Project Officer – Integrated Health

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 worldwide. The organization is committed to serving the poor and vulnerable without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS's work encompasses various sectors, including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The agency fosters a collaborative, mission-driven culture and welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values. CRS is dedicated to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, ensuring that its processes and policies reflect this commitment. The organization prioritizes hiring candidates from the regions in which it operates, and its talent acquisition procedures emphasize the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly those most at risk.

Job Overview:
The Project Officer – Integrated Health plays a crucial role in the CORE Group Partnership Project (CGPP) team, focusing on monitoring and reporting project activities that align with Catholic Relief Services' mission to serve the poor and vulnerable. This position is primarily responsible for supporting the planning, implementation, and monitoring of integrated health interventions in Yobe State, which include Nutrition, Maternal and Child Health, Global Health security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security, and Polio initiatives. The Project Officer will work under the supervision of the Senior Project Officer and collaborate with state teams, partners, and community organizations to ensure the delivery of high-quality, community-centered health services. The role also involves contributing to routine immunization efforts, supplemental health activities, disease surveillance, and program reporting, as well as assisting with capacity building and partner engagement to enhance health outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Officer will coordinate and implement assigned project activities in Yobe State, adhering to the detailed implementation plan, CRS program quality standards, donor requirements, and established best practices. Key responsibilities include monitoring project progress, identifying challenges or gaps, and reporting findings to facilitate timely adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. The officer will support partners in reflecting on project experiences to improve outcomes and facilitate project evaluation activities in collaboration with partners, ensuring data collection and analysis are conducted using specified mechanisms and tools. Additionally, the Project Officer will assist in preparing reports according to the established reporting schedule, assess the capacity needs of staff and partner organizations, and monitor the delivery of technical support and capacity-building activities. The role also involves consolidating project documentation, including case studies, best practices, lessons learned, success stories, and challenges from the field for assigned activities. The officer will support the rollout and implementation of integrated health interventions, including health communication and social and behavior change communication (SBCC) activities at both community and facility levels, ensuring alignment with project work plans. Building the capacity of community health workers (CHWs), volunteers, and facility staff through training and technical support on integrated health messaging, maternal and child health, reproductive health, immunization, nutrition, and surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) is also a critical aspect of this role. The Project Officer will conduct regular field visits to monitor program quality, service delivery, and adherence to national health protocols, organizational policies, and donor requirements, while also supporting community-based organization (CBO) partners in developing work plans and detailed implementation plans under the guidance of the Senior Project Officer.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to public health, Nursing, Nutrition, Midwifery, or a related discipline. A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities is required, ideally within an international NGO context, including at least 3 years of experience supporting development projects. A background in participatory action planning, health programming, and community engagement is essential. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate proficiency in MS Windows and MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), along with strong observation, active listening, and analytical skills. Effective relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members are also necessary, as is attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities. A proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented approach is highly valued.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as public health, Nursing, Nutrition, Midwifery, or a related discipline. This foundational education is critical for understanding the complexities of health interventions and community health needs, as well as for effectively engaging with various stakeholders involved in health programming.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience, with progressive responsibilities ideally in an international NGO setting. Candidates should have at least 3 years of experience specifically supporting development projects, which may include roles in project monitoring, data collection, and health programming. Experience in Nutrition, Maternal and Child Health, Immunization/Polio programs, and community engagement is advantageous and will enhance the candidate's ability to contribute effectively to the project.

Languages:
English is the mandatory language for this position, as it is essential for communication and reporting. Knowledge of Hausa is considered an added advantage, as it may facilitate better engagement with local communities and stakeholders in Yobe State.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Yobe State, Nigeria, and requires the candidate to be willing and able to travel up to 70% of the time. The role does not have supervisory responsibilities, but it involves key working relationships with various internal and external stakeholders, including program managers, senior project officers, and community-based organization partners. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment. The anticipated duration of the assignment for expatriates is informed by a term limit based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff, and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse, and the successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct.