Senior Project Officer – Emergency Health, Nutrition, and Cash Transfer

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 it welcomes individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to serving those in need. The agency's talent acquisition procedures reflect its dedication to protecting individuals from harm and ensuring a safe working environment for all employees.

Job Overview:
The Senior Project Officer – Emergency Health, Nutrition, and Cash Transfer will play a crucial role in the implementation of emergency health and nutrition programs, particularly focusing on child health and nutrition emergency response actions and Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) for vulnerable households. Reporting to the Health and Nutrition Sector lead, the officer will provide technical guidance, monitoring, and supervision to ensure quality implementation of these programs in Isiolo, while also supporting related interventions in Marsabit and Turkana Counties. The position requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including county health departments and technical working groups, to ensure effective coordination and information sharing. The officer will be responsible for capacity building, quality improvement, and reporting on program outcomes, making this role vital for the success of emergency health and nutrition initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Capacity Building: Provide technical leadership in implementing emergency child health and nutrition actions, build capacity of CRS staff and stakeholders on MPCA and related interventions, oversee health workforce strengthening on Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM), and participate in emergency coordination meetings.
• Supportive Supervision & Quality Improvement: Collaborate with local partners to ensure quality implementation of child health and nutrition responses, lead quality improvement initiatives, conduct field monitoring visits, and facilitate review meetings.
• County Government Engagement & Representation: Lead county engagement, represent CRS in various forums, develop dissemination materials, and advocate for sustainable support for emergency response actions.
• Reporting: Provide inputs for planning and reporting processes, prepare monthly progress reports, document project results, and lead data collection and analysis.
• Safeguarding: Sensitize teams on safeguarding policies, ensure compliance, and report incidents appropriately.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree, preferably in Nutrition, Public Health, Nursing, or Social Studies. A minimum of five years of professional experience is required, including at least two years managing IMAM or nutrition/public health programs. Expertise in emergency and humanitarian response in health and nutrition is essential, along with experience in monitoring, evaluation, and data collection. Proven ability to implement IMAM protocols and manage multisectoral nutrition projects is necessary, as well as strong interpersonal, analytical, negotiation, and mentoring skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite is required, and familiarity with network analysis software is an added advantage.

Educational Background:
A university degree in a relevant field such as Nutrition, Public Health, Nursing, or Social Studies is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate has the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage emergency health and nutrition programs.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of professional experience, with at least two years specifically in managing Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) and/or nutrition or public health programs. Candidates should have demonstrated expertise in emergency and humanitarian response in health and nutrition, along with experience in monitoring, evaluation, and coordinating assessments and data collection.

Languages:
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are mandatory, including the ability to draft and edit reports. Proficiency in Kiswahili is also required for effective communication within the local context.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Isiolo, with approximately 50% travel required to project sites in Marsabit and Turkana Counties. The role involves supervisory responsibilities over Project Officers in Marsabit. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and emphasizes a collaborative, mission-driven culture. The organization is committed to safeguarding individuals from abuse and exploitation, and candidates from marginalized backgrounds, including people with disabilities, are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will be subject to a comprehensive background check and must adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct.