New Job Vacancies at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Title: Program Manager Job ID: 2000008Y Location: CARO-NG-Adamawa Job Type: Full-time Schedule: Regular Shift: Standard Job: Program Management Employee Status: Entry Level Job Level: Day Job

Background

• CRS Nigeria has been awarded the Borno and Adamawa Women Poultry Project by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Nigeria. This program seeks to develop and implement interventions that will sustainably increase  women participation and production of poultry in Borno and Adamawa states by addressing challenges to poultry production and contribute to creation of livestock employment opportunities to improve participants’ living conditions.
• The specific purpose is to enable 7,000 vulnearble families- particularly female-headed households increase their income by producing and selling poultry and poulty products. This effort will contribute to CRS’ agriculture and livelihoods signature program area and ongoing efforts to promote resilience, recovery and development within Nigeria and neighboring countries around the Lake Chad Basin.  Additional project details are contained in the table below:

Job Summary

• The Program Manager will provide technical leadership, guidance and capacity strengthening to Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Nigeria-funded  Borno and Adamawa Women Poultry Project in the areas of agriculture- poultry based livelihoods and food security.
• The Program Manager will oversee project activities in Adamawa and Borno LGAs and report to the Project Manager.
• S/he will support the delivery of GIZ-Borno and Adamawa Women Poultry Project by working with vulnerable families – particulary female-headed housholds, women engaging in poultry livestock production/products or owners to increase their income by produing and selling poultry and poulty products from livestock value chains.
• The main goal and Key performance indicators will include the extent to which poultry livestock owners/Women Poutlry Producer Groups (PPGs) access and use sustainable public and private sector poultry livestock services; monetarize poultry and poultry products; and, diversify their reduce women’s vulenerability alienated from productive systems and limited economic activities in order to improve their living conditions.
• Focus areas will include improved poultry production practices and management, diversification of livelihoods through selling poutry and poutry products, technical support and management of hatchery farms, strengthening of poultry producer groups, Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs), managing village savings and lending groups (SILC) and collective marketing of poultry products.
• S/he will liaise with relevant government ministries, other technical experts and agencies working in the field of poultry-based livelihoods/agriculture programs.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and guidance in the assessment, planning and implementation of a poultry / livelihoods activities of GIZ Borno and Adamawa Women Poultry Project in Borno and Adamawa in collaboration with project partners and relevant government agencies.
• Work with public and private sectors to increase competitive poultry services including veterinary and poultry extension services for poultry producer groups.
• Ensure that poultry-based livelihoods related activities are implemented in accordance with CRS standards and approaches.
• Support poultry producer groups to increase quantity and quality of poultry production and poultry products through improved management techniques of poultry diseases and outbreaks.
• Support to establish and management of hatcheries.
• Support polultry producer groups to self-organize, to increase their financial, technical and organizational skills and to access financial services and products
• Under the direction of the Program Manager, lead the design and development of capacity strengthening strategies, approaches and tools to support Borno and Adamawa Women Poultry project partners and relevant government agencies in the area of conflict resolution, in mainstreaming gender and supported in coordination of project activities.
• Lead project capacity development of poultry producer groups, hatchery farmers, community animal health workers, social workers/case workers  and marketing committees.
• Under the supervisoion of Program Manager II work with private sector partners to implement the market optimization and outreach model (MOOM).
• Lead the rolling out of SMART skills training to farmers to ensure group social cohesion, organization and management.
• Lead activities to improve access to input for poultry producer farmers including veterinary services, drugs administration and community animal health workers from public and private institutions.
• In coordination with the MEL Country Coordinator and MEL Officer, ensure timely and quality capturing of MEAL data on agricultural and livelihoods project components.
• Supervise and work closely with other project staff and with Justice Development Peace Commission (JDPC)  to build Poultry livestock groups, Commununity Animal Health Workers.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual work plans, budgets, and technical reports on poultry project activities as part of the overall program planning and reporting cycle.
• Represent CRS in livestock forums
• Provide effective management, coaching and support to Project Officer, MEAL officer and CSO’s staff

Qualifications Background, Experience & Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Animal Science/Animal Production, Veterinary Medicine,  Agricultural Economics or relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 6 years of experience in program management, livestock’s production and/or value-chain activities in developing countries.  Experience in Nigeria and particularly the North East will be a bonus.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing poultry projects and hatchery management in rural and peri-urban settings.
• Demonstrated experience in training design, development of training curriculum, delivery and mentoring in subject matter relevant to this position.
• Experience with the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of sustainable agriculture development and food security expecailly GIZ project.
• Experience with market development approaches such as poultry/livestock’s and agricultural value-chain development (linking producers to markets) programming.
• Previous experience carrying out and using the results of technical capacity assessments in the areas of poultry  production, value-chain development, hatchery management, food security and related fields.
• Strong team player with the ability to take initiative and work well independently.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills in English, Hausa and Kanuri language.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, discretion, tact, and diplomacy.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Travel Required 60% to field locations in Borno and Adamawa

Key Working Relationships

• Internal: Program Manager II,  MEAL Country Coordinator, MEAL Officer, Project Officer and GIZ Program Manager
• External: Government ministries departments and agencies, local and international NGOs, coordination platforms and working groups, community leaders

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• 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.
• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

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.

Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply

Job Title: Project / Grant Accountant Job ID: 2000008X Location: CARO-NG-Adamawa Job Type: Full-time Schedule: Regular Shift: Standard Job: Finance Organization: Catholic Relief Services Employee Status: Entry Level Job Level: Day Job

Background CRS Nigeria has been awarded the Borno and Adamawa Women Poultry Project by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Nigeria. This program seeks to develop and implement interventions that will sustainably increase  women participation and production of poultry in Borno and Adamawa states by addressing challenges to poultry production and contribute to creation of livestock employment opportunities to improve participants’ living conditions. The specific purpose is to enable 7,000 vulnearble families- particularly female-headed households increase their income by producing and selling poultry and poulty products. This effort will contribute to CRS’ agriculture and livelihoods signature program area and ongoing efforts to promote resilience, recovery and development within Nigeria and neighboring countries around the Lake Chad Basin.  Additional project details are contained in the table below: Job Summary

• The Project Accountant is overall in charge of financial and grant management of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Nigeria-funded  Borno and Adamawa Women Poultry Project in the areas of agriculture- poultry based livelihoods and food security.
• The Project Accountant will ensure that the project project complies with GIZ regulations and CRS Agency’s Finance Policies and Procedures especially focusing on the principle of stewardship.

Job Responsibilities Financial Management:

• Assist Project Managers in Budget Review and Quarterly Cash Forecasting
• Report Contract-Agreement commitments to be recorded in CRS accounting system.
• Review and process the issuance of project advances in accordance with CRS and GIZ Policies and Procedures.
• Ensure Project Holder advances are liquidated on timely manner and they are within allotted liquidation timeframe as per CRS policy.
• Assist in the Preparation of Detailed Project Budget vs. Actual Comparison Report, including Sub-Recipients Expenditures for Program and Management Review on moyears monthly basis.
• Assist in the preparations of Donor Financial Reports timely, accurately and in accordance with terms and conditions outlined in the grant agreement.

Compliance Management:

• Verify