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 worldwide. The organization is committed to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS's work encompasses various sectors, including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The agency emphasizes 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 uphold the rights and dignity of all individuals.

Job Overview:
The Senior Project Officer - Hygiene Promotion is tasked with providing technical leadership in the design and implementation of community-based Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions. The primary goal of this role is to reduce public health risks and enhance hygiene behaviors within communities. Under the guidance of the SWASH Manager, the officer will oversee hygiene promotion strategies, strengthen community governance structures such as Water Management Committees and Latrine Maintenance Teams, and ensure the sustainable operation and maintenance of sanitation and water systems. This position involves leading the capacity building of Community Mobilizers and local structures, supervising community engagement approaches, and coordinating with engineering and multi-sectoral teams to ensure integrated service delivery. The officer will also support evidence-based decision-making through effective data management and reporting, as well as documenting best practices and lessons learned. The position is based in Plateau State, Nigeria, and requires a commitment to travel up to 50%.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Project Officer will coordinate with the Water, Sanitation and Shelter Manager to lead the design and implementation of assessments and baseline studies aimed at identifying WASH-related risks and informing program priorities. Responsibilities include organizing and leading the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan, ensuring alignment with CRS program quality principles, donor requirements, and best practices. The officer will collaborate with WASH, Nutrition, and other CRS teams to design integrated interventions that address both behavioral and environmental public health risks. Key tasks include defining priority hygiene practices, identifying target populations, and developing context-appropriate communication strategies to promote safe behaviors. The officer will supervise and support Hygiene Promotion Officers to ensure quality messaging, effective community engagement, and accountability to affected populations. Strengthening community participation in the planning, construction, and maintenance of WASH facilities is essential, as is overseeing day-to-day team management, including staff supervision and logistics. The officer will work with the MEAL team to establish effective monitoring systems for hygiene promotion and social mobilization activities, lead capacity building efforts for Hygiene Promotion Officers and Community Mobilizers, and 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:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Community Development, Sociology, or a related field. A minimum of 5 years’ experience working with NGOs in the field of WASH, particularly in Hygiene Promotion and Social Mobilization, is required. Proven ability to provide technical assistance, training, and expert advice to hygiene promotion staff is essential. Experience in project management, planning, supervision, quality assurance, and reporting is also necessary. Candidates should have good knowledge and experience of working with local partner agencies, with the capacity to provide both formal and informal training. Additional experience may substitute for some educational requirements.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Community Development, Sociology, or a related field. A Master’s Degree is considered an advantage, particularly for candidates with demonstrated experience in integrating gender and diversity issues into public health promotion. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of community health and hygiene promotion.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 5 years of experience working with NGOs in the WASH sector, specifically in Hygiene Promotion and Social Mobilization. Experience in project management, planning, supervision, quality assurance, and reporting is essential. Candidates should also have experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data, as well as staff supervision experience, which is considered a plus. Demonstrated experience of integrating gender and diversity issues into public health promotion will be an added advantage.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is required for this position. Additionally, proficiency in Hausa or other local languages will be considered an added advantage, as it will facilitate better 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%. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. For successful candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits packages are based on the country of employment. The anticipated duration of the assignment for expatriate candidates is informed by a term limit based on the job type and level, as well as the agency's needs. 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.