Senior Administrative Officer

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works in around 100 countries to save, protect, and transform lives, serving people in need regardless of race, religion, or nationality. Through trusted local partnerships, CRS delivers relief and development programs in emergency response, disaster risk reduction, health, agriculture, education, community savings, livelihoods, and peacebuilding.

CRS began working in the Philippines in 1945, making it the longest-running continuous CRS country program in the world. Today, CRS Philippines implements programs in emergency response and recovery, disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, livelihoods, and peace and development. With more than 70 staff across Manila, Cotabato City, Tagbilaran City, Iloilo City, Virac, and Malaybalay City, CRS works closely with church and civil society partners, government agencies, and other organizations to serve vulnerable communities across the country.

The Innovative Climate Financing - Philippines Carbon Finance Pilot is an 18-month initiative (April 2026 – September 2027) which seeks to assess and advance the readiness of indigenous peoples’ ancestral domains in Bukidnon and Davao del Norte for participation in high-integrity forest carbon markets while delivering biodiversity, livelihood, and governance co-benefits. It likewise aims to support overall investments readiness by ensuring robust technical requirements are complied with, particularly on establishing the baseline and baseline, and calculation of project removals in line with the industry’s standards. CRS works with the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) as the local implementing partner, the IP organizations, government agencies, and local stakeholders, to support IP governance strengthening, forest restoration, agroforestry and livelihoods skills strengthening, FPIC processes, biodiversity assessments, land and carbon suitability assessments, safeguarding, and the development of investment-ready carbon project opportunities.

Job Summary

The Senior Administrative Officer will lead and manage the administrative, procurement, logistics, and operational support functions of the Philippines Carbon Finance Pilot to ensure efficient, compliant, and timely project implementation. S/he will oversee day-to-day administrative operations, supervise the Project Assistant, coordinate with CRS support departments and project partners, and ensure that project resources, procurement actions, contracts, travel, and documentation are effectively managed. The position also provides technical and institutional strengthening support to PEF in enhancing its operational systems, including the review, updating, and operationalization of administrative, procurement, finance, and related policies and procedures to strengthen organizational effectiveness and compliance.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

1. Procurement, Logistics, and Administrative Management 

• Lead the planning, coordination, and monitoring of procurement, logistics, travel, office administration, asset management, and operational support requirements of the project.
• Ensure procurement requests are initiated, tracked, and completed in accordance with CRS policies and requirements.
• Coordinate procurement processes, including quotations, bid evaluations, vendor communications, purchase requests, contracts, and delivery monitoring.
• Oversee travel arrangements, travel authorizations, accommodations, vehicle scheduling, and logistics support for project activities.
• Supervise office administration functions and ensure adequate operational support for staff, consultants, visitors, workshops, and field activities.
• Ensure project assets and equipment are properly recorded, labelled, inventoried, maintained, and disposed of in compliance with CRS policies.
• Supervise and provide technical guidance to the Project Assistant.

2. Operational Coordination and Implementation Support

• Serve as the focal person for coordinating project operational requirements among Programs, Procurement, Finance, HR, ICT, Administration, and project partners.
• Monitor administrative and operational readiness of project activities and proactively address bottlenecks that may affect implementation.
• Support project planning processes by ensuring timely availability of logistics, procurement, staffing, and operational resources.
• Coordinate consultant onboarding, contracting, payments, travel, and operational requirements.

3. Partner Operations Strengthening and Subaward Administration 

• Support administration of subawards, partner agreements, amendments, and related compliance requirements.
• Coordinate submission, tracking, organization, and filing of partner deliverables and supporting documentation.
• Work closely with PEF to strengthen operational systems and business processes.
• Lead or support reviews of PEF operational policies, procedures, and internal systems.
• Support capacity strengthening initiatives that improve partner compliance, efficiency, accountability, and institutional sustainability.

4. Records Management, Compliance, and Audit Support 

• Maintain complete, accurate, organized, and audit-ready procurement, administrative, and operational records.
• Manage administrative filing systems, document repositories, and project records in accordance with CRS and donor requirements.
• Monitor contract files, procurement documentation, asset records, and administrative trackers to ensure completeness and compliance.
• Support internal audits, compliance reviews, donor assessments, and monitoring visits.
• Ensure timely resolution of audit findings and administrative compliance issues.
• Monitor and follow up on expiring contracts, agreements, permits, and other administrative requirements.

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, Accounting, Finance, Development Management, or related field. 
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in administration, procurement, logistics, operations, grants, or project support functions. 
• At least 2 years of supervisory experience. 
• Experience managing procurement, contracts, logistics, travel, records management, and office administration. 
• Experience working with partner organizations and capacity strengthening initiatives is highly desirable.
   

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

Operational and Administrative Management

• Strong knowledge of procurement, logistics, administration, asset management, records management, and operational support systems.
• Ability to establish and improve administrative systems and processes.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and operational requirements simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
   

Partner Capacity Strengthening

• Ability to assess organizational systems and recommend improvements.
• Experience facilitating policy reviews, process improvements, and institutional strengthening initiatives.
• Ability to coach and mentor partner staff on administrative and operational systems.
   

Communication and Leadership

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to supervise, coach, and develop staff.
• Ability to work effectively across multifunctional teams and with diverse stakeholders.
   

Computer Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience using procurement, finance, asset management, and document management systems.
  
   

Required Languages: Excellent spoken and written English.

Travel: Must be willing to travel up to 25% of the time to Malaybalay, Bukidnon and/or Talaingod, Davao del Norte. 

Key Working Relationships: TBD

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity  
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

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.