Project Officer, Sr. Social Cohesion and Governance Capacity Strengthening

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 assistance 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 it welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to serving those in need. The agency's work culture is collaborative and mission-driven, aimed at improving the lives of the poor globally. CRS has a strong emphasis on safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring the dignity and rights of all individuals involved in its programs are respected and protected.

Job Overview:
The Project Officer for Social Cohesion and Governance Capacity Strengthening will lead the implementation of the ACROSS Project, which aims to enhance social cohesion and local governance in Nigeria. This role involves coordinating project activities, providing technical guidance, and ensuring that the project adheres to best practices and donor requirements. The Project Officer will be responsible for relationship management with local stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and collaboration to mobilize local actors for project success. The position requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and a commitment to improving the impact of project benefits for vulnerable populations. The Project Officer will also oversee project evaluations, analyze implementation challenges, and support capacity building for local government structures and leaders. This role is crucial for ensuring that project activities are executed in line with established guidelines and standards, ultimately contributing to the project's objectives of enhancing safety and stability in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Officer will organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities related to social cohesion and local governance capacity strengthening. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and executing detailed implementation plans in accordance with CRS program quality principles and standards.
• Ensuring that learning is integrated into project activities throughout the project cycle.
• Coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in reflecting on project experiences.
• Analyzing implementation challenges and reporting inconsistencies to inform adjustments to plans.
• Managing relationships with local stakeholders and serving as a liaison between them and the project team.
• Supervising and conducting inspections at project sites to ensure adherence to process standards.
• Tracking resource use through periodic budget reviews and assisting implementing partners.
• Supporting capacity building for local government structures and leaders, including developing training materials and technical manuals.
• Coordinating stakeholder engagement in violence prevention and community-led conflict resolution initiatives. 1
• Ensuring complete project documentation for all activities and preparing trend analysis reports and case studies.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound judgments. Good relationship management skills are essential, as the role requires close collaboration with local partners. The ideal candidate should be proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented, with a keen attention to detail and accuracy in executing responsibilities. Preferred qualifications include experience in participatory action planning, community engagement, and project monitoring. Familiarity with MS Windows and MS Office applications is necessary, along with knowledge of technological tools applicable to gender and protection. Experience in Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest region, is advantageous, and staff supervision experience is a plus.

Educational Background:
A bachelor’s degree in international relations, political science, public administration, or a relevant field is required. This educational background will provide the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of governance and social cohesion in the context of humanitarian work.

Experience:
A minimum of four years of work experience in project support is required, ideally in the field of local governance capacity strengthening and within an NGO context. This experience should demonstrate the candidate's ability to manage projects effectively and engage with various stakeholders.

Languages:
English is the mandatory language for this position. Knowledge of Hausa as a second language is appreciated and would be beneficial for engaging with local communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position requires a willingness to travel up to 60% of the time, which may involve visiting project sites and engaging with local partners. The role does not have supervisory responsibilities but requires strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. The work culture at CRS is collaborative and mission-driven, focused on improving the lives of the poor globally. Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Nigeria, and the recruitment process will prioritize citizens or permanent residents of the country.