Project Officer - Natural Resource Management

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to serve the poor and vulnerable, CRS operates in over 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 candidates from diverse backgrounds who share its values and commitment to service.

Job Overview:
The Project Officer for Natural Resource Management will play a crucial role in the Tudituale project team, focusing on monitoring and reporting all activities related to Natural Resource Management. This position is essential in ensuring that the project adheres to best practices and continuously improves its impact on the communities served. The officer will coordinate and implement activities in the assigned health zones, ensuring compliance with CRS program quality standards, donor requirements, and best practices in natural resource management. The role requires a proactive approach to identifying challenges and gaps, facilitating training, and supporting partners in data collection and analysis to enhance project accountability and effectiveness.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the coordination and implementation of all Natural Resource Management activities in the assigned health zones as outlined in the detailed implementation plan.
• Monitor and report on challenges or gaps identified, including safeguarding issues and the needs for supplies and tools for partners.
• Assist partners in reflecting on project experiences and support accountability through analysis and documentation of project actions.
• Collaborate with local partners to analyze, document, and prepare reports according to established timelines.
• Gather information on capacity-building needs and provide technical assistance to partner organizations and communities.
• Organize and facilitate training for trainers and support project staff and community agents to ensure effective impact.
• Complete project documentation for assigned activities and identify information for case studies and success stories.
• Supervise environmental impact assessments and mitigation plans related to project activities.
• Oversee participatory community processes related to inclusive natural resource management needs. 1
• Contribute to the design of appropriate and inclusive training tools and materials for community resource management.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong observational, active listening, and analytical skills with the ability to make informed judgments.
• Excellent relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members.
• Attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-focused mindset.
• Preferred qualifications include experience in participatory action planning and community engagement, project monitoring, and relevant data collection.
• Experience in supervising planning and management activities related to natural resources is advantageous.
• Proficiency in MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Educational Background:
A minimum of a graduate degree is required, with a preference for a Bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management, Agronomy, Rural Development, or a related field. Equivalent qualifications may also be considered. Candidates with additional relevant experience may substitute for certain educational requirements.

Experience:
At least 2 years of work experience in project support is required. Experience in natural resource management and agriculture within an NGO context is a plus. Additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.

Languages:
Fluency in French (written and spoken) is required, along with proficiency in local languages of Kasai Central. English language skills are considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in one of the health zones of Lubondaie, Yangala, and Maswika (Kasai Central), with over 80% of work time spent in the field. The role does not involve supervisory responsibilities. Key working relationships include internal teams such as project implementation teams, program leadership, and external stakeholders including financial institutions, government structures, community members, and humanitarian actors. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates.