Senior Project Officer

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 focuses on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and it welcomes individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to serving those in need. The agency's talent acquisition procedures reflect its dedication to protecting the rights and dignity of all people, especially children and vulnerable adults, ensuring they live free from abuse and harm. CRS has a diverse workforce and emphasizes the importance of collaboration and community engagement in its programs.

Job Overview:
The Senior Project Officer (SPO) will play a crucial role in ensuring that project target objectives are met while fostering healthy relationships for effective coordination and partnerships. The SPO will provide direct leadership to the Yobe team and will be actively involved in all CGPP-related events and activities. This position requires the SPO to review and share various program-related reports on CGPP's project portfolios, which include Polio and Global Health security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security Agenda (GHSA) initiatives in Yobe state. The project aims to reach under-immunized children with essential immunization services in Northern Nigeria, particularly in fragile and conflict settings. The SPO will focus on supporting immunization uptake for polio eradication, measles and rubella reduction, and strengthening surveillance systems to improve preparedness and response to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). The role also involves planning, capacity building, supportive supervision, monitoring, and stakeholder engagement to enhance immunization coverage and health performance on routine immunization.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Project Officer will be responsible for a comprehensive set of duties including: ensuring all program reports and related documents are written, collated, and reviewed to high standards for submission to donors; providing direct mentoring, monitoring, and supervision to Community Based Organization (CBO) staff; conducting monitoring and supportive supervisory visits to various wards and settlements in the LGAs where the project is implemented; actively engaging with CBO partners to develop program strategies; ensuring coverage of hard-to-reach and international border settlements during immunization campaigns; participating in all pre-IPD, IPD, and post-IPD activities; analyzing periodic LQAS reports and providing feedback to the Program Manager; offering technical support to CBO staff for high-quality social mobilization; collaborating with CBO staff and community volunteers to track and follow program participants; disseminating knowledge of the project portfolios MEL plan to CBOs; supervising partner CBO operations; ensuring all partners understand program priorities; liaising with state actors for coordination; acting as the primary liaison between the project and state government officials; attending relevant meetings and reporting back; ensuring good coordination with UNICEF on community activities; and attending to other duties as assigned by the Program Manager.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the Senior Project Officer position should possess a Bachelor's Degree in a health discipline, preferably Public Health. A minimum of 5-6 years of experience is required, with at least three years in public health involving immunization programs and community-level work with significant program management responsibilities. Experience in polio programming is considered an added advantage. The candidate should have proven experience working with and through partner organizations, including the public sector, and knowledge of the local terrain in Yobe/Kaduna state is beneficial. A demonstrated commitment to a community-based approach to development and the ability to interface with multiple stakeholders in a professional manner are essential qualifications.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a Bachelor's Degree in a health discipline, such as Public Health, which provides the foundational knowledge necessary for effective program management and implementation in the field of immunization and public health.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5-6 years of relevant experience, with a strong emphasis on at least three years of direct involvement in public health initiatives, particularly those related to immunization programs. Experience in managing community-level work and significant program management responsibilities is crucial. Familiarity with polio programming and a proven track record of working with partner organizations will be advantageous.

Languages:
The mandatory language for this position is English, with excellent written and oral communication skills required. Additionally, the ability to speak and understand Hausa is considered an advantage, as it will facilitate better communication and engagement with local communities.

Additional Notes:
The Senior Project Officer position involves significant travel, with a requirement to be willing and able to travel up to 70% of the time and stay in challenging environments. The role includes supervisory responsibilities and requires the candidate to demonstrate excellent analytical and organizational skills, ethical conduct, and the ability to work collaboratively in a diverse team. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and community members from all forms of exploitation and abuse, and the successful candidate will be expected to adhere to the organization's Code of Conduct.