Senior Project Officer, Psychosocial Support

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 are accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS has been present in Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza (JWBG) since 1961. In JWBG, CRS currently supports programs in the sectors of humanitarian relief, livelihoods, civil society strengthening, and social justice promotion through its field offices, in Jerusalem, Gaza, Ramallah, and Bethlehem. CRS is working to provide rapid emergency assistance to conflict affected communities in Gaza and the West Bank in the sectors of multi-purpose cash; shelter; psycho-social support; food assistance; and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). For further information about CRS, please visit: www.crs.org.

Job Summary:

CRS is seeking a Senior Project Officer to oversee the implementation of CRS psychosocial support (PSS) programming activities in the Gaza Strip, supporting a team of staff and local partners in south and north Gaza. CRS is implementing a comprehensive PSS response in Gaza with the goal of supporting the emotional wellbeing of displaced children, adolescents and caregivers amidst the ongoing conflict. As a result of the unprecedented psychological distress and limited access to structured services, CRS and local partners have been providing informal socio-recreational and light PSS sessions across collective shelters in three of the five governorates in the Gaza Strip, continuing to expand its ongoing programming and adjusting approaches to respond to evolving needs.

As an SPO, you will provide technical and managerial oversight of the PSS portfolio of projects in the Gaza Strip to ensure high quality programming that advances CRS’ work in serving affected populations. Your knowledge and skills in community-level PSS programming, partnership management, and team management abilities are key to the delivery of high-quality PSS programming that applies the best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve and that aligns with CRS’ regional and country-based strategies and approaches.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned PSS project activities in the Gaza Strip as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide supervision to the Gaza PSS team including the provision of coaching and mentoring, tailoring development plans and completing performance assessments for direct reports and managing the team’s dynamics and staff well-being.
• Support project documentation and resource management through program reporting and budget tracking,
• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• In collaboration with the Regional Technical Advisor, provide technical oversight to CRS and partner teams of the implementation of socio-recreational and PSS-focused activities to ensure high-quality and adaptive PSS programming in Gaza. Technical support will include building the capacity of the local partners on the PSS curriculum and standards, ensuring the application of quality activities to affected populations, and documenting any adaptations needed to the PSS approaches and/or curriculum.
• Coordinate with the Protection Cluster, Child Protection Area of Responsibility and other relevant technical working groups to ensure that CRS’ PSS programming in Gaza is consistent with the followed cluster guidance and standards and complements other actors within targeted areas inside Gaza.
• Coordinate and oversee working relationships with all local project stakeholders and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact.
• Supervise and perform ad-hoc inspections of various processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures. Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner.
• Coordinate provision of any logistical and administrative support to staff and partners.
• Ensure project documentation for assigned activities is complete with all required documents and is filed via the agency and donor requirements.Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices.
• Ensure CRS Safeguarding Policy & Code of Conduct and Ethics is translated to all capacity strengthening activities, project beneficiaries, and relevant community members, including mechanisms to safely make reports or provide feedback; ensure compliance with this policy and immediately notify supervisor of any concerns.

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Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required. A degree in mental health and psychological support, social work or business management is preferrable. Master’s degree in relevant field preferably.
• Minimum of 6 years of work experience in project implementation and management, ideally in the field of Mental Health and Psychological Support and for an NGO.
• Staff supervision and team-building experience.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Required Languages - English and Arabic fluency is required.

Travel – The position is based in Gaza. The successful candidate must be willing to travel up to 30% across governorates in Gaza, as needed, security permitting.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with partners, including partner capacity strengthening and supporting quality implementation through local actors.
• Ability to coach, mentor and technically support partner and project staff to build capacity in PSS programming and project management.
• Strong project management skills, including planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.

• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Staff supervision experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

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: PSS team, which could include up to 1 Project Officer, 2 Field Officers and a Consultant based in Gaza.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal Program Managers, Gaza PSS Field Officers, West Bank PSS team, Gaza Head of Office, JWBG Head of Programs, Regional Technical Advisor for PSS, MEAL Manager

External Protection Cluster Members, Local Partners, UNICEF, OCHA, among others

***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.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability status.

Women, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented populations are encouraged to apply and to seek CRS support on the application process where additional accommodation is required.

Interested candidates with relevant education and work experience are invited to complete an application which addresses the positions requirements. To be considered for the position, candidates must submit both a CV and a cover letter, in English. Applications must be submitted online at crsjwbg.org and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting will remain open until filled, however, submission by May 11th, 2025, is strongly advised.