Project Officer - Nutrition at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job ID: 210000J8
Job: Program Management
Schedule: Regular
Shift: Standard
Employee Status: Individual Contributor
Job Type: Full-time
Job Level: Day Job

Background

• In the eleventh year of the armed conflict in the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, Borno remains the most crisis-affected without a clear end in sight.  Vulnerable people continue to suffer from acute humanitarian needs, displacement, and threats of violence further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.  
• Conflict, explosive remnants of war and insecurity have cut people off from their main means of livelihoods—farming and fishing. The COVID-19 pandemic both deepens humanitarian needs and complicates the response.
• The consequent impairment of livelihoods cascades down to loss of income and buying power, with acute effects on the already-vulnerable and food-insecure.  Given the unfolding large-scale emergency in Borno state, north-east Nigeria, CRS continues implement lifesaving multisectoral programming including cash transfer programming via e-vouchers; nutrition, protection, shelter/WASH and agriculture.
• CRS is looking for the strong candidate with skills in nutrition to manage the designing, team management, coordination and implementation of CRS nutrition program in Northeast Nigeria.

Job Summary

• The Nutrition project officer will be responsible for the overall management of the day-to-day activities of nutrition program in assigned locations.
• The Nutrition Officer with support from the Senior Project Officer- Nutrition will undertake the following responsibilities related to project cycle management, technical direction, and field activities implementation.

Roles and Key Responsibilities
Program Support:

• Support field level technical assessments in coordination plan and organize CRS community led supplementary program in project locations sites in liaison with Nutrition Manager
• Supervise and Support nutrition partner officers, to ensure all aspects of the program are understood and implemented according to stipulated standards
• Ensure quality engagement of community leaders / their delegates for the organization of beneficiaries in each project location.
• Carry out weekly supervisory visits to all project locations assigned
• Ensure adequate availability of food and material supplies for distribution in all project locations and share monthly distribution plan with the Nutrition Manager
• Submit weekly field data and report to the Nutrition Manager
• Report any progress and any problems in a timely manner
• Ensure effective follow ups on beneficiaries in all project locations.
• Identify gaps and present plans for capacity building to inform effective programing
• Attend regular nutrition meetings and assist in any other tasks when required
• Respect the dignity and culture of beneficiaries and other members of the community
• Ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct.
• Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule
• 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.
• Identifying information for case studies for reports on program successes and learning
• Capacity building.
• Identify learning and training opportunities for partner staff and communicate this to the Senior Nutrition Officer.
• Ensure all partner officers are familiar with their responsibilities and up to date on any changes
• Coordinate project evaluation activities and assist partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data as per specified tools.

Required Languages:

• Well written and spoken English, Kanuri and Hausa.

Travel:

• Must be willing and able to travel up to 75 %.

Communications and Working Relationships:

• Consult the Senior Nutrition Project Officer in all decision process.
• Timely updates to Senior Nutrition Project Officer on program data and activities
• Collaborate with other nutrition team members
• Establish and maintain good communication with partner officers

 Key Working Relationships

• Internal: Head of Office, Emergency Coordinator, Nutrition and Protection Manager, Senior Nutrition Project Officer, Accountability Officers, Visiting National Offices, Partners and staff (Enumerators, Contractors, Volunteers, Consultants, Vendors), Other CRS staff, GBV/Protection Officer.
• External: International/national and state institutions, agencies, clusters, patners and donors, Children and their families, Parents and other members of the communities, Other partners.

Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:

• B.Sc. Degree in Nutrition / Public Health / BSc or equivalent
• A minimum of 4 years’ experience in implementation of nutrition programs, including CMAM especially SFP and/or IYCF preferably in an International or Local NGO.
• Experience in conducting nutrition assessments and an understanding of nutritional surveillance and information systems
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathize with all beneficiaries
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions
• Demonstrable ability at report writing
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 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

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