Environmental, Social and Health Safety Officer 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 is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS’ Nigeria office is implementing a 2-year, Germany government project entitled, “Stabilization and Reconciliation in the Lake Chad Region (STaR)” in the North East of Nigeria. Through programming in agriculture & livelihoods, social cohesion, community infrastructure and local governance, the project is intended to contribute to the stabilization and reconciliation in the most affected regions of the Lake Chad Basin namely Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in Nigeria, Diffa in Niger and, the Lake Region in Chad.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Environmental, Social and Health Safety Officer

Job Code: 200000L8
Location: Adamawa
Shift: Standard
Schedule: Regular
Job Type: Full-time
Job Level: Day Job
Travel: Yes, 75 % of the Time
Job: Program Management
Organization: Catholic Relief Services
Employee Status: Individual Contributor

Job Summary

• As Environmental, Social, Health and Safety Officer, you will be responsible for leading the implementation of the STaR Project’s Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Social Infrastructures.
• As an ESHS Officer, you will manage technical guidelines and means of verification, handle a grievance and feedback mechanism, design and provide training, and coordinate with communities, construction companies, project staff, and implementing partner(s).
• Your management, coordination and communication skills will ensure that the infrastructure component of the STaR project applies best environmental, social health and safety practices; and works constantly to improve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities
Project Implementation and Technical Support:

Under the direct authority of the Infrastructure Manager, the ESHS Officer is responsible to:

• Organize, adapt and lead the implementation of the STaR Project’s Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) with the STaR project team, including Local Government Authority desk officer, community based operation and maintenance committee, assuring CRS program quality standards, donor requirements and good practices.
• Ensure the implementation of mitigation, management and improvement measures of the ESMP, through exhaustive monitoring and verification of these measures, as well as the establishment of the necessary control procedures (inspections, reports, reviews, interviews, etc.).
• Coordinate and communicate with stakeholders of the Environment, Social Health and Safety component of the STaR project; and facilitate the participation and understanding of local actors, especially contractors, project staff and partners in order to effectively implement the component's actions.
• The specific objectives of the ESMP to be managed by the ESHS Officer are:
  • Reduction of occupational health and safety risk on construction sites, and compliance with labor rights.
  • Reduction of ambient air pollution emissions due to construction works
  • Limit noise and vibration at construction sites caused by equipment and construction works
  • Ensure the efficient and safe use of traffic and transportation in construction sites.
  • Reduce the impact of the construction works on the soil and groundwater, ensuring appropriate waste management and good soil handling practices.
  • Manage the efficient use of water and reduce the risks derived from rain and water bodies.
• Limit the impacts of the work on flora, fauna and cultural heritage, and
• Manage the socio-economic impacts of the construction works in the targeted communities.
• Own the Grievance and Feedback Mechanism in relation to Construction works and responsible for implementation, continuous improvement and monitoring thereof.
• Manage the Grievance and Feedback Mechanism system for the infrastructure component of the STaR project. Ensure the collection of grievances, timely recording and handling, and appropriate responses to the reporters, in coordination with STaR Project MEAL Officer, STaR Feedback Desk Officer, and the STaR Project Manager, among other key staff.
• Lead and develop capacity building, learning, and technical support activities to ensure that Environment, Social, Health and Safety activities are implemented according to project and donor guidelines and standards.
• Analyze and report on any difficulties in the implementation of activities, to better guide adjustments to plans, schedules, and implementation approaches.
• Coordinate any logistical and administrative requirements for component staff and implementing partners.
• Verify that the Environment, Health and Safety documentation is complete, with all required documents, and filed according to agency and funder requirements.
• Ensure the preparation of periodic reports, documentation, in close collaboration with other team members, particularly with the MEAL department.
• Develop productive working relationships with other STaR team members and supervisors for project implementation.
• Conduct supervision and monitoring missions in the field to ensure the proper implementation of activities.
• Carry out all tasks within the area of his/her competence that the line manager may assign you in the framework of project activities and specifically in the framework of community infrastructures construction.

Coordination and Representation:

• Work closely with other STaR and CRS staff to liaise with community members, including displaced communities to ensure accountability of infrastructure projects.
• Ensure representation of the community with CRS STaR leadership and vice versa including liaison with the construction contractor to beneficiary satisfaction.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL):

• In coordination with the MEAL Officer, ensure timely, quality capturing of MEAL data on grievance mechanism as it relates to Infrastructure component and other components as received.
• Provide regular support to Infrastructure Manager (using standardized formats) and provide weekly, monthly and quarterly reporting on environmental, social health and safety of the project beneficiaries to the STaR leadership.
• Contribute to ensuring accountability to project beneficiaries and local stakeholders

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Infrastructure Officer(s), Infrastructure Manager, STaR Program Manager, MEAL Officer, Feedback Desk Officer, and Yobe Head of Office.
• External: STaR project Implementing partners, LGA officials, Ward/Village Development committees, Community leaders, and Government Ministries Departments and Agencies and Construction companies.

Qualifications
Basic Qualifications

• Higher National Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or any relevant environmental fields.
• 5 years of significant experience in the implementation and monitoring of community infrastructure works, particularly managing health, safety, environmental and social risk mitigation measures on construction sites, is required.

Required Languages - English, Hausa:

• Travel - Must be willing to travel up to 75 %.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Attention to detail, precision and punctuality in carrying out your assigned responsibilities; Mastery of priority management and strong ability to work in a team.
• Possess excellent interpersonal, intercultural and professional communication skills, both oral and written in English. Fluency in relevant local language(s) especially Hausa is mandatory
• Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills, with an ability to see the big picture and use good judgement.
• Gender-sensitive.
• Ability to work closely with, understand and support local partners.
• Have a sense of initiative, responsibility and creativity, ability to find solutions to problems.

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
Not Specified.