Career Opportunities at Catholic Relief Services, 8th December 2016

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Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality.
CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs. Therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to our approach in every country in which CRS operates. CRS re-established its presence in Nigeria in 2000 and currently focuses on agriculture, governance, peacebuilding and Health/HIV programming.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is recruiting to fill the position below:


Job Title: Grants Officer
Location: Abuja
Band: C1
Duration: 1 year
Reports to: Grant Manager
Project Background

• CRS/Nigeria, is implementing the USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Livelihoods Project. Based in rural communities in Northern Nigeria’s Sokoto, Kebbi and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the possibility of expansion to Northeast, the project is using a multi-sector approach to support 42,000 very poor households (HHs) through agriculture production, incomes generation, nutrition and community and government systems strengthen to support these gains.

Job Summary

• The Grants Officer (GO) will ensure that CRS/Nigeria complies with Donor regulations and CRS Agency’s Finance Policies and Procedure and Principle of stewardship.
• The Grants Officer will provide support to the Grants Manager on the overall management of sub-grants financial management. The incumbent will be responsible for managing programmatic and financial compliance with USAID guidelines.
• He/she will assist in budget development process and perform budget analysis duties as assigned by the Grants Manager.
• The Grants Compliance Officer will play an active role in vetting sub recipient’s financial reports and associated support documentation and recommend for liquidation and/or reimbursement in accordance with donor, CRS policies and procedures and GAAP.
• The Grants Compliance Officer will also mentor and guide partners’ finance staff how to effectively render financial returns and as well ensuring compliance with CRS SRFMP

Job Responsibilities
Financial Management:

• Assist the GM in Budget Review and Quarterly Cash Forecasting]
• Assist in the reporting Sub-Agreement commitments to be recorded in CRS accounting system.
• Assist in reviewing and processing the issuance of project advances in accordance with CRS and Donor Policies and Procedures.
• Assist in ensuring Project Holder advances are liquidated on timely manner and they are within allotted liquidation timeframe as per CRS policy.

Compliance Management:

• Verify sub-recipient’s financial reports and associated support documentations and recommend for liquidation and/or reimbursement in accordance with Donor, CRS policies and procedures and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Report any fraudulent activities, observed as part of the review to the Unit Head immediately.
• Ensure Sub-recipients advances are liquidated on timely manner and they are within allotted liquidation timeframe as per CRS policy.
• Prepare Sub-Recipients Aging Report for Program and Management Review on monthly basis.
• Provide onsite training to sub-recipient’s finance staff when required.
• Travel to the field, to visit sub-recipient when required.
• Ensure Project’s files both in hard and electronic copies are up to date.
• Sub-recipients Financial Assessment, monitoring and financial support
• Assist in the assessments of all sub-recipients using HQ Finance’s checklists to have a stratification of the sub-recipients for Country Program.
• Assist the sub-recipients in preparing a Corrective Action Plan within sixty calendar days of the assessment or monitoring visit that addresses each of the identified weaknesses in any of the ten assessed areas scored below 75%.
• Assist Program Managers in making sure that the sub recipients addresses all issues listed in the Internal Control Improvement Plan within 120 calendar days of the assessment or monitoring visit.
• Ensure sub-recipients have in place and adheres to a schedule of planned monitoring visits of sub-recipients during each year. The basis for the selection, timing and frequency of its monitoring visits should be properly documented.
• Ensure all monitors prepare and submit a written trip report for each visit to a sub-recipient.
• Support sub recipients in capturing, documenting and reporting cost share

Qualifications and Abilities

• BSc/HND in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics or related fields;
• Professional qualification would be added advantage – ICAN, ACCA
• Minimum of two years’ relevant experience, preferably with an International Organization.
• Must be a matured, motivated, problem solving individual with high levels of initiative;
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong internal relationship management and analytical skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. 
• Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrate high level of initiative, diplomacy and tact.
• Excellent knowledge of computer software – MS Office (PowerPoint and Excel especially);
• Must be flexible and be able to work independently and as part of a team.

Job Title: MEAL Manager
Location: Abuja
Band: D2
Duration: 1 year
Reports to: M & E Director
Project Background

• CRS/Nigeria, is implementing the USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Livelihoods Project. Based in rural communities in Northern Nigeria’s Sokoto, Kebbi and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the possibility of expansion to Northeast, the project is using a multi-sector approach to support 42,000 very poor households (HHs) through agriculture production, incomes generation, nutrition and community and government systems strengthen to support these gains.

Job Summary

• The position will be responsible for coordinating the M&E strategy and implementation, and supporting the systems to collate and analyze data.
• S/he will oversee the monitoring of partner performance, support and strengthen partners, and will be responsible for knowledge management.
• S/he will be experienced in collating and analyzing data, and designing M&E tools.
• S/he will have technical experience in training and quality.

Job Responsibilities

• Work with the M&E Director, Program Director and technical leads to identify, design and/or integrate additional “wrap around services”.
• Promote and facilitate innovation through capacity building and motivation of implementing partners
• Along with the MED, periodically review progress and achievements of the project to identify bottlenecks and recommend appropriate actions to maintain the program on target
• Support to ensure that the M&E system provides accurate and timely data for quarterly, semi-annual and annual project reports to USAID and the GON.
• Support the development and management of the project Performance Management Plan (PMP) working in close collaboration with the MED
• Ensure project reporting system is correctly used by CRS and CSOs: correct data entered into the system so that accurate reports are generated for the USG, FGN and States. 
• Support the roll-out and implementation of ICT4D solutions and ensure effective training and use amongst sub-recipients and field volunteers.
• Ensure productive use of the data by working with the program technical staff, identify and document programmatic successes, best practices, challenges, and opportunities for learning, formative, special studies and operational research.
• Manage the implementation of system for capturing and documenting data and relevant information on project activities, beneficiaries, outputs, outcomes, and impacts based on the project proposal, implementation/M&E plan, and donor reporting requirements
• Work with partners and state teams to maintain reporting processes to ensure that all information and data is collected, documented, and collated in an accurate and timely manner. 
• Support the conduct of periodic supportive supervision and Data Quality Assessment visits to partners, and communities
• Ensure programming is aligned to targets and indicators contained in project proposal
• Provide on-going support to partners, and communities to maintain M&E systems; identify skill gaps that can be addressed in subsequent trainings, supervisory or mentoring visits.
• Analyze information about the program and make recommendations for improvement.
• Assist MED in carrying out specific training, support, and other capacity building activities in routine and specifically designed data management.
• Support the dissemination of quality data for decision making and feedback through regular information sharing with stakeholders and beneficiaries.
• Support the evaluation and other research activities during the implementation of the project.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the Monitoring & Evaluation Director

Qualifications and Skills

• Master Degree in Behavioral or Social Sciences.
• At least five years of working experience in M &E
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Experience in other statistical package (SPSS) will be of advantage
• Understanding of faith-based organizations and capacity-building in local partnerships
• Experience in staff development and partner capacity
• Understanding of U.S Government grant provisions, policies and guidelines, including reporting requirements and Caritas agencies
• Fluency in Hausa language is desirable

Job Title: Program Managers, Agriculture and Livelihoods
Location: Yobe, Adamawa and Borno
Band: D1
Duration: 1 year
Reports to: Agriculture Team Lead
Project Background

• CRS/Nigeria, is implementing the USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Livelihoods Project. Based in rural communities in Northern Nigeria’s Sokoto, Kebbi and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the possibility of expansion to Northeast, the project is using a multi-sector approach to support 42,000 very poor households (HHs) through agriculture production, incomes generation, nutrition and community and government systems strengthen to support these gains.

Job Summary

• CRS/Nigeria is seeking Program Managers, Agriculture and Livelihoods who will work closely with the Agricultural Team Lead to deliver needed capacity building and technical assistance for smallholder farmers.
• They will lead the planning, implementation and monitoring of all agriculture/livelihoods activities, which layer humanitarian response with longer-term development.
• The Program Managers will support the facilitation of community mobilization and formation of sustainable producer and Saving and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) groups, and will provide support for all training activities, including the establishment of demonstration plots.
• They will be responsible for establishing a sustainable staple crop seed delivery system that services smallholder farmers, especially underserved women farmers in targeted communities.

