Senior Project Officer- Hygiene Promotion

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 programs that address various issues such as emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to serving individuals without regard to race, religion, or nationality, and welcomes staff from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values. CRS emphasizes safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, reflecting its commitment to the rights and dignity of all people. The agency's work culture is collaborative and mission-driven, focused on improving the lives of the poor worldwide. CRS has a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, and offers competitive packages for employees in other countries, tailored to local employment conditions. The organization prioritizes hiring local candidates and is committed to safeguarding program participants and community members from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and participate in safeguarding training.

Job Overview:
The Senior Project Officer- Hygiene Promotion is responsible for providing technical leadership in the design and implementation of community-based Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions aimed at reducing public health risks and improving hygiene behaviors. This role is crucial in overseeing hygiene promotion strategies, strengthening community governance structures such as Water Management Committees and Latrine Maintenance Teams, and ensuring the sustainable operation and maintenance of sanitation and water systems. The officer will lead capacity building efforts for Community Mobilizers and local structures, supervise community engagement approaches, and coordinate with engineering and multi-sectoral teams to ensure integrated service delivery. The position also supports evidence-based decision-making through effective data management and reporting, as well as documentation of best practices and lessons learned. The Senior Project Officer will work closely with the SWASH Manager and other stakeholders to ensure that all project activities align with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and implementation of assessments and baseline studies to identify WASH-related risks and inform program priorities in coordination with the Water, Sanitation and Shelter Manager.
• Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan, ensuring adherence to CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Collaborate with WASH, Nutrition, and other CRS teams to design integrated interventions that address both behavioral and environmental public health risks.
• Define priority hygiene practices and target populations, developing context-appropriate communication strategies to promote safe behaviors.
• Supervise and support Hygiene Promotion Officers to ensure quality messaging, effective community engagement, and accountability to affected populations.
• Strengthen community participation in the planning, construction, and maintenance of WASH facilities, ensuring functional Environmental Cleaning Committees and Water Point Management Committees.
• Oversee day-to-day team management, including staff supervision, logistics, and administrative processes.
• Work with the MEAL team to establish effective monitoring systems for hygiene promotion and social mobilization activities.
• Lead capacity building of Hygiene Promotion Officers and Community Mobilizers, contributing to cross-training of WASH field engineers. 1
• Represent CRS in WASH sector coordination platforms and technical working groups, maintaining effective collaboration with partners, INGOs, and government stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Community Development, Sociology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience working with NGOs in the field of WASH, particularly in Hygiene Promotion and Social Mobilization.
• Proven ability to provide technical assistance, training, and expert advice to hygiene promotion staff.
• Experience in project management, planning, supervision, quality assurance, and reporting.
• Good knowledge and experience of working with local partner agencies, with a capacity to provide both formal and informal training.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Community Development, Sociology, or a related field is required for this position. A Master’s Degree is considered an advantage, particularly for candidates with demonstrated experience in integrating gender and diversity issues into public health promotion.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of experience working with NGOs in the field of WASH, specifically in Hygiene Promotion and Social Mobilization. Experience in project management, planning, supervision, quality assurance, and reporting is essential. Additionally, candidates should have experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data, as well as staff supervision experience being a plus.

Languages:
English is a mandatory language for this position. Proficiency in Hausa or other local languages is considered an added advantage, enhancing communication and engagement with local communities.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Plateau State, Nigeria, and requires the candidate to be willing and able to travel up to 50%. The role involves full-time commitment and may include responsibilities that require collaboration with diverse groups of people in a team-oriented environment. 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. The organization prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS has offices.