Chargé(e) de Programme Senior

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 dedicated 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 is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and it welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds who share its values and mission.

Job Overview:
As a Senior Program Officer based in Bunia, you will play a crucial role in coordinating and implementing activities related to the fight against Ebola. This position specifically contributes to achieving project objectives in the areas of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (CREC). You will provide technical support to field teams and local partners to ensure that interventions are contextually appropriate, aligned with technical standards, and complementary to other project sectors. Your skills in coordination, community mobilization, technical supervision, and programmatic analysis will enhance the quality and coherence of nutritional activities implemented in targeted areas. This role requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and a commitment to community engagement and accountability.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your key responsibilities will include planning, coordinating, and monitoring the implementation of project activities in accordance with the detailed project implementation plan, CRS quality standards, donor requirements, and humanitarian best practices. You will support the integration of project activities into CREC interventions to ensure a coherent multisectoral approach. Organizing and supervising community awareness activities, educational sessions, and behavior change initiatives at the community level will be part of your duties. You will also assist in building the capacity of field teams, partners, and community relays on key messages. Ensuring technical coordination with partners, local health authorities, and other stakeholders to promote coherence in project approaches is essential. You will support assessments, KAP surveys, and other data collection exercises related to community practices and behaviors. Contributing to the monitoring of project indicators and ensuring the quality of data collected in close collaboration with the MEAL team is expected. Additionally, you will document activities, best practices, lessons learned, and case studies, and assist in preparing programmatic reports and technical updates in accordance with CRS and donor requirements. You will ensure the integration of accountability mechanisms to affected populations (AAP) in community awareness activities and maintain good coordination with other project sectors to ensure operational and technical coherence in interventions. Lastly, you will ensure that project documentation is complete, compliant, and properly archived.

Required Qualifications:
The basic qualifications for this position include a Bachelor's degree in international development, public health, community health, humanitarian studies, or a related field. You should have a minimum of 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in implementing health activities, ideally in emergency or epidemic contexts. Experience working with national or international NGOs is required, along with experience in community mobilization and health-related behavior change awareness. Desired qualifications include experience in multisectoral projects and familiarity with Risk Communication and Community Engagement. Knowledge of the humanitarian context in Eastern DRC is highly desirable. You should possess the ability to design and facilitate community awareness activities, strong coordination and supervision skills for field teams and partners, analytical skills, and a proactive problem-solving approach. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with communities, partners, and local authorities are essential, as are strong written and oral communication skills. Proficiency in MS Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) is required, along with a results-oriented and service-oriented approach.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor's degree in international development, public health, community health, humanitarian studies, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background provides the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of health interventions in humanitarian settings and equips the candidate with the skills needed to effectively engage with communities and stakeholders.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in the implementation of health activities, particularly in emergency or epidemic contexts. This experience should include working with national or international NGOs and demonstrate a strong understanding of community mobilization and health-related behavior change initiatives. Experience in multisectoral projects and familiarity with Risk Communication and Community Engagement is also highly valued.

Languages:
Fluency in French is required for this position, along with proficiency in Swahili and relevant local languages pertinent to the project's intervention area. This linguistic capability is essential for effective communication with community members and stakeholders, ensuring that messages are conveyed clearly and understood by the target populations.

Additional Notes:
The position involves significant travel, with up to 80% of the time spent in project implementation areas. There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this role. 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. CRS's work culture is collaborative and mission-driven, focused on improving the lives of the poor globally. The agency is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff, and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate will be expected to sign and adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and will be part of an organization that prioritizes the rights and dignity of all individuals, especially children and vulnerable adults.