Program Officer

About CWS:
Imagine waking up every morning with the chance to change someone's life. Imagine knowing your efforts will benefit both your career and our neighbors around the world. At CWS, our team knows they are making a difference every day. Whether you're in our U.S.based offices supporting refugees, asylees or unaccompanied children... implementing hygiene initiatives in Cambodia or rebuilding projects in Central America... or even connecting remotely from your home on fundraising campaigns, grant reports, or critical communications - you have the opportunity to work towards a world where everyone has food, a voice and a safe place to call home.

Purpose:
This new position will be part of the Regional Team for Latin America and the Caribbean within Church World Service. They will be responsible for supporting the emerging portfolio of regional and country-level partnerships and programs that address the urgent needs and rights of people in migration. Currently, the portfolio consists of three programs, all based on partnerships with grassroots network organizations comprised primarily of Local Faith Based Organizations and a current geographic focus of Mexico and Central America, which reflects CWS’ commitment to localization, capacity sharing, and partnership.

This position will begin as a single-person team with no direct reports but may need to manage a team as the portfolio of programs expands. Extensive travel throughout the region will be required (up to 25% in the first year).

**Responsibilities**:

- **Program Development and Management**
- Manage programs that make up the regional migration portfolio. This includes (a) managing sub-grants to partners, submitting reports, supporting monitoring and evaluation activities, ensuring compliance with donor requirements, and managing budgets.
- Develop and pilot new programs and responses to urgent needs through co-creation processes with CWS US migration programs (Children services, Legal Services), Local Faith Based Organizations, Regional Networks, and other Civil-Society actors.
- Consult regularly with key stakeholders including migrants, refugees, and those that serve them to gather input on program priorities and approaches. This includes mapping potential partners and their capacity to respond to rapidly emerging humanitarian needs.
- Support and strengthen regional and local actors responding to the needs of people on the move through capacity-sharing and the promotion of best practices.
- Responsible for developing and maintaining the regional migration portfolio strategy in coordination with the Regional Representative.
- ** Resource Mobilization**
- Represent CWS at regional and national forums.
- Secure new funding for migration-related programming by developing relationships with key funders, drafting concept notes, grant proposals, and emergency appeals (directly and/or via recruited technical writers when appropriate). This will be done in coordination with other CWS units and with external partners.
- Connect with funders that promote the principles and practices of Localization, Capacity-Sharing, Partnership and other frameworks in line with CWS values and policies.
- ** Advocacy and Learning**
- Coordinate with other CWS units to advocate for US, International, and regional policies that promote the rights and protection needs of people on the move in the LAC region.
- Accompany and support the advocacy work of local partners and networks.
- Work with partners, consultants and researchers to document emerging areas of urgent needs and best practices.

**This position also requires other necessary duties and activities such as document translation, coordinating with other colleagues and organizations, and regular travel throughout the region.**

Qualifications:
**Education**
- Bachelor’s degree with significant work experience, master’s preferred

**Experience**
- A minimum of three years of previous experience working in the areas of international development or human mobility at the country, regional, or global level.
- Experience developing concept notes, budgets, and full proposals.
- Demonstrated ability to establish outcome-oriented partnerships.
- Familiarity with Faith Based Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, and regional networks.
- Experience with program management and grant management.
- Experience working with vulnerable populations: people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ individuals, children or unaccompanied minors, survivors of gender-based violence, or families impacted by incarceration.

**Knowledge / Skills / Abilities**:

- Strong verbal and written communication skills in both Spanish and English.
- Knowledge of region-specific migration/refugee policies and key actors. Understanding of US migration and refugee policy strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of humanitarian standards and best practices.
- Excellent computer skills, especially Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and Outlook.
- Develop and maintain stro