ASPIRE Professional Development Program

About CRS

As the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States, CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through integrated programming in emergency response, health, agriculture/livelihoods, education, peacebuilding, and more. 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.

Program Summary

The ASPIRE Program is a unique career-building opportunity for individuals who are passionate about relief and development work and have the skills, attitude, and approach to grow into managerial positions with CRS. This structured and intentional field-based learning program is designed to prepare participants for positions of greater responsibility with CRS.

Under the supervision of experienced staff, participants actively support CRS’ relief and/or development projects over a 12-month period while building foundational skills in programming and operations. Through the foundational training, participants gain experience in project management, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL), project design and proposal development, partnership, and capacity strengthening, supply chain, human resources, and more.

To complement the core training, each participant also hones their skills in a specific area that aligns with their career objectives and strategically positions them for onward employment with CRS.

Primary Responsibilities

Under the supervision of an experienced staff member and in collaboration with CRS partners, the ASPIRE participant will support programming and operations as follows:

Project Management

• Support implementation of current projects (e.g. participate in planning/review workshops, support activity implementation in the field)
• Support appropriate management of cash and in-kind resources (e.g. monitor/analyze spending on project budgets, prepare cash forecasts, participate in financial reporting to donors, support commodity management).
• Support timely and accurate reporting (e.g. review/synthesize data to report on project indicators, draft/edit narrative reports).
• Support communication-related activities for country programs and projects (e.g. draft program summaries, annual reports, partnership newsletters, social media content, and webpage updates).

Project Design and Proposal Development

• The support project design (e.g. participate in needs assessments and problem identification, stakeholder analysis, development of concept notes)
• Support proposal development (e.g. participate in design workshops, draft sections of technical narratives and budgets, package/edit proposals for submission).

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

Support MEAL activities in:

• The project design (e.g. support data collection, needs assessments, gender analysis, gap analysis, development of results frameworks, Programs, theories of change, evaluation plans, performance management plans).
• Project start-up (e.g. support baseline assessments, development of MEAL manuals and accountability mechanisms)
• Project implementation (e.g. prepare survey instruments using ICT4D, support collection of monitoring data, prepare donor reports, organize learning events, document learning)
• Project close-out (e.g. draft final reports, support final evaluations, and knowledge management activities).

Partnership & Capacity Strengthening

• Support CRS partners with project management, project design, and MEAL
• Support partnership strengthening and capacity building (e.g. participate in partnership reflection workshops, partner assessments, and monitoring visits).

Finance, Supply Chain, HR, Compliance

• Support strong financial management by analyzing budgets, monitoring & forecasting spending, and reviewing supporting documentation for financial transactions by CRS and sub-recipients.
• Support supply chain and procurement by assisting with inventory counts, data collection, bid analysis, vendor selection, contracting, receipt, and warehousing of goods.
• Support human resources by preparing job descriptions, and reviewing applications/shortlisting candidates.
• Support audit and compliance by reviewing internal controls, and systems for fraud prevention, and studying CRS policies and donor regulations.
• Support staff safety by reviewing security protocols and manuals, and updating as needed.

Key Working Relationships

Internal: CRS Country Representative, Head of Programming, Head of Operations, Program Managers, Finance, Supply Chain, and HR staff

External: CRS partner organizations

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g. International Development, Agriculture, Public Health, Health and Nutrition, Gender studies, Business Administration, Communications, Public Administration, Accounting and Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain)
• No work experience required
• Strong speaking and writing skills in English
• National of Ethiopia
• Willingness to travel (up to 10-15% of the time)
• Ability to work respectfully and professionally in a multi-cultural environment
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Six months of relevant experience (may include internships, volunteer, or paid work experience)
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills
• Women and persons living with physical disabilities are encouraged to apply

Agency-wide Respect, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Competencies

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

• Personal Accountability
• Acts with Integrity
• Builds and Maintains Trust
• Collaborates with Others
• Open to Learn
• Strategic Mindset
• Develops and Recognizes Others
• Leads Change

How to Apply

The application period will be open until August 31, 2022. We encourage interested candidates to visit the ASPIRE Program Webpage to learn more about the program structure, core learning areas, requirements, application, and selection process and apply for the program.

We also invite candidates to engage with our team by participating in one of the online information sessions.

You can also access the FAQs page for further details about the program.

You will be contacted only if selected for a written exam/interview. Phone solicitations will not be accepted. These job opportunities are open to Ethiopian nationals only.

CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. 

** Qualified women and people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply**