Project Officer - Water Security at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) - Nigerian Nationals Only

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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Officer - Water Security

Job Identification: 3000276
Location: Yola, Adamawa
Employment Type: Full-time
Job Category: Program Management
Job Shift Day

Background

• For more than 10 years, the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) crisis - impacting the areas bordering Lake Chad in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon - has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, torn apart communities and families, constrained livelihood opportunities, destroyed infrastructure, and dismantled local government’s ability to respond to the needs of its citizens.
• To respond to the urgent resilience/recovery needs of the people affected by the LCB Crisis, CRS has initiated the Stabilization and Reconciliation in the Lake Chad Region (STaR) project, a 2-year, 10-million Euro program generously financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW (German Development Cooperation).
• In Nigeria, the STaR project will be implemented across Five Local Government Areas in Borno and Adamawa states and will be managed out of the STaR project office in Yola, Adamawa.
• Nigeria and El Salvador have been chosen as the two countries to implement the Osprey Foundation's 2-year project "Source Water Protection".
• The goal of this activity is to mainstream the SWP approach in all the agency's WASH interventions. For this reason, these two countries with very different socio-political-environmental contexts have been chosen, with the aim that the lessons learned from the project will help to generate tools to guide the implementation of SWP in different realities.
• The Osprey Foundation SWP project in Nigeria will leverage the experience and presence of the STaR project in Adamawa State.

Job Summary

• The Water Security Officer will be responsible for leading the SWP activities and identifying and managing the area of coordination with the social cohesion, infrastructure Engineers and governance team.
• The selected candidate is expected to have prior water and sanitation infrastructure construction oversight, quality assurance, reporting experience, contract administration of similar construction activity and coordination with local government and community-based organizations.
• The candidate will be based in the CRS Yola office, Adamawa State.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• The candidate will collaborate and work with STaR Project team.
• Lead and coordinates the needs of SWP activities to each component lead of the STaR project such as social and economic infrastructure, social cohesion, governance, and livelihood.
• Support and promote the collaborative alliance of different local stakeholders towards SWP including designing financial mechanisms.
• Provide technical support in the management of field operations in the selection of sites, including mapping the basin and the aquifer recharge area in each site.
• Evaluate and interpret hydrogeologic data and develop appropriate conclusions and recommendations, as well as prepare a detailed technical report to the CoP for efficient action plans.
• Provide guidance in incorporating restorative agriculture by introducing an innovative approach to farming that can restore the health and functionality of the soil, which is very important for water infiltration.
• Provide technical support in promoting dry composting latrines to avoid water pollution, which is one of the biggest problems faced by communities in terms of water security.
• Provide technical support for the planning, coordination, and monitoring of all SWP activities including its associated inter-connected sub-activities required to accomplish the SWP goals.
• Assist on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, in the writing and presentation of the operations and other technical reports as required by the Program Manager 11 for the overall management of the SWP activities.
• Explore opportunities within CRS for deepening the collaboration of the water & governance team with conflict management specialists. Take water issues as an approach to manage and overcome social conflicts.
• Participate in all team leads weekly meeting to coordinate and provides updates, challenges, and action plans.

Qualifications
Basic Qualifications (Education and Experience):

• Post-graduate level education in Hydrogeology / Civil and Water Engineering or another related field such as water management
• Professional Technical skills desired (certification)
• At least 5+ years of experience in the water and sanitation (WASH) sector, managing construction/WASH programs in underdeveloped/crisis contexts.
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, SPHERE and other international humanitarian WASH guidelines with a minimum of 2-3 years experience as a professional in an international NGO context, with a sound knowledge of WASH issues in crisis contexts
• Good anticipation, and planning skills, especially in changing work contexts.
• Problem-solving ability; able to enforce procedures
• Experience communicating in different cultural work environments & with a wide diversity of culture
• Experience in attending and contributing to meetings with government and other agencies
• Good communicator in English, Hausa or Fulfulde will be an added advantage.
• Ability to work with little or no supervision and attention to detail.
• Willingness and ability to travel to the field for program monitoring and supportive visits.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in Geophysical interpretation, Water quality testing, pumping test and database management
• Facilitation of coordination platforms and stakeholder engagement
• Worked with research projects and supported consultants in previous projects.
• Expertise in designing various water infrastructure facilities, planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting on borehole construction.

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.

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Deputy Country Representative Water Resource Engineer in HQ, CARO WaSH Technical Advisors, STaR Technical Advisors, other CRS Water Infrastructure Specialist(s), STaR Project component Leads, Yola Security Officer, Yola Finance / Grants Officer, Security Officer, Yola Procurement Assistant, Yola Admin / Logistics Assistant
• External: Government ministries departments and agencies, local and international NGOs, coordination platforms and working groups, community leaders, DOs, LDOs, LIPs, Sector Partners, working groups, UN agencies; Peer agencies (NGOs), WUAs / WMCs.

Required Languages:

• English, Hausa

Travel:

• Include percentage of required travel, if applicable. Could be stated as Must be willing and able to travel up to 60%.

Application Closing Date
18th January, 2023 (1PM).