Applications are currently being accepted for the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Junior Professionals Program, offering an opportunity for qualified professional women in West Africa to channel their dedication to international relief and development work into a career with Catholic Relief Services. Over a span of 12 months, each Junior Professional will enhance core skills while collaborating with seasoned staff and supporting vital programs. They will receive robust mentoring and access to regional networking opportunities as they prepare for roles of increased responsibility within CRS.
Eligibility Criteria
Essential Qualifications:
- Possession of a Master’s degree in a relevant field (such as Economic Development, Agriculture, Health, Business Administration, Finance, Human Resources, or Supply Chain).
- Completion of the Master’s degree within 24 months prior to the program start date (October 2024).
- Minimum of six months of relevant work experience (e.g., internship, practicum, volunteer, or paid work).
- Proficiency in both spoken and written communication in the official business language of the country (either French or English).
- Citizenship of a participating country (as specified).
- Demonstrated ability to thrive in a collaborative, multicultural environment.
- Preparedness to travel (up to 25% of the time).
- Openness to being stationed in field offices outside of the capital city during the JPP program year and beyond program completion.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Strong aptitude in analytical thinking, problem-solving, and research.
- Agile, proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented approach.
- Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
Learning & Professional Development
- Practical Training: Junior Professionals will undergo hands-on experience and comprehensive training to advance their skills in various areas including project design, program management, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning, partnership building, and operations.
- Mentorship: Each Junior Professional will be matched with a mentor who will actively provide guidance, feedback, and career coaching.
- Tailored Professional Experience: In addition to core training, Junior Professionals will develop skills in a specific area aligned with their professional development goals, positioning themselves strategically for future roles within CRS.
- Regional Networking: Participation in a regional community of practice will enable Junior Professionals to exchange successes, challenges, and lessons learned from their work.
Location:
- The majority of Junior professionals will be stationed in the capital city, where CRS maintains its main office in the country, with regular travel to sub-offices and field sites. However, depending on the availability of learning opportunities within the country program, some Junior Professionals may be based full-time in field offices.
Paid Opportunity:
- This position offers an entry-level salary with benefits. The compensation package is competitive relative to the local labour market.
Application Procedure:
- Draft a motivation letter (refer to FAQ for writing prompts)
- Prepare a CV
- Complete the online application
CRS applicants are required to submit their applications for the Junior Professionals Program by June 30, 2024.
Top candidates will be invited to participate in a video interview between April and July (in some countries), followed by an in-person interview in August (in all countries). Finalists will receive offers in September, contingent upon the completion of background and reference checks. The 2024 Junior Professionals Program is scheduled to commence in October.
Due to the high volume of applications and the rolling nature of the review process, only candidates advancing to the next stage of the selection process will be contacted.
For More Information,
Application Deadline: June 30, 2024.
