Project Officer - CDP at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Project Background

• CRS has secured funding from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) to implement a 1 year project COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-Out Support in Nigeria.
• The goal of the project is to increase the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Liberia and Nigeria to help bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and related negative social and economic impacts.
• The project pursues two major activities. The first focuses on increasing demand for vaccines by combatting vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. The second is to increase access to vaccines through existing health system efforts.

Job Summary

• The successful candidate will support the programming and implementation of COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-Out Support in Nigeria advancing Catholic Relief Services (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable.
• Your skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Key Job Responsibilities
Program Quality and Implementation:

• Oversee and ensure the successful implementation of the program, in adherence with donor requirements
• Ensure quality and timely implementation of the project against set objectives, targets and work plans
• Help assess and strengthen partnerships relevant to Covid-19 vaccine promotion, applying the appropriate application of partnership principles, concepts, tools and approaches.
• Support programming of all activities throughout relevant project cycles - project design, start-up, implementation and close-out - to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices
• Ensure the project utilizes best practices, policies and guidelines consistent with Covid-19 protocols
• Actively support project activities through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution
• Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy
• Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome obstacles.
• Ensure robust financial and monitoring and evaluation systems are in place for high-quality programming.

Reporting, Institutional Learning, Documentation and Sharing:

• Compile field-based reports to CRS and external donors
• Identify, document and lead any efforts to document best practices and lessons learned from the project for organizational learning and donors.
• Take the lead in the completion of success stories and case studies – modify as needed based on the intended audience.

Capacity Building and Supervision:

• Support the development of partner capacity building plans and strategies
• Ensure completion and dissemination of reports/documentation of relevant partnership initiatives in keeping with established requirements
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Through planning and oversight ensure efficient use of project resources
• Remain current on agency guidelines, learning initiatives and policies related to capacity strengthening
• Identify and coordinate relevant training events for CRS and partner staff to advance knowledge and skills on Covid-19 programming

Coordination and Representation:

• Ensure effective coordination with CRS internal and partners staff and provide frequent feedback and updates.

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory Responsibilities: None
• Key Working Relationships:
• Internal: MEAL, PCS, Head of Programmes
• External: Partner staff, relevant stakeholders.

Education and Experience

• Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations, Health Management is required.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 4 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Project management experience in health programming
• MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
• Able to communicate in English Language (speaking and written) is mandatory

Personal Skills:

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound judgments.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to write reports
• Proactive, results and service-oriented

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with the 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:

• List languages required to perform the job.

Desired Foreign Language:

• English

Travel:

• Include the percentage of required travel, if applicable. Could be stated as Must be willing and able to travel up to X %.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
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.