Senior Advisor, Staff Well-Being and Workforce Resilience

NOTE: The Pay Range referenced in this job announcement 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

CRS strives to promote the health, safety and well-being of all staff.  As part of this approach, CRS considers health and well-being an integral aspect of our success.  This role will be responsible for strategically designing, leading, and implementing staff care and well-being strategies at both the individual, group and organizational levels. As part of the Health, Safety and Security Unit (HSSU) and member of the HSS Senior Management Team, the Senior Advisor, Staff Well-Being and Workforce Resilience will oversee capacity strengthening in staff care and resilience practices, psychosocial critical incident response, and global well-being initiatives. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Lead the technical development, implementation, and continuous improvement of CRS’ Staff Care and Well-Being strategy, procedures, standards, and frameworks to ensure alignment with organizational priorities, duty of care commitments, risk management strategies, workforce needs, and operational effectiveness. 
• Develop and oversee a psychosocial risk assessment framework, including standardized assessment and documentation tools that can be adapted and scaled across countries and regions to identify, monitor, and address emerging psychosocial risks.
• Advise country  and regional teams, and leadership on strategies and practices that promote staff well-being, resilience, and operational effectiveness, with particular attention to high-risk, insecure, emergency, humanitarian, disaster, and other high-stress operating environments. 

Crisis Response:

• Facilitate preparedness activities and psychosocial risk mitigation efforts for country programs operating in high-risk, insecure, and crisis-affected contexts.
• Lead agency-wide Family Liaison Program, including liaison training curriculum development, program oversight, and continuous quality improvement. 
• Translate clinical knowledge into technical/operation guidance to country and regional teams, and leadership during and following critical incidents, emergencies, security incidents (road traffic accidents, detentions, physical or sexual violence, etc.), and other situations that may adversely affect staff well-being. 
• Coordinate referrals during/after critical incidents to appropriate resources

Capacity Building and Technical Assistance:

• Design and deliver in-person and remote training and capacity-strengthening initiatives for CRS staff, managers, and leaders, with particular emphasis on strengthening preparedness, resilience, psychosocial support, and stress management in high-risk and high-stress operating environments. 
• Develop evidence-informed guidance, tools, and resources grounded in psychological science, mental health care research, and trauma-informed principles and adapt them for use across CRS organizational and operating contexts. 
• Strengthen leadership and manager capacity to recognize, address, and mitigate psychosocial risks affecting individuals, teams, and organizational performance.
• Facilitate agency-wide learning opportunities, community of practice, and knowledge-sharing initiatives that promote effective staff care and well-being practices across CRS and, where appropriate, partner organizations. 

Supervision, Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting:

• Supervise and provide technical direction to Technical Advisor and/or consultant responsible for supporting agency-wide staff care and well-being activities.   
• Monitor and track progress toward strategic objectives and key performance indicators and recommend adjustments to strengthen effectiveness, sustainability, and organizational impact.

Key Working Relationships

• Internal: HSSU, Regional and Deputy Regional Directors, Sr. Director of Health, Safety and Security, Country Representatives and Managers, Heads of Operations, Heads of Programs, HSS Focal Points, HR, Program Quality (including Health programming team), Ethics Unit, General Counsel, and Humanitarian Response Department.
• External: International and local mental health providers, Employee Assistance Program vendors, contracted medical service providers and peers/peer networks in public and private sector.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrates ability to work effectively in a remote, globally distributed team with strong relationship building skills to work collaboratively and effectively with key stakeholders across functions, cultures, and time zones. 
• Experience working in sensitive situations with internal and external stakeholders
• Strong proficiency in virtual collaboration and communication technologies (e.g., Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, intranet, email, phone, text messaging, webinar platforms, and shared workspaces), 
• Self-motivated to meet deadlines with evidence of problem solving and critical thinking
• Ability to train and convey information to a variety of personnel on various skill and language levels
• Able and willing to work flexible hours when needed, including off-hours and weekends for critical incident response
• Provide effective remote supervision and/or coaching, and support to staff, consultants, and stakeholders worldwide.
• Language Required: Fluency in English required; Fluency in another language such as French, Spanish or Arabic preferred.
• Demonstrated experience transferring knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and informal methods

Required Languages: Fluency in English required; Fluency in another language such as French, Spanish or Arabic preferred.

Travel: Approximately 15% of the time, primarily to/within the various regions, and sometimes in remote areas with minimal amenities available.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Basic Qualifications 

• MA, PhD, PsyD or EdD in psychology, clinical social work, or counseling
• Minimum 8 years of experience in mental health practices (clinical, counseling, or social work)
• Minimum of 2 years management or regional/global advisory experience
• Experience in humanitarian aid, international development, or supporting employees in international settings
• Proficient in use of evidence-based treatment protocols
• Experience in handling Personal Health Information (PHI) and electronic PHI (ePHI)
• Experience in developing and/or delivering mental health training in-person and remote
• Experience utilizing a trauma-informed approach in response to critical incidents

Preferred Qualifications 

• Active license (or equivalent professional credential) as a mental health professional, such as psychology, clinical social work, counseling, psychiatry, or a related behavioral health discipline.
• Demonstrated time spent working overseas.

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.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  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 safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.