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 assistance without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various areas including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, ensuring that all staff treat people with dignity and respect. The agency's mission is rooted in its values and guiding principles, which emphasize the importance of collaboration and community engagement in achieving its goals.

Job Overview:
The Senior Project Officer – Emergency Health, Nutrition, and Cash Transfer will play a pivotal 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 and support to ensure quality implementation of these programs in Isiolo, while also extending support to Marsabit and Turkana Counties. The position requires strong coordination with various stakeholders, including county health departments and technical working groups, to facilitate effective emergency response actions. The officer will be responsible for monitoring and supervising the implementation process, ensuring adherence to national guidelines, and fostering collaboration among partners to enhance program effectiveness.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Capacity Building: Provide technical leadership in emergency child health and nutrition actions, build the capacity of CRS staff and stakeholders on MPCA and related interventions, oversee the strengthening of the health workforce 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 emergency response actions, lead quality improvement initiatives, conduct field monitoring visits, and facilitate review meetings.
• County Government Engagement & Representation: Lead engagement with county stakeholders, represent CRS in various forums, advocate for sustainable support for emergency response actions, and develop dissemination materials for stakeholder meetings.
• Reporting: Provide inputs for planning and budgeting processes, prepare monthly progress reports, document project results, and lead data collection and analysis for informed decision-making.
• Safeguarding: Sensitize program teams on safeguarding policies, ensure compliance, and report any safeguarding incidents for appropriate action.

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 in 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 is required, with a preference for fields related to Nutrition, Public Health, Nursing, or Social Studies. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of health and nutrition interventions in emergency settings and for effectively managing related 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 a strong background in emergency and humanitarian response, with demonstrated experience in monitoring, evaluation, and coordinating assessments and data collection.

Languages:
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are mandatory, along with the ability to draft and edit reports. Proficiency in Kiswahili is also required, as effective communication with local stakeholders is essential for the role.

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 for Project Officers in Marsabit and requires strong collaboration with various internal and external stakeholders. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and emphasizes a collaborative, mission-driven culture focused on improving the lives of the poor. The organization is committed to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults, and expects successful candidates to adhere to its Code of Conduct.