Job Responsibilities

• Support the formation of sustainable producer and SILC groups within the communities
• Work with the local partners to provide technical assistance for the smallholder farmers
• Assist smallholder farmers in adopting new technology and other innovations for increased productivity, quality, efficiency, management, etc through tailored trainings and demonstration trials
• Support the process of community based agents in becoming Private Input Service Providers
• Ensure good working relationship between community based field agents and government extension agents
• Support the capacity building for the local service providers like tractor operators and mechanics
• Ensure implementation of climate smart agriculture interventions
• Ensure the implementation of SMART Skill trainings that includes group organization, marketing basics and financial education
• Support the postharvest training with emphasis on the use hermetic storage system.
• Facilitate farmers’ linkage to output markets.
• Facilitate farmers linkage to agricultural inputs (herbicides, fertilizer etc), equipment (tractors) and service providers
• Support field agents to organize farmers’ field days to showcase new production technologies
• Lead the establishment of demonstration plots with the CSOs
• Ensure establishment of a sustainable community-based seed production system
• Ensure implementation SILC activities
• Support capacity building for the CSOs’ staff
• Provide necessary mentorship/leadership skills to help develop adequate agriculture and livelihoods capacity within project partners.
• Support CSOs to develop strong working relationships with community and village district administrations, local government institutions, and other existing projects within project locations.
• Work with CSOs to deliver quality program and timely reporting of program activities
• Ensure alignment with other projects being implemented by CRS in the region
• Prepare monthly and quarterly reports

Qualifications and Skills

• Master's degree in Agriculture or related field
• At least three years of working experience in agriculture, development or food security programs – including focus on at least one of the following sectors – agriculture, livelihoods
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, training and facilitation skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Experience with participatory methods and partnerships
• Excellent English language oral and written communication skills. Fluency in Hausa language is an added advantage as well as experience with northern Nigerian agriculture.
• Understanding of faith-based organizations and capacity-building in local partnerships
• Experience in staff development and partner capacity
• Understanding of U.S Government grant provisions, policies and guidelines, including reporting requirements and Caritas agencies

Job Title: Finance and Admin Assistant
Location: Borno
Band: B2
Duration: 1 year
Reports to: Project Director Manager
Project Background

• CRS/Nigeria, is implementing the USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Livelihoods Project. Based in rural communities in Northern Nigeria’s Sokoto, Kebbi and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the possibility of expansion to Northeast, the project is using a multi-sector approach to support 42,000 very poor households (HHs) through agriculture production, incomes generation, nutrition and community and government systems strengthen to support these gains.

Job Summary

• The Finance & Administrative Assistant (FAA) will be responsible for documentation, referencing and filing of all project related documents

Job Responsibilities
Office Supplies:

• Serve as the primary custodian of office supplies and consumables.  Distributes these based on written requests;
• Maintain proper and accurate records /inventory of Office supplies distribution and usage by each project
• Keep an inventory of the store (through the stock card) and update this information on a monthly basis.
• Circulate the office supplies purchase request forms and liaise with the Administrative Officer to restock the needed supplies in a timely manner.

Secretarial:

• Organize central files and publications in the project office.  Ensure documents are stored in an easy to access and understandable system.  Update and circulate the filing list regularly;
• Receives and records dailies and magazines and cut and/or photocopy sections with relevant information on CRS activities or those of our partners;
• Take minutes of any staff meetings, circulate the minutes to all attendees within two days of the meeting;
• Other duties as assigned Administrative Officer

Finance Tasks:

• Manage Petty Cash:  Receive completed and approved Petty Cash IOU form.  Check for approval from Head of Administration, Project Director and Financial Accountant.  Disbursing the approved petty cash requests.  Follow up and liquidate requests in a timely manner.  Complete the Petty Cash register.  Balance Petty Cash register daily – notify finance of any discrepancies immediately.  Always keep Petty Cash Tin locked and not visible.
• Raise all requests for vendor payments when the documentation is provided and follow up on these payments promptly.
• Go to bank for withdrawals and deposits as applicable to the petty cash management process.

