Advisor Sr - Global Fund Support Unit

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.

 

Job Summary

Acts in a senior role for a critical area of expertise for the agency. Provides expertise to field staff related to a specific discipline. Directs integration of standards into planning and operational activity, including strategy, staffing, etc. Help develop organizational protocols for staff. Ensures adherence to and compliance with established regulations, standards, and organizational goals.

 

The Global Fund Support Unit (GFSU) works to strengthen CRS’ programming and institutional links with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (‘the Global Fund’) and similar, health-focused, donors. CRS has a long-standing relationship with the Global Fund since inception in 2002, and the new three-year cycle 2024-2026, has a confirmed portfolio of six Principal Recipient grants for a total 3-year budget of around $680 million, in addition to several Sub-Recipient and Service provider contracts.

The Senior Advisor will provide management support to country programs in pursuing and/or implementing Global Fund grants, identify management capacity areas needing improvement, and, in collaboration with regional staff, support country programs in proactively addressing management issues and capacity gaps.

 

Roles and Key Responsibilities

A.           Country support

• Provide direct technical assistance to country programs during the business development process for new and continuing Global Fund grants. 
• Participate in grant negotiations with the Global Fund, ensuring that CRS’ approaches, policies, and structures are adequately considered and explained in budgets and planning documents.
• Provide direct support to country programs during the start-up, implementation and close out.
• Throughout the grant cycle, assist in the development and review of budgets and other complex grant documents for accuracy, completeness, compliance with CRS policies and Global Fund requirements. 
• Review reports and other key documents submitted by CRS Principal Recipient country programs and provide feedback on necessary revisions before final donor submission. Also ensure that other regional and HQ staff are also reviewing key documents and that this feedback is documented.
• Facilitate information sharing and regional/HQ support by coordinating regular Extended Project Team and Program Board meetings. 
• Participate in regular donors calls and visits.
• Ensure that key documents are properly archived. 

 

B.    Management Quality and Compliance:

• Keep current on new and revised Global Fund policies, procedures, guidance and other governing documents, and advise on the implications for CRS. 
• Collaborate with other internal departments to ensure information sharing and compliance with Global Fund policies. 
• Assist country programs, regions and CRS HQ teams to plan for and resolve cross cutting procurement, compliance, legal, risk, safeguarding, HR and other grant management or implementation issues. 
• In collaboration with the Office of Legal Counsel, regions and country programs, identify needs for legal agreements within the scope of grant implementation and coordinate templates, tools, reviews and updates as needed.

 

C.    Business Development 

• Coordinate CRS’ approach for accessing Global Fund funding.
• Provide technical support and advice to country programs and regions on Global Fund procedures and processes for accessing funding.
• Track the business and consultancy opportunities that are posted to the Global Fund’s website and coordinates the pursuit of any such opportunities.
• Support positioning / BD efforts with GAVI and UNITAID as needed.

 

D.    Knowledge Management and Learning: 

• Coordinate workshops, webinars and other meetings (virtual and in person) to ensure shared learning and capacity building, as needed. 
• Contribute to documentation and learning related to CRS’ Global Fund portfolio.

Basic Qualifications 

• Master's degree in management, business administration, international development or related field.
• Ten years of experience at managing or supporting international development projects. 
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