in livelihood activities
• Demonstrate excellent experience and ability to work with vulnerable groups in rural areas/communities in Liberia, including the training and capacity building of community-based livelihood groups
• Excellent Experience working with different stakeholders, including private sector and local government authorities/institutions
• Excellent experience relevant to conducting climate change screenings and awareness-raising
• Digital skills including MS Office and Internet

Required Languages – English

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

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound judgments.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Project management experience in climate change, agriculture, and environmental science-related projects is highly desirable.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Experience contributing to the development of technical approaches, designing and cascading training using adult learning approaches.
• MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, and information management systems.

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 are 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 look 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: Climate Change Officers x6

Key Working Relationships

Internal: Lead Service Provider Manager, Lead Gender Specialist, Lead procurement Specialist, Lead Livelihood Specialist, County Coordinator, Lead Beneficiary Feedback Mechanism (BFM) Specialist, Lead Gender Specialist, Lead Financial Management Specialist, Lead Procurement Specialist, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer, BFM/CE Officer, Operations Officer, Climate Change Officers, Finance Officers

External: Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, The World Bank Group, Consortium Partners, Local Authorities.

Applications:

Please send a cover letter and resume/CV to LR_HR@crs.org by October 31, 2024, with the subject line “Lead Climate Change Specialist”

No phone calls. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity; however, if you don’t hear from us after two months of the vacancy deadline, kindly note that your application was not successful.

CRS follows an equal opportunity policy and actively encourages diversity welcoming applications from all especially women and people living with a disability.

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 behaviours related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

***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.

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

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.