VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Project Officer, ECE PLAY CSO Partnership

(Based in Vientiane Capital)

This position is available to LAO nationals only

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) 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, nutrition, health, agriculture, education, environment, microfinance and peacebuilding.

Job Summary

As a member of the “ECE-PLAY – Play, Learn, Achieve Yearlong” (ECE PLAY) project team, you will monitor and report on all project activities in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your role as the Project Officer for CSO Partnerships will be to work directly with Civil Society Organizations (CSO)s to strengthen their leadership capacity to improve access to and quality of Early Childhood Education (ECE). Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Project Overview

“ECE-PLAY – Play, Learn, Achieve Yearlong” is a collaborative initiative in partnership with MOES, led by CRS and NCA, with funding from the European Union (EU), to strengthen the technical capacity of Lao CSOs in delivering cost-effective, inclusive Early Childhood Education models focusing on rural areas and vulnerable groups. The initiative directly contributes to Laos’ Education Sector Development Plan (ESSDP) 2025–2030. ECE-PLAY enhances service delivery in vulnerable communities by elevating CSO leadership in ECE.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Support the coordination and implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Serve as the key liaison with CSO partners to track and monitor improvement plans, implementation plans, and needs of CSO partners. Identify, develop, and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Monitor and report on any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule.
• Complete project documentation for assigned activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree relevant to the area
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in project support.
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.

• Experience in the field of education and/or capacity building and for an NGO would be a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficient in using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

Required Languages: Lao and professional English

Travel: up to 30% travel during implementation periods to monitor and support CSOs.

Supervisory Responsibilities: none

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’s processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

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

APPLICATION INFORMATION: To apply for this position, please submit an application letter stating your expression of interest along with your most current CV by email to LA_HR@crs.org

Closing date for applications: 03 March 2026. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

CRS’s talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer