Advisor II, Donor Engagement and Technical Learning

NOTE: The above Pay Range only applies to applicants who perform the job within the US and to applicants classified by CRS as International Assignees.  Staff hired on local payroll would follow the respective Country pay range.  Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your anticipated work location during the candidate selection process.

Job Summary

The Advisor II, Donor Engagement and Technical Learning provide programmatic guidance, coordination, and implementation support to a portfolio of donor-funded projects, ensuring alignment with CRS program quality principles, donor requirements, and agency standards. The role supports effective donor engagement, portfolio coordination, and the consistent application of Water Smart Agriculture (WSA) approaches by guiding teams in the use of agreed tools, methodologies, and practices. Within a defined portfolio scope, the Advisor promotes adherence to established approaches, identifies quality and alignment gaps, and recommends corrective actions. The Advisor serves as a key connector across country programs, technical teams, and donors, facilitating collaboration, communication, and knowledge sharing to strengthen portfolio coherence, learning, and overall program quality.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with program and technical teams to support consistent application of WSA approaches, tools, and standards across the assigned portfolio.
• Guide project teams in applying agreed methodologies, indicator definitions, and implementation practices to promote consistency and quality across projects.
• Review project plans, learning agendas, and key deliverables to identify alignment gaps and support corrective actions in coordination with technical advisors.
• Support coordination of portfolio-level technical reviews (e.g., field visits, peer reviews) and follow up on agreed actions with teams.
• Provide practical guidance on donor requirements, reporting expectations, and portfolio practices, escalating complex technical issues as needed.
• Support integration of conservation and regenerative agriculture principles through coordination and knowledge sharing.
• Facilitate coordination across projects through meetings, technical exchanges, and learning events to promote collaboration and alignment.
• Act as a connector across country programs, technical advisors, and regional leadership to support communication, alignment, and resolution of routine issues.
• Monitor cross-project implementation trends and flag risks related to consistency, quality, or alignment for follow-up action.
• Support donor engagement by coordinating communications, consolidating inputs, and maintaining a coherent programmatic narrative across projects.
• Contribute to positioning, capture planning, and proposal development by organizing inputs, facilitating reviews, and ensuring alignment with donor and CRS requirements.
• Support knowledge management by facilitating collection, synthesis, documentation, and sharing of lessons learned, promising practices, and portfolio-level insights.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, agriculture, agroecology, natural resource management, environmental science, or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in Conservation Agriculture.
• Significant experience navigating high-level negotiation and complex partnership issues.
• Proven ability to write high-quality technical proposals and reports.
• Experience engaging with donors and partner organizations and facilitating collaborative processes.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation including development of indicators, data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills to represent the organization at meetings with donors, government, international NGOs, local partners – faith-based and civil society. Understanding of partnership principles.
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• Master's Degree.
• Experience working in an INGO.
• Experience supporting innovation, scaling approaches, or adaptive management processes

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Strong understanding and application of technical principles and concepts in regenerative/ conservation agriculture practices.  Good knowledge of related disciplines to ensure a proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Knowledge of foundation and corporate donor perspectives and strategic priorities.
• Working knowledge of Water Smart Agriculture, conservation agriculture, or regenerative agriculture principles
• Ability to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders in multiple geographic and cross-cultural locations particularly in LACRO or similar contexts
• Ability to gather, comprehend new information, distill it and then communicate it to others based on the audience, strong presentation and communication skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented with the ability to work independently and in a team.
  • Ability to adapt approaches and plans based on evolving contexts and client needs.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills, with strong attention to detail and capacity to translate complex concepts for internal and external audiences.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required, knowledge of Salesforce, Oracle, Web Conferencing Applications, and other systems a plus and knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to support BD a plus. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

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.  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.