Senior Project Officer MEAL

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to save, protect, and transform lives in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing relief and development services without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds who share its values and commitment to serving those in need.

Job Overview:
The Senior Project Officer MEAL will serve as the County Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Lead for the project, responsible for coordinating and overseeing the implementation of the project MEAL system in the assigned county. This role is crucial for advancing CRS's mission to serve the poor and vulnerable. The officer will work under the technical leadership of the Program Manager - MEAL, leading county-level monitoring, data management, quality assurance, accountability, learning, and reporting. The position requires collaboration with county project leadership, implementing partners, government counterparts, community representatives, and relevant technical and operations teams to ensure high-quality delivery of food assistance, food for assets, and nutrition-related project activities. The officer will ensure that reliable performance information and participant feedback inform timely decisions, corrective actions, and continuous improvement in project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• County MEAL Planning and Performance Monitoring: Lead and coordinate implementation of county-level MEAL activities in line with project implementation plans, CRS program quality standards, donor requirements, and established best practices. Coordinate the collection, validation, consolidation, and analysis of performance data from CRS and implementing partners, ensuring accurate and timely reporting. Monitor progress against approved indicators, targets, and milestones, identify gaps and risks, and communicate findings and corrective actions to the Program Manager - MEAL and county leadership. Support county teams and partners in the consistent application of approved indicators, tools, methodologies, data collection processes, and reporting requirements to ensure data quality and program performance.
• Data Management, Digital Systems and Data Quality: Oversee county-level data management processes, including data entry, cleaning, validation, storage, analysis, reporting, and maintenance of indicator tracking tools, databases, dashboards, and supporting documentation. Manage the effective use of digital MEAL systems, including participant registration and verification, QR-coded participant tracking, commodity and food distribution monitoring, accountability mechanisms, and performance reporting systems. Conduct routine data quality checks, verifications, and assessments, monitor resolution of identified issues, and ensure compliance with data quality standards. Collaborate with MIS, Digital Programming/ICT4D, accountability, supply chain, and compliance teams to address system, device, and data flow challenges.
• Field Monitoring, Accountability and Corrective Action: Lead and coordinate risk-based field monitoring, spot checks, verification visits, and routine monitoring activities across project sites. Support the implementation of accessible and responsive Feedback, Complaints and Response Mechanisms (FCRM). Ensure monitoring findings, observations, post-distribution monitoring results, and verification outcomes are documented and communicated.
• Learning, Assessments, Reporting and Resource Coordination: Lead county-level learning and reflection processes using monitoring findings, performance data, participant feedback, and contextual insights. Support the implementation of baselines, endlines, assessments, surveys, and learning studies. Ensure timely submission of accurate and validated county MEAL data and reports. Document and share lessons learned, promising practices, and case studies.
• Partner Coordination, Capacity Strengthening and Team Supervision: Build and maintain effective relationships with implementing partners, county government counterparts, community representatives, and other stakeholders. Coordinate county-level MEAL priorities and promote consistent application of approved indicators, tools, data quality standards, and reporting requirements. Assess and strengthen MEAL capacity through training, coaching, and technical support. Supervise county MEAL staff and coordinate temporary enumerators and other short-term personnel.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Statistics, International Development, Public Health, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security, Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field. Additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of some educational requirements. Candidates should have a minimum of four years of NGO experience in MEAL, with demonstrated expertise in indicator tracking, routine monitoring, data management and analysis, reporting, and data quality assurance. Proven experience using digital MEAL and information management systems is essential, as well as experience supporting assessments, surveys, baselines, endlines, evaluations, and other learning initiatives. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to work with implementing partners and communities, strengthen MEAL capacity through training and coaching, and supervise staff, enumerators, or data collection teams.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Statistics, International Development, Public Health, Food Security, Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field is required. A Master’s Degree in a relevant field is preferred and may enhance the candidate's qualifications.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of four years of relevant experience in the NGO sector, specifically in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL). Experience in food assistance, food for assets, nutrition, resilience, or humanitarian programming is highly desirable. Familiarity with working in arid and semi-arid contexts, particularly in Marsabit, is preferred. Experience with institutional donor-funded programming, especially in food security, nutrition, resilience, or humanitarian assistance, is also advantageous.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, and proficiency in at least one local language is required. This linguistic capability is essential for effective communication with local communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position requires the candidate to be willing and able to travel up to 60%, with regular travel to project implementation locations in Marsabit and Turkana. The role involves supervisory responsibilities over project officer accountability in Marsabit. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and emphasizes a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor. The organization prioritizes candidates from marginalized backgrounds and those with disabilities. The recruitment process is free of charge, and candidates are advised to be cautious of any agency or individual claiming to represent CRS for a fee.