Project Officer Sr - State Team Lead 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.

The CORE Group Partnership Project (CGPP) is a multi-country, multi-partner initiative providing financial support, on-the-ground technical guidance and support to strengthen host country efforts to eradicate polio. The premise of this project is to work through existing networks of international and local NGOs with established child survival activities in high-risk areas of priority countries. A country-level Secretariat coordinates the work of CORE group members in a manner that complements the work of other implementing partners. The work of all CORE members is in support of the national action plan for polio eradication, 5-year health plans and consistent with national MDG and SDG goals. The CGPP harmonizes its work with other implementing partners by coordinating at the national, state and LGA/ward levels. CRS implements CGPP programming in Kaduna and Yobe states.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Officer Sr - State Team Lead

Job ID: 2200001Z
Location: Kaduna
Job Type: Full-time
Shift: Standard
Schedule: Regular
Job Level: Day Job
Job: Program Management
Travel: Yes, 75 % of the Time
Employee Status: Entry Level

Job Summary

• Under the guidance of the Program Manager, the State Team Lead (STL) will be responsible for all Program-related activities, including but not limited to monitoring progress on project indicators, program management, support M&E tools reviews, support tracking and monitoring of state M&E activities.
• She / he will ensure project target objectives are met, build healthy relationships for effective coordination and partnerships, and provide direct leadership to the Kaduna team.
• She / he will participate in all CGPP related events and activities, review and share weekly, monthly, and quarterly and annual Program-related reports on CGPP's project portfolios – Polio and Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) in Kaduna state.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Senior MEAL officer and state MEAL assistant to monitor all project indicators to ensure target achievement in the state.
• Ensure all program reports and other related reports in the state are written, collated, and reviewed to high-standard quality for submission to the donor.
• With guidance from the PM, supervise the partner CBO operations in the state.
• Provide direct mentoring, monitoring and supervision to the Community Based Organization (CBO) staff.
• Carry out monitoring and supportive supervisory visits to the various wards and settlements in the LGAs in which the project is implemented.
• Collaborate with CBO staff and community volunteers to ensure all program participants are tracked and followed.
• Engage with the CBO partner in the state to craft program strategies using the SIA calendar, annual and quarterly work plans, and quarterly reviews under the guidance of the PM.
• Ensure that all hard-to-reach settlements are covered during IPDs.
• Ensure full and active participation of the state team, including the partner CBO in all pre-IPD, IPD and post-IPD activities in the state.
• Analyze monthly LQAS reports and report back to the PM on the CGPP LGA(s).
• Provide technical support to the CBO staff to ensure high-quality social mobilization and other in-between round activities conducted by the volunteers.
• Support the volunteers to carry out community mobilization activities to facilitate demand creation for polio and GHSA services.
• Work closely with the CBOs, to support the community mobilization efforts by liaising with all co-actors in the state.
• Ensure adequate knowledge of the project portfolios MEL plan as specified by the donor are disseminated to the CBOs working closely with the Senior MEAL officer.
• Ensure the CBO partner understand program priorities and promote buy-in from partners in the state.
• Liaise with other state actors to ensure coordination and the implementation of Polio and GHSA activities.
• Act as the primary liaison between the project and the EOC and the state government (GoN) officials –to facilitate information sharing and networking.
• Attend all Kaduna State EOC meetings and any other meeting CGPP is invited to and promptly report the meetings' information.
• Ensure good coordination (with UNICEF) on community activities and service delivery at facilities.
• Build and maintain a high visibility profile for the CGPP program in the state among the relevant stakeholders – EOC, SMoH, UNICEF etc.
• Attend to other duties as assigned by the PM and or program's management.

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Program Manager, Senior MEAL officer, MEAL officers / Assistant, Project officers, Deputy Chief of Party, Deputy Country Representative, and Country program operations and finance team.
• External:  CGPP Secretariat, WHO, UNICEF, SPHCDA, NCDC, SOLINA Health, LGA PHC Team.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a Health discipline
• Minimum 5 years of experience with at least three years working in public health involving immunization programs and community-level work with significant program management responsibilities. Experience in polio programming will be an added advantage.
• Proven experience working with and through partner organizations, including working with the public sector
• Working knowledge of and experience with UN, USG or GF projects will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of the local terrain in Kaduna state will be an added advantage.
• Experience with and a demonstrated commitment to a community-based approach to development.
• Ability to interface with multiple stakeholders, representatives, and partners in a professional manner.
• Experience with participatory planning and evaluation methods is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to detect and report inconsistencies
• Excellent organizational skills with great attention to detail
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solution-oriented and results-oriented
• Ability to work collaboratively
• Ability to multitask and deliver work to tight deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with relevant donors' regulations is a plus.
• Proficient in Excel and experience with Word and PowerPoint. Knowledge of financial reporting software is a plus.
• Proficient in virtual platforms and hosting/participation in seamless virtual meetings.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Required Languages:

• English and the ability to speak Hausa will be an advantage

Travel:

• Must be willing and able to travel up to 75% and stay in difficult environments

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 fulfil his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results:

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship.

Application Closing Date
10th February, 2022.