Procurement Advisor II

Position duration: (Tentative July 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027)

Note: Position is contingent on funding.

Project Overview 

Catholic Relief Services is implementing a global emergency response initiative designed to deliver timely, life‑saving humanitarian assistance in rapidly evolving crises worldwide. Over 18 months, the program enables fast, flexible action to address urgent needs arising from sudden shocks and protracted emergencies. It supports critical humanitarian sectors through context‑appropriate assistance while emphasizing operational readiness, locally led implementation, accountability to affected communities, and safe, dignified programming. The initiative strengthens the organization’s ability to respond at speed and scale in complex and resource‑constrained environments, ensuring help reaches people most in need when it matters most.

Job Summary

The Advisor II, Procurement will provide technical advice, support and capacity building to procurement and non-procurement staff in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) procurement policies and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. The Advisor will work with global, regional and country colleagues (both CRS and Partner) to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. This role will contribute to effective, adaptive, and innovative procurement throughout CRS. In-depth technical knowledge in procurement and donor regulations as they pertain to the project along with critical skills such as learning design, influencing without authority, and communication will be required for success.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Technical Procurement Enablement: Tools, Templates, and Advisory Support

Empower procurement and non-procurement staff through expert guidance, practical tools, and direct support to ensure effective and compliant procurement execution.

• Provide guidance to global, regional and teams, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and how to best apply procurement planning and implementation standards, best practices, tools, and M&E, ensuring high-quality implementation of procurement processes and procedures.
• Contribute to global, regional, and country efforts to pre-position CRS for procurement-related growth by advising project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities, and technical requirements.
• Offer hands-on support for complex procurement activities, including contract negotiations, strategic sourcing initiatives, development of large and/or complex proposals, including defining procurement processes and indicators, and project start-up processes.
• Support the development of tender and evaluation templates, as well as contract templates, in close coordination with the Procurement Contracts Manager and the Office of General Counsel (OGC).
• Support supply chain readiness through the mapping of and prepositioning of vendors, goods and service providers in target countries

Strategic Procurement Capacity Building

Develop and implement learning strategies to strengthen procurement capabilities across the agency. 

• Support capacity building efforts through close coordination with Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) Knowledge Management and Learning (KML), Global Procurement Managers and Specialist IIs. 
  • Create and support learning opportunities for staff, help to develop trainings and facilitate workshops. Provide mentorship and coaching to global, regional, and CP staff. 
  • Engage with non-procurement staff responsible for submitting and approving requisitions to ensure understanding of their role and importance in the procurement process. 
  • Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing procurement data, evaluating strategic procurement initiatives, measuring impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.
  • Support capacity building needs for procurement modules in Insight (CRS’ Oracle-based ERP system), in partnership with Procurement BPO.

Compliance Oversight

Ensure procurement policies and procedures are current, compliant, and well-understood across the agency. 

• Identify gaps and update content for CRS policies, procedures and processes related to procurement ensuring they are up to date with donor regulations and best practice. 
  • Coordinate with the GSCM KML to edit, finalize, publish and disseminate new or updated policies/procedures. 
  • Advise staff on compliance requirements, including responding to questions about specific donor regulations and interpreting complex procurement rules.

Direct Procurement

In situations where procurement staff are not present, understaffed or capacity does not match the needs of the context, the Procurement Advisor II may need to conduct direct procurement

• Execute end‑to‑end procurement processes under tight timelines, including cost estimates, solicitation documents, bidding process facilitation, negotiations, and preparation of purchase orders, contracts, and related documentation for emergency goods, services and partner agreements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision. Ability 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 judgments.
• Ability to network and build relationships with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• In-depth knowledge of donor procurement regulations, including USAID, Global Fund, DFID, KfW, etc.
• Proficient in MS Office packages, Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Ability to leverage a proactive, resourceful and results-oriented mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in supply chain management/Procurement, Public Administration, Business Administration or related field.
• Certifications in Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Project Management Professional (PMP), UN Procurement Training, or Fritz Institute/CILT UK’s Certification in Humanitarian Logistics (CHL)/ Certification in Humanitarian Supply Chain Management (CHSCM)

Required Languages: Fluency in English required. Fluency in French, Spanish or Arabic highly desirable.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel 30% of the time 

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Logistics, Business Administration, International Relations, Public Administration, Economics, or related field. 
• Minimum of eight (8) years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO
• Minimum of three years working in emergency procurement.
• Experience providing technical assistance and developing successful capacity building initiatives for external donor funding.
• Experience applying technical principles and concepts in procurement. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience reviewing and disseminating guidance on compliance requirements, capacity building and policy development in procurement, including technical writing.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation and training applying adult learning principles and practices.

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.