Senior Project Officer - Disaster Risk Reduction

Catholic Relief Services

Unspecified

New

Yesterday

About CRS

JOB DESCRIPTION

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

About CRS Nigeria

CRS has been supporting program activities in Nigeria for over 30 years and has long-standing relationships with Church and non-Church partners and communities throughout the country. The Nigeria country program has a diverse funding base with projects in health, nutrition, food security and agricultural livelihoods, microfinance (SILC), emergency response and peacebuilding. CRS/Nigeria currently has over 210 national and eight international staff. With an FY22 annual budget of over USD $100 million, coupled with strong donor interest in supporting CRS’ work in the country, significant growth opportunities exist for the CP. The CP has been supporting emergency activities in the NE states since 2015 with offices in Damaturu, Maiduguri and Yola.

About DRIVE

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery in Vulnerable Environments (DRIVE) project is a two-year integrated multi-sectoral intervention funded under USAID/BHA starting in October 2024. Building on the experience and achievements of the Transitioning Households to Recovery from Vulnerability (THRIVE) project, DRIVE will provide a coordinated package of life-sustaining and life-building early recovery interventions to vulnerable but productive households in targeted communities of MMC/Jere. Working in partnership with the Justice, Development and Peace Commission( JDPC), DRIVE will target 22,000 households, both settled internally displaced people (IDP) and host community members. DRIVE will coordinate with and build the capacity of the Borno State Government ( BSG) to operationalize integrated early recovery interventions and strengthen community leadership in DRR, recovery and social cohesion.

Job Summary

Under the direction of the PMI DRR, you will support the implementation of DRR activities and provide technical capacity building and supervision to the JDPC DRR team. You will work collaboratively as a team member with the other DRIVE sector leads, especially the SPOs Social Cohesion and Government Liaison to equip communities with skills to prepare for and manage disasters in their communities. You will guide the JDPC DRR team to support communities to self-organize and identify hazards. Using a participatory process, you will support JDPC to facilitate community managed disaster plans (CMDP) for each target community that prioritize actions for risk reduction. In collaboration with the Social Cohesion team, you will engage targeted participants in social cohesion capacity building. Under the leadership of the PM I DRR, will work with the JDPC team to plan, sequence, and layer all sector interventions to achieve optimal integration and impact for the poor and vulnerable. In collaboration with the SPO Governance you will facilitate JDPC DRR team to orient, engage and collaborate with state government stakeholders in BOSEPA, LEMA, SEMA to support DRIVE’s community DRR planning and implementation. You will also provide support to JDPC on planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, program quality and reporting for DRR activities on DRIVE. Your management and facilitation skills and knowledge will ensure that DRIVE delivers high-quality, cost effective and locally appropriate programming, and continuously works towards improving the impact of its interventions.

Roles And Key Responsibilities

• Support JDPC in the implementation of all DRR activities from project design, start-up, implementation and close-out. These activities include mobilizing and orienting community stakeholders on DRR planning, supporting community based recreational activities, facilitating participatory community engagement on CMDPs, engaging and providing capacity building to BOSEPA, LEMA and SEMA;
• Mentor and support the JDPC DRR team in the correct use of the appropriate CRS program planning, implementation and reporting tools;
• Coordinate DRR interventions with DRIVE activities in ERMS and Livelihoods sectors;
• Facilitate and support JDPC’s engagement with key BSG ministries for technical support to DRIVE sector implementation and monitoring, including BOESPA, LEMA and SEMA;
• Support the JDPC team in the planning and implementation of all market-based input activities, including participant identification, validation, training, mobilization, distribution, follow up and utilization;
• Support learning with project staff and partner teams. Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.
• Support project design and proposal development in respective programming area, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.
• Support in the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of the JDPC DRR team provide capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.
Help identify, assess, and strengthen partnerships relevant to DRR;

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Required Languages – English and Hausa are essential. Knowledge of one or more of the languages spoken in Maiduguri, such as Kanuri or Shuwa Arabic is an advantage

Travel - The post is based in Maiduguri and includes 40% travel to field locations in MMC/Jere.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Project design, planning and management experience in DRR is essential;
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Demonstrable capacities in team working and cross-sectoral planning and implementation.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups
• Experience in managing relationships and performance in a consortium with local partners;
• Strong representational capacities and skills in collaborating with government stakeholders.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports and make presentations.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Strong capacities in MEAL and reporting, including capturing learning and adapting interventions based on implementation and feedback;
Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, Power Point, Teams).

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Preferred Qualifications

• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
• Experience using Comm Care and Power BI is an advantage.
• Experience of using market-based mechanisms and CVA modalities, including the Red Rose platform, for provision of agriculture and livelihood inputs to project participants is desirable

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships

Internal: PM IDRR, SPO MEALr, SPO Government Liaison, SPO Social cohesion, other DRIVE sector leads, Senior Admin and Security Officer staff in Maiduguri

External – Sector coordination forums, JDPC DRR team, BOSEPA, SEME, LEMA.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• BSc in agriculture or a related science based subject Additional experience may substitute for some education;
• Two years’ experience in Northeast Nigeria in the implementation of similar projects;
One year’s experience supporting DRR interventions in peri-urban locations with settled IDPs, host communities and returnees.

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Safeguarding

CRS is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all people who interact with our work. We uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and expect all staff and partners to respect and protect the dignity and rights of everyone from any form of harm, abuse, harassment, or exploitation. All staff are required to follow CRS’s safeguarding policies and procedures and to complete mandatory safeguarding e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Agency REDI Competencies (for All CRS Staff)

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

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Agency Leadership Competencies

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

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What We Offer

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

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Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

EOE/M/F/D/V - CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. (For all US and International positions)

About Us

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.