Administrative Tasks:

• Procurement of small items as directed, adhering to CRS/Nigeria’s Purchasing and Procurement guidelines at all times.
• Coordinate the purchase and distribution of office tea items for staff/visitors or trainings (where applicable) on a monthly basis.

General Administrative support:

• Support to the Project Director e.g. keeping and tracking appointments.
• Management of National and International mail and mailing services.
• Maintaining log on the use of the office conference rooms to avoid double bookings.
• Provide oversight to the general cleanliness of reception area and its environs (toilet)

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, Business Administration or other related fields;
• Minimum of one-year relevant experience in a related role;
• Good knowledge of computer software – MS Office (PowerPoint and Excel especially);
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong internal relationship management and analytical skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail 
• Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrate high level of initiative, diplomacy and tact
• Must be flexible and be able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to travel as needed.

Job Title: Technical Officer, M & E
Location: Borno
Duration: 1 year
Reports to: MEAL Manager
Project Background

• CRS/Nigeria, is implementing the USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Livelihoods Project. Based in rural communities in Northern Nigeria’s Sokoto, Kebbi and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the possibility of expansion to Northeast, the project is using a multi-sector approach to support 42,000 very poor households (HHs) through agriculture production, incomes generation, nutrition and community and government systems strengthen to support these gains.

Job Summary

• The Technical Officer (M&E) will ensure adequate capturing/documentation of data and relevant information on project activities, beneficiaries, outputs, outcomes, and impacts based on the project proposal, implementation/M&E plan, and donor reporting requirements.
• S/he will work with partners and state teams to maintain reporting processes to ensure that all information and data is collected, documented, and collated in an accurate and timely manner.
• S/he will be based in Borno and will conduct periodic supportive supervision and Data Quality Assessment visits to partners and communities.
• The position will report to the MEAL Manager.

Job Responsibilities

• Implement the system for capturing and documenting data and relevant information on project activities, beneficiaries, outputs, outcomes, and impacts based on the project proposal, implementation/M&E plan, and donor reporting requirements
• Ensure an effective M&E data collection and reporting system with all partners through mentorship, on the job training, site visits and other technical support as needed.  Ensure systems are well understood and properly implemented by all partners.
• Work with partners and state teams to maintain reporting processes to ensure that all information and data is collected, documented, and collated in an accurate and timely manner. 
• Support the conduct of periodic supportive supervision and Data Quality Assessment visits to partners, and communities
• Facilitate the sharing of information obtained from partners and other stakeholders through a regular feedback mechanism.
• Support partners in the management and use of ICT4D devices
• Ensure programming is aligned to targets and indicators contained in project proposal
• Provide on-going support to partners, and communities to maintain M&E systems; identify skill gaps that can be addressed in subsequent trainings, supervisory or mentoring visits.
• Analyze information about the program and make recommendations for improvement.
• Prepare and submit monthly M&E activity reports in ensuring utmost quality
• Support the update of project database routinely as may be required
• Assist MEAL Manager in carrying out specific training, support, and other capacity building activities in routine and specifically designed data management.
• Support the dissemination of quality data for decision making and feedback through regular information sharing with stakeholders and beneficiaries.
• Support the evaluation and other research activities during the implementation of the project.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the MEAL Manager/Monitoring & Evaluation Director

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor Degree in Behavioral or Social Sciences.
• At least three years of working experience in M &E
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Experience in other statistical package (SPSS) will be of advantage
• Understanding of faith-based organizations and capacity-building in local partnerships
• Experience in staff development and partner capacity
• Understanding of U.S Government grant provisions, policies and guidelines, including reporting requirements and Caritas agencies
• Fluency in Hausa language is desirable

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff): 

• These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results:
  • Serves with Integrity
  • Models Stewardship
  • Cultivates Constructive Relationships
  • Promotes Learning

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should download the "Application Form Below" and send with a detailed 3-page resume in a single file word document to: [email protected] Title of the position must be stated as the subject of the email.

Application deadline  21st December, 2016.

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