Project Officer - Nigeria at Search For Common Ground’s International

Position Summary

• Supporting the Efforts of the Nigerian Government on Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) and promoting Disengagement, Disassociation, Reintegration and Reconciliation (DDRR) project aims to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Nigeria to develop and implement PVE and DDRR programming through the attainment of strengthened institutional capacities on PVE and DDRR programming of government officials at the federal and state levels, improved coordination of DDRR programming between the federal and state government levels, and enhanced communication and awareness on PVE and DDRR programming.
• A professional and highly motivated Project Officer will work in close collaboration with the Project lead to implement all the project activities.
• S/he will be responsible for effective organization and coordination of meetings and training workshops to strengthen institutional capacities of government officials in PVE and DDRR programming, support communication and awareness creation at the different sectors and levels of government, between government and civil society organizations for better understanding, inclusion and to contribute to sustainable peace and stabilization in the region, and other project activities as necessary.
• The Project Officer's expected outputs are geared towards supporting the delivery of outputs and outcomes of the project as a whole. S/he will closely support the line Manager in implementing project activities and the production of expected reports for the project.
• The Project officer will be responsible for assisting the line manager in project related activities, ensuring smooth operations of the project and consistency of project implementation with Search’s and donor regulations. 
• He/she shall ensure that the project’s plans are in place and kept updated as per the project’s overall objective. S/he will contribute to all reporting requirements of the project. 

Roles and Responsibilities

• Coordinate and arrange all logistics for various meetings, and workshops, including invitations, venue, participants travel and accommodation while working with the logistics team to ensure that logistical management for project implementation is provided in real time
• In collaboration with the line manager, facilitate the creation and implementation of a detailed annual work-plan, which identifies sequences of activities needed to successfully implement the project and ensure project objectives are met;
• In collaboration with key stakeholders, facilitate the development and roll-out of detailed implementation plans at the State and National level;
• Review the project schedule with the line Manager and all other staff that will be affected by the project activities; revise and regularly review the schedule as required;
• Document project activities and ensure that all project data is appropriately secured;
• Monitor the progress of the project implementation and make adjustments as necessary to ensure the project remains on track and is successfully implemented;
• Establish a communication schedule to update stakeholders including appropriate staff in the organization on the progress of the project.
• The Project Officer will document the program activities, the planning of different activities, under the supervision of the thematic experts.
• Liaise with government, civil society, security actors, donors, media, UN bodies, and the private sector as needed to further improve information in the reports. 

Program Communications:

• Liaise with the media team to enhance strategic communications and discussion to dispel rumours and tackle misinformation and misunderstanding related to DDRR and PVE.

Program Monitoring & Evaluation:

• In collaboration with M&E officer, assist with the implementation and development of Monitoring and Evaluation tools.

Documentation and Reporting:

• Produce activity and monthly reports
• Any other duties assigned by the line manager.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities. 

Educational Qualifications and Required Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Peacebuilding, Development Studies, Media & Communications or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• A good understanding of  and North Eastern region of Nigeria, particularly in terms of key political, social, security and economic issues 
• At least 3 years experience of project implementation, including engagement with several actors - governments, community, and religious leaders, civil society, governments, security organizations and specialist networks, etc.

Other Relevant Requirements:

• Resident in Abuja, speaks local language Hausa fluently
• Excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills and an ability to work in a non-partisan manner, appreciating gender, cultural and ethnic diversity
• Ability to work individually, but also with experience of working effectively as part of a team
• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively with attention to detail and an orderly approach to tasks
• Strong analytical skills, including drafting reports and briefings Superior written and oral communication skills in English. 
• Must have a ‘hands-on’, practical mentality, be self-driven, and very motivated
• Proficiency at using Microsoft office software: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc. is required
• Prior experience in advocacy, liaison and collaboration with donors, partners, security agencies, relevant government agencies, security forces and media is desirable.
• Experience working in a conflict (hard to reach) environment is a plus.

Other Relevant Competencies:

• Accountability: Being accountable and passing on accountability for one's own actions and those of colleagues and the organization. 
• Attention to detail: The ability to process detailed information effectively and consistently
• Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with others in order to achieve a shared goal - even when the object at stake is of no direct personal interest possibilities. 
• Creativity: The ability to come up with original and innovative ideas and solutions, to adopt points of view outside the usual parameters. 
• Focus on Quality: Setting high quality standards and striving for continuous improvement and quality assurance. 
• Learning Ability: The ability to absorb new information readily and to put it into practice effectively
• Adaptability: The ability to remain fully functional by adapting to changing circumstances (environment, procedures and people).