Senior Project Officer – Nutrition at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work are accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

In the eleventh year of the armed conflict in the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe(BAY), 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 to implement lifesaving multisectoral programming including cash transfer programming via e-vouchers; nutrition, protection, shelter/WASH and agriculture.

CRS is looking for a strong candidate with skills in nutrition to manage the designing, team management, coordination and implementation of CRS nutrition program in North-East Nigeria to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Project Officer – Nutrition

Job ID: 210000CF
Location: Borno
Employment Type: Full-time
Job: Program Management
Organization: Catholic Relief Services
Schedule: Regular
Shift: Standard
Employee Status: Entry Level
Job Level: Day Job
Travel: Yes, 50 % of the Time

Job Summary

• The Nutrition Project Manager (PM) is responsible for the overall management and technical direction of CRS nutrition programs targeting vulnerable IDPs and host communities in NE Nigeria. Reporting to the Nutrition and Protection Program Manager with accountability to the Nutrition Officers, and Nutrition Community Mobilizers, the Nutrition PM will undertake the following responsibilities related to project cycle management, technical direction, and program development:

Roles and Key Responsibilities
Technical / Administrative, Program Quality and Implementation:

• Ensure quality and timely field level implementation of the Nutrition program against set objectives, targets and work plans
• Advise and assist CRS nutrition team in developing project specific strategies, tools, systems and plans.
• Ensure that nutrition programs utilize international best practices, policies and guidelines, in line with Ministry of Health and WHO/UNICEF
• Oversee the collection and timely reporting of data and statistics for all nutrition programs in line with CRS guidelines and according to donor requirements
• Actively monitor programs/projects 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

Program Development and Strategic Planning:

• Contribute to and support in carrying-out the situation analysis for the nutrition sector to ensure timely and current data on maternal and child nutrition are available for the designing, development and management of nutrition projects.
• Identify opportunities for program and proposal development in line with the CRS’s and donor guidelines
• Participate in proposal writing and budget development processes for nutrition program
• Lead technical assessments as a basis for nutrition program development when necessary to monitor evolving needs of the target communities and adjust the programmatic priorities as necessary

Capacity Building and Supervision:

• Ensure the capacity building of CRS nutrition team and partner staff through on-job training, technical guidance and coaching sessions while ensuring staff performance evaluation plans are developed
• Ensure appropriate support to the nutrition team by regular field visits and provide targeted technical feedback
• Develop capacity building plans and strategies and identify relevant training opportunities for CRS and partner staff to advance knowledge and skills in nutrition.
• Monitor staffing needs and assist the recruitment of local staff and support staff development through mentoring to enhance the capacity of project and partner staff
• Develop a process for ensuring quality and safety of nutrition-related activities and products

Coordination and Representation:

• Represent CRS at nutrition sector working group meetings and coordination forums UN, international and national NGOs for nutrition coordination as needed at the LGA and state level
• Ensure good coordination with other CRS partners staff, nutrition field teams and provide frequent feedback and updates
• Develop new and manage existing relationships with key stakeholders and the potential collaborators for nutrition programs;

Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Nutrition, or related field
• 4 – 7 years of experience in nutrition program implementation with an international humanitarian NGO
• Experience with nutrition in emergencies (CMAM, IYCF-E, data collection), preferably in the North-East Nigeria context
• Experience in conducting nutrition assessments (SMART, KAP surveys) and an understanding of nutritional information systems
• Proven experience in project design and implementation, proposal-writing, budgeting and financial management in nutrition
• Strong understanding of the humanitarian emergency operating context, including Sphere, the humanitarian system, donors (USAID/BHA), security, and program management.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender-responsive programming.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communication skills.
• Team-oriented and strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to organize and prioritize a variety of initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

Behaviours:

• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behavior
• Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism/integrity
• Provides good and adequate administrative and logistical support to enable programmes to meet meets it’s agreed financial and program outcomes.
• Actively seeks for support in addressing difficulties in execution of duties.
• Strategic thinking and effective contribution to own work and Organizational development
• Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations
• Strong emotional intelligence including self-awareness.
• Leads by example to motivate high performance of others
• Very strong commitment to continuous learning

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (SKAs):

• Computer knowledge – Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook
• Strong command of both written and spoken English and knowledge of local language
• Solid analytical, writing skills, and communication skills.
• Sound knowledge and skills in training and facilitation.
• Team spirit and excellent interpersonal relations

Reporting:

• Support the development of field-based reports to CRS and/or external donors, as necessary
• Conduct any other programming responsibility delegated by the supervisor

Communications and Working Relationships:

• Working contacts inside and outside the organization; include the purpose and level (high, medium, low) of the contact.

Internal:

• Head of Office
• Emergency Coordinator
• Nutrition and Protection Manager
• Food Security and Livelihoods Manager
• WASH Manager
• 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

Required Languages:

• Well written and spoken English, Kanuri and Hausa.

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

What We Offer

• CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Application Closing Date
2nd July, 2021.