Project Officer at VSO Nigeria (4 Positions - Abaji)

VSO is the world's leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. Our high-impact approach brings people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action to change lives and make the world a fairer place.

VSO Nigeria is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and competent person to fill the position of:

Job Title: Project Officer

Location: Abaji
Slot: 4

Role Overview

• VSO Nigeria is looking to recruit 4 young experienced, skilled and efficient Project Officers to provide programmatic and administrative support to the ICS Programme. This position will be based in Lagos, Kwara, Osun and Abuja. Each PO will report to the Youth Programmes Officer in-charge of each location.
• The persons will be responsible for volunteer support, facilitation, relationship management and partnership working, programme development support, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and budget management specific to the ICS programme.
• With considerable experience of working with young people in an international development context, the Project Officer will be responsible for supporting a pair of volunteer Team Leaders (TL) to provide pastoral support to a team of UK & In-Country volunteers, and facilitate learning for TL and volunteers during their placements.

Role Purpose

• With considerable experience of working with young people in an international development context, the project supervisor will be responsible for supporting a pair of volunteer Team leaders to provide pastoral support to a team of UK & In-Country volunteers, and facilitating learning for TL and Volunteers during their placements.

Responsibilities

Volunteer Support

• Working under supervision of Youth Programmes Officer (YPO) to provide adequate support and supervision of volunteers throughout the programme. Promoting and encouraging appropriate behaviour and ensuring compliance with safety and security policies.

Facilitation

• Promoting learning amongst volunteers TL's and ICS volunteers on global, cross cultural and intercultural issues through the delivery of training and learning tools and supporting youth led and onplacement training throughout the programme.

Relationship management and partnership working

• Work effectively with YPO and act as a representative of VSO Nigeria and partners at all times. Support host home and placement organization hosting volunteers with promoting learning, cross-cultural engagement and relationship building.

Programme Development Support

• Assist Youth Programmes Manager, YPO and partners with programme design and identifying appropriate stakeholders and partners for programme delivery as and when required.

Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation

• To update project stakeholders on project progress, including the reporting of medical and safety and security incidents. To gather data and produce a project report in accordance with the programme M&E framework. Support volunteers to produce case studies capturing impact

Budget Management

• Together with counterpart project  supervisor manage the project budget, submitting monthly reports to the partner and country office.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Volunteer TL's receive at least one pre-departure session with PS to set personal development goals.
• Volunteers TL's receive minimum of three face to face supervisions sessions for support with adapting and working effectively on the programme.
• Safety and security briefings received and action taken when protocols breached.
• Volunteer TL's and ICS volunteers receive incountry training and support to deliver youth-led training and learning activities throughout the programme.
• Volunteer feedback on learning materials and support for learning received.
• Volunteer and line manager feedback indicates PO's relationship with partner and IV's and Host communities is a model of good practice.
• Minimum of 3 supervision sessions to discuss performance with line manager.
• Stakeholder feedback indicates relationships well managed.
• Programme planning incorporates PO's feedback and contributions
• Host home and placements established with PO's support
• Programme briefing information for volunteers reflects PS inputs.
• Project report submitted in accordance with ICS M&E framework.
• Incident reports submitted to country office and Medical Unit where appropriate.
• Programme stakeholders receive regular updates.
• Monthly reconciliation reports submitted.
• Project comes in within budget.

Skills and Knowledge
Essential:
Youth Work:

• Proven experience of working with and providing support to 18-25 year olds from a wide range of backgrounds with proven ability to facilitate learning in a non-formal environment.

Cross-Cultural Working:

• Direct and substantial experience of working cross-culturally and able to communicate to a range of audiences and promote sharing and learning between cultures.

International Development:

• Knowledge of issues which are common to communities in developing countries, possibly achieved through working or living in a developing country. Experience of promoting learning about development issues.

Communication:

• Possession of strong verbal communication skills to work effectively and inclusively with an overseas colleague.
• Strong written communication skills needed for writing reports.

Supervision:

• Significant experience of working in a supervisory role. Proven ability to promote self-awareness, learning and development among individuals.

Planning and Organizing:

• Able to develop clear and realistic plans to deliver agreed objectives within deadlines, involving key individuals in the planning process.

Desirable
Budget Management:

• Experience of managing budgets and undertaking accounting procedures.

Volunteering:

• Sufficient experience of working with volunteers to understand the key factors which make volunteer placements viable, effective and rewarding.

Programme Design and Evaluation:

• Experience of designing and evaluating youth programmes in an international context. Experience of using monitoring and evaluation tools and processes.

Competencies:
The following are taken from VSO's competency framework:

Working together - Strength:

• Successfully leads teams and develops others team-working skills

Communications and influencing - Adds Value:

• Proactively builds relationships and generates effective discussion and mutual support for plans and ideas.

Managing Knowledge - Adds Value:

• Proactively seeks out new knowledge sources (people and data); uses and shares knowledge effectively

Striving for excellence - Adds Value:

• Sets and measures challenging objectives for self and others; gives evidence-based feedback that helps others to excel.

Managing Resources:

• Adds Value Organises own and others' work to meet objectives; clarifies accountability of roles; allocates budget wisely; seeks ways to generate and save money.

Managing People- Aware:

• Spends VSO's money responsibly; organizes own work to meet objectives on time.

Developing People:

• Strength Gives constructive feedback that helps others identify and meet development needs.

Leading for the Future:

• Adds Value Actively promotes VSO's work and values; recognises others' success; generates and implements new ideas.

Thinking Strategically:

• Adds Value Makes decisions based on a range of internal and external factors and longterm impact; consults widely across disciplines.

Delivering Results - Aware:

• Spends VSO's money responsibly; organizes own work to meet objectives on time.

Managing People - Aware:

• Requests and follow up on appropriate support from others; raises concerns about uncooperative colleagues in an appropriate way.

Developing people - Adds Value:

• Helps team members to create and implement clear development plans that meet their own short and long term needs.

Leading for the future - Aware:

• Is enthusiastic about VSO's work, lives VSO's values and is open to new ideas

Thinking strategically - Aware:

• Understands the context of own role; considers impact of own work on others.

Delivering results - Adds Value:

• Analyses objectives, considers options, plans and manages appropriately; holds self and team accountable for achieving goals.

Application Closing Date
30th July, 2014.

Interview/Assessment date(s)
12th August, 2014.

Start Date
1st September, 2014.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here to download the job description in PDF format