Senior Project Officer - Private Sector Engagement & Markets

Job Title: Senior Project Officer - Private Sector Engagement and Markets 

Reports to: Program Manager - Church Lands and PSE

Department: Programming

Location: Kampala

This position is open to Ugandan nationals only

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply by November 20, 2026 no later than 11:59pm.

Background 

Under its Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation strategic priority area, CRS Uganda supports nature-based solutions, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods. Forest Flavors (FF) is a 3-year initiative (FY26 - FY29) that applies a market systems development (MSD) and private-sector-led approach to strengthen inclusive, commercially viable and nature-positive agroforestry value chains, with an initial focus on coffee, cocoa, vanilla and spices. The project seeks to improve smallholder and dioceses market participation and returns, support enterprises to test and scale inclusive business models, and strengthen climate-resilient agroforestry landscapes.

Forest Flavors will work mainly across 3 regions namely; Central region covering Luwero, Masaka and Lugazi, Western region covering Kasese and Northern region covering Gulu directly engaging with private sector actors, smallholder farmers and their organizations, service providers, financial institutions and relevant public and civil-society stakeholders to address market-system constraints and crowd in sustainable investment. Church and diocesan assets where feasible will contribute to viable business and landscape models where land tenure, governance, user rights, market demand and the business case are validated. The project will use a diagnose, prioritize, co-create, invest, learn and scale approach, with decisions guided by commercial viability, inclusion, environmental contribution and the potential for replication.

Job Summary: 

Based in CRS Uganda’s Kampala office, the Senior Project Officer (SPO) - Private Sector Engagement and Markets will coordinate and support the implementation of Forest Flavors (FF) activities under the Church Lands and Private Sector Engagement (CL3) project. The role will focus on diocesan and private sector engagement, business development service delivery, and facilitating linkages to key market enablers, including finance, technical assistance, standards and certification bodies, and other relevant service providers.

The SPO will identify and engage potential private sector actors (PSAs), in coordination with the Project Manager - CL3, and facilitate the co-creation of commercially viable, inclusive and nature-positive agroforestry business models. This will include identifying partnership opportunities to address systemic market constraints, coordinating business case development and tailored business development services, and supporting capacity strengthening in marketing, financial management and inclusive business practices. The SPO will also coordinate and follow up on activities implemented through private sector partners, verify and manage milestones, budgets and deliverables, and ensure timely activity implementation and reporting.

Through effective coordination, facilitation and relationship management, the SPO will support market linkages, strengthen enterprise, diocese and smallholder participation in priority agroforestry value chains, and contribute to continuous learning and improved project results.

The role will work closely with the Project Manager - CL3 and the wider FF team, as well as relevant technical, MEAL, finance and operations colleagues. This is a technical coordination role and has no direct staff supervisory responsibilities.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning, coordination, and high-quality implementation of assigned activities in alignment with approved annual workplans, budgets, and CRS program quality standards. This includes mapping and onboarding potential Private Sector Actors (PSAs), collaborating with stakeholders to co-create commercially viable business models across priority value chains (coffee, cocoa, vanilla, and spices), and maintaining rigorous activity trackers to manage deliverables, risks, and implementation milestones.
• Coordinate technical assistance and business development support for private sector partners / MSMEs and, dioceses based on identified needs and follow up on agreed actions to strengthen commercial performance, market access and investment readiness.
• Ensure, gender equality, youth inclusion and social inclusion are considered in partner diagnostics, business model design, service delivery, access to assets and finance, and tracking of economic benefits.
• Coordinate implementation follow-up with PSAs and project stakeholders, including periodic partner check-ins and targeted monitoring visits when required; document bottlenecks and agree practical corrective actions.
• Support portfolio reviews and learning processes to assess whether supported models should be expanded, adapted, paused or discontinued based on evidence of commercial viability, inclusion, environmental contribution and scale potential.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and represent the project, as delegated, in technical meetings with PSAs, service providers, financial institutions, relevant government and sector actors, and Church/diocesan stakeholders.
• Work with the Project Manager and relevant CRS colleagues to monitor activity expenditure against approved budgets, flag resource or implementation risks early, and support timely planning of procurement, logistics and technical assistance.
• Coordinate technical inputs and support for assigned activities to ensure deliverables are completed to agreed standards and within approved timelines.
• Work with finance, operations, technical colleagues and partners to ensure required resources and administrative processes are planned in time to support implementation.
• Compile and review activity progress updates, maintain evidence of milestone completion, and provide timely inputs to consolidated project progress reports.
• Maintain complete and organized documentation for assigned activities, including partner engagement records, due diligence, business cases, agreements where applicable, milestone evidence, lessons learned and case studies, in line with CRS and donor requirements.
• Strengthen partnerships and engagement with church and partner staff using CRS partnership principles, tools, and approaches, ensuring mutual accountability, collaboration, long-term impact and proactively address partnership challenges, 

Required Languages - English fluency, including excellent oral and written skills, required.   Fluent in local Ugandan languages from the Central or Western or Northern regions would be an added advantage. 

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50 %.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Deep commitment to land restoration 

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

 Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Pram Manager – Church lands and PSE (CL3), Program Manager -Partner Capacity Strengthening (PCS), Head of Programs, Snr. Ag, Markets and Livelihoods Advisor, Head of Operations, MEAL team, Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion (GYSI), Operations and Finance team, Regional and HQ Forest Flavors teams

External: Church and Diocese focal points, local partner staff and relevant national, district, and other government stakeholders, community leaders

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required. Degree in Agricultural economics, Agribusiness, or related studies with specialized study in Market Systems Development, private sector engagement / partnerships or relevant field. 
• Minimum of 4 years of work experience in projects in the field of market systems development (private sector and value chain development), livelihoods, business development support, agriculture or agroforestry.    Experience working with an NGO is a significant advantage.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Experience working with Private sector actors is a must.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with private sector partners, value chain development and support institutions – enablers.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Prior experience in MSD, business development services and/or in financial services is a plus
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

 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.

***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 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 protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 

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

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

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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.