Project Officer – STaR Project Infrastructure

About CRS

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.

Job Summary:

As a support lead for the infrastructure component of the STaR Project in Nigeria, you will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting all Productive and Social Infrastructure component project activities and providing technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that STaR project Nigeria applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Support and coordinate all Infrastructure/ESHS assigned activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Support working relationships with all local project stakeholders (at community level, INGO/NGO and government) and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact.
• Supervise and perform ad-hoc inspections of various processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures. Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner.
• Produce technical designs and drawings, structural plans and bills of quantities for infrastructure projects proposed in STaR project or hire relevant technical specialists to ensure quality. Prepare indicative budgets for all infrastructure works designed.
• Work closely with other relevant project staff to design the Cash-for-Work protocol following community and LGA-level assessments. Work closely with community leaders to identify both skilled and unskilled CFW beneficiaries. Oversee the training of CFW beneficiaries.
• Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule.
• Collect information on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Complete project documentation for assigned activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.

Required Languages – English and Hausa

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 75%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Familiarity with GIS and GPS technology and Knowledge of CommCare will be added advantages.
• Hands on experience in development construction designs/drawings, structural designs and bills of quantities. Also demonstrated experience using engineering design software for construction or water works (AutoCAD, EPANET, Autodesk Revit etc.).

Supervisory Responsibilities (if none, state none); construction supervisor and construction vendors/contractors.

 Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Program Manager II – STaR, Infrastructure Technical Advisor II, Infrastructure Senior Project officer, STaR Supply Chain Manager, MEAL Manager, MEAL Snr Officer, Gender Snr Officer, Component Leads.

External:  Government ministries departments and agencies (MDAs), local and international NGOs, coordination platforms and working groups, community leaders.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required. Degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture or Building or in the field of Construction management would be a plus.
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in project support, ideally in the field of Construction /Infrastructure management and two years in experience in developing and implementing infrastructure or community infrastructure projects for development organizations/ an NGO.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Being registered with professional regulatory bodies or institutions in engineering, construction, or architecture (such as COREN, NSE, NIA, ARCON, COBON, etc.) is an advantage.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• 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.

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.