Project Officer - WASH 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.

CRS has been supporting program activities in Nigeria for over 30 years and has long-standing relationships with Church and non-Church partners and communities throughout the country. The Nigeria country program has a diverse funding base with projects in health, nutrition, food security and agricultural livelihoods, microfinance (SILC), emergency response and peacebuilding. CRS/Nigeria currently has over 210 national and 8 international staff. With an FY22 annual budget of over USD $100 million, coupled with strong donor interest in supporting CRS’ work in the country, significant growth opportunities exist for the CP. The CP has been supporting emergency activities in the NE states since 2015 with offices in Damaturu, Maiduguri and Yola.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Officer - WASH

Job ID: 22000042
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Job Type: Full-time
Shift: Standard
Schedule: Regular
Job Level: Day Job
Travel: Yes, 50 % of the Time
Job: Program Management
Employee Status: Individual Contributor

Job Summary

• This will be a hands-on field engineer position under the leadership and guidance of the WASH Infrastructure Program Manager.
• S/he will be accountable for the technical contributions to WASH Infrastructure programming and construction project activities within the framework of the THRIVE program.

Roles and Key Responsibilities
Project Design and Implementation:

• Work with the Infrastructure PM to develop detailed, site-specific work plans to ensure adequate technical oversight of all Shelter and WASH interventions at the field-level
• Carry out field-level technical assessments and data analysis.
• Supervise field-level WASH infrastructure works related to the project (e.g. supervision of contractors, suppliers, Partner staff, local artisans, and construction supervisors
• Provide oversight of all construction administration activities for Shelter and WASH Infrastructure and provide certification reports for final completion and to initiate liquidations.
• Coordinate the safety and quality component of the construction sites being supervised under the THRIVE program.
• Contribute to the development of Bills of Quantities (BoQs), technical drawings, and tender documents.
• Perform regular technical monitoring at local construction material vendor shops contracted to engage in CASH Voucher Assistance (CVA) for the provision of shelter material ensuring households receive the specified quality materials.
• Provide technical support to construction supervisors, artisans and households during the redemption of material vouchers.

Security Management Responsibilities:

• Responsible of the day-to-day security management as it relates to program implementation.
• Abide by the security procedures and policies and report any breaches. Participate in personal safety training as required. Perform other relevant tasks as assigned.

Information Management / Reporting:

• Report the daily progress of works to the Infrastructure PM.
• Ensure that all WASH infrastructure data within the staff’s portfolio of sites is well managed and provides an accurate representation of the reality on the ground.
• Submit regular reports related to the project’s WASH infrastructure to team lead.

Capacity Building:

• Work closely with construction supervisors providing technical expertise related to the planned infrastructure works to be carried for Shelter and WASH, including but not limited to construction best practices and construction administration, water quality testing and treatment, and technical assessments.
• Support construction supervisors to utilize simple infrastructure monitoring tools and supervision of local artisans. (e.g. checklists).
• Support in trainings for ‘Community WASH Focal Points’ on WASH infrastructure monitoring, operations, and maintenance.
• Provide training support and follow-up guidance to local artisans implementing THRIVE construction projects.
• Review and highlight opportunities for Protection, safeguarding and Gender mainstreaming in the proposed sector activities and follow up to ensure, protection principles are integrated during activity design and implementation.

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Program Managers, Community Liaison Officer, Procurement Officers, Finance Officers, Administration Officers, Protection Officers, MEAL team
• External: Partner Staff (Including CMs and POs), Construction Supervisors, Contractors, Community Stakeholders, Community Based Committees, NFI Vendors.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Building Technology, Hydrogeology or equivalent field experience.
• Professional license is a plus.
• Minimum of four to six years’ experience in water supply and sanitation project supervision, or construction management, with a balanced awareness of how to effectively manage.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must possess ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability and desire to work well with diverse employees and customers in a cooperative and friendly manner.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with Cash Voucher Assistance Shelter and WASH programming.
• Experience engaging with and providing capacity strengthening of partner organizations.
• Experience training local artisans on carpentry and masonry technics.
• Experience in disaster risk reduction programming as related to multi-sectoral Shelter and WASH programming.

Required Languages:

• English, Hausa, Kanuri preferred.

Travel:

• Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%..

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.

Application Closing Date
1st March, 2022.