Project Officers at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

JOB DESCRIPTION

• As a member of the Advancing Cross-border Resilience and Opportunities for Safety and Stability (ACROSS) Project team, you will monitor and report on all Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) project activities in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles And Key Responsibilities

• 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.
• Monitor and report on any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per the established reporting schedule.
• Collect information on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Complete project documentation for assigned activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.

Required Languages - English is required. Knowledge of Hausa as a second language is appreciated.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Proficient in using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• 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 detail, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent training and facilitation skills, including experience with participatory methods and partnerships

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in monitoring projects and collecting relevant data is preferred.
• Experience in the field of social cohesion, savings, and loan programs within an NGO would be a plus.
• Experience of working with local partners (capacity building)

Supervisory Responsibilities: none
Key Working Relationships

Internal: MEAL Officer and Infrastructure Officer, Economic Development Officer, Social Cohesion and Governance SPO, and PM II

External: SILC Officers from NEYIF,Field Agents,Government officials (MDAs), desk offices, local and international NGOs, coordination platforms and working groups, community leaders

Qualifications
Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business management, Cooperative Management, Agricultural Economics, or Development Studies.
• Minimum three years of work experience in project support, including development or savings and loans programs, income generation, and livelihoods.
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.

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Job Summary:

• As a support lead for the infrastructure component of the Advancing Cross-border Resilience and Opportunities for Safety and Security (ACROSS) Project in Nigeria, you will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting all Productive and Social Infrastructure component project activities and providing technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the ACROSS project in Nigeria applies best practices and continually works towards improving the impact of its benefits on those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Support and coordinate all Infrastructure development projects as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. Additionally, Complete project documentation for assigned activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.
• Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Support working relationships with all local project stakeholders (at community level, INGO/NGO, and government) and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact. In the process, supervise and perform ad-hoc inspections of various processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures. Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with, and assistance to the implementing partner.
• Produce technical designs and drawings, structural plans, and bills of quantities for infrastructure projects proposed in the ACROSS project or hire relevant technical specialists to ensure quality. Prepare indicative budgets for all infrastructure works designed.
• Work closely with other relevant project staff to design the Cash-for-Work protocol following community and LGA-level assessments. Work closely with community leaders to identify both skilled and unskilled CFW beneficiaries. Oversee the training of CFW beneficiaries.
• Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per the established reporting schedule. 
• Collect information on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.

Required Languages - English and Hausa

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 75 %.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Observation, active listening, and analysis skills with the ability to make sound judgments.
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members.
• Attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience in monitoring projects and collecting relevant data is preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Familiarity with GIS and GPS technology and Knowledge of CommCare will be added advantages.
• Hands-on experience in development, construction designs/drawings, structural designs, and bills of quantities. Also demonstrated experience using engineering design software for construction or water works (AutoCAD, EPANET, Autodesk Revit, etc.).

Supervisory Responsibilities: none

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Program Manager II - ACROSS, Infrastructure Technical Advisor II, Infrastructure Senior Project Officer, ACROSS Supply Chain Manager, MEAL Manager, MEAL Snr Officer, Gender Snr Officer, Component Leads.
• External: Government ministries departments and agencies (MDAs), local and international NGOs, coordination platforms and working groups, community leaders.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree is required. A degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, or Building, or in the field of Construction management would be a plus.
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in project support, ideally in the field of Construction /Infrastructure management, and two years of experience in developing and implementing infrastructure or community infrastructure projects for development organizations/ an NGO.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Being registered with professional regulatory bodies or institutions in engineering, construction, or architecture (such as COREN, NSE, NIA, ARCON, COBON, etc.) is an advantage.