Program Officer at Helen Keller International (HKI)

Helen Keller International (HKI), established in 1915, is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States.

HKI implements integrated package of cost-effective interventions that are proven to improve maternal and child nutrition. HKI supports policies and programs on food fortification, vitamin A supplementation, infant and young child feeding, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, community-based management of acute malnutrition and prevention and treatment of neglected tropical diseases. At the core of HKI’s programs is advocacy and social behavior change communication to various stakeholders. HKI also undertakes cutting-edge research to influence policy decisions and inform program quality.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Officer

Location: Abuja

Scope of the Position

• The Program Officer will work in conjunction with the program manager and state program teams.
• S/He will be responsible for providing support for the effective and efficient implementation of project activities by ensuring strong administrative, logistical, and operational systems.
• The officer will support the development, implementation and monitoring of activities for the Live Saving Nutrition Project. 
• S/He will provide support in ensuring the achievement of project objectives and completion of activities while adhering to scope, budget, and schedule requirements.
• Responsibilities include organizing project start-up activities, managing the development and monitoring of implementation plans and program reporting and documentation.

Specific Responsibilities

• Support the development of work plans and track performance against project timelines, budget, objectives, and deliverables
• Support the development of project budgets and budget modifications, and monitor project expenditures to ensure activities are implemented within budgetary guidelines
• Support implementation teams to achieve timely, high-quality project deliverables and ensure they meet project objectives and donor requirements
• Provide technical support and assist in the implementation and coordination of program activities and M&E activities in the target states.
• Support the documentation and dissemination of project accomplishments, results, challenges, and lessons learned among internal and external partners. 
• Participate in the development of project Implementation Plan, training manual/curricula, and other various standard operational procedures (SoP).
• Assist in developing and monitoring annual work plans, program initiatives development
• Provide support as needed, the preparation and timely submission of detailed reports by the partners on project activities on a quarterly and annual basis in compliance with project requirements.
• Support the development of annual, quarterly donor, and government report writing including management and updates.
• Participate in project monitoring and supportive supervision of project sites, and communities.

Requirements
Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, International Development, or a related field. 

Experience:

• 2-3 years of professional experience working in similar position, preferably with direct experience in Nigeria; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Experienced and demonstrated success in coordinating activities with multiple stakeholders to optimize use of limited resources, including development of joint work plans. 
• Working knowledge of Microsoft software packages: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience working effectively in teams and cross-cultural settings
• Must possess excellent management, documentation, presentation, and written communication skills.
• Experience in cross-cultural work environment 
• Ability to work under pressure in fast-paced environment.

Competencies:

• Adaptable, creative, collaborative, and able to think strategically.
• Purpose-driven and outcome-focused - moving roadblocks, tackling difficult problems and action-oriented.
• Operate as a nimble learner - knowing personal strengths, weaknesses, and limits, has a growth mindset.
• Impeccable negotiation and problem-solving skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and rapport building.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to travel regularly to the project states (Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto) as needed.

Terms & Conditions:

• This is a local posting in Nigeria, and as such, is subject to local terms and conditions.

Application Closing Date
8th September, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: nigeria.recruitment@hki.org using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

Note: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.