Technical Advisor II, WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure - Myanmar

Job Summary  

You will provide technical advice, guidance, and support to a wide range of program design and implementation issues, with a focus on larger projects in the area of Shelter, WASH, and Infrastructure. This will be in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices, supporting program teams to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable.

The role will serve as a centralized technical capacity for the Myanmar Country Program (CP), providing technical oversight and guidance across all Shelter, WASH, and Infrastructure programming to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with CRS standards and strategic priorities. The role may also provide similar technical assistance support to other countries in the region as required. 

The role will lead an engineering unit and serve as a centralized technical capacity for the Myanmar CP, providing technical oversight and guidance across all infrastructure programming to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with CRS standards and strategic priorities and providing mentoring and capacity strengthening to engineering staff. The role will provide technical support across programs, working closely with Project Managers (PMs) to support planning, design, and implementation throughout the full project lifecycle, including the procurement phase, ensuring technical quality and compliance are maintained.

The role will work in close collaboration with, and draw on the support of, HRD Technical Advisors (TAs) from the WASH and Shelter & Settlements (S&S) teams, ensuring alignment with global technical approaches and access to specialist expertise. As required, the role will also engage and manage professional services, including specialist engineering inputs (e.g. structural, electrical, and other disciplines), to support design, quality assurance, and technical problem-solving across programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities 

• Contribute to the development and implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in Shelter, WASH, and Infrastructure that effectively engage partners, donors and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• Effectively manage talent for the Engineering Unit and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailored individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.   
• Provide technical solutions for CP and regional teams, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and how to best apply program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and MEAL, ensuring high-quality implementation.
• Contribute to CP efforts to pre-position CRS for growth opportunities in Shelter, WASH, and Infrastructure. Lead or contribute to the development of the technical design for large and/or complex proposals, including defining appropriate monitoring systems and indicators. Advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives in Shelter, WASH, and Infrastructure  programming for staff and partner through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curricula, conducting trainings and workshops, and mentoring and coaching to CP staff.
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic projects, assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.
• Establish and maintain relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions. Participate in forums in Shelter, WASH, and Infrastructure to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, or equivalent and related qualification required.
• Minimum of eight years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of three years working for programming interventions in Shelter, WASH, and Infrastructure.
• Previous experience providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is required.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master's Degree in subjects related to humanitarian and development is an advantage

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts in Shelter, WASH, and Infrastructure. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure a proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
• Proficient using AutoCad, SketchUp and other design and engineering software required for this role. 
• Experience in business development, project design and proposal development in Shelter, WASH, and Infrastructure, including technical writing.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation, including applying data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Required Languages: Advanced oral and written English required. Fluency in Burmese Myanmar language preferred. Knowledge of other local languages is a plus.

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

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes. 

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• 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.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Salary and benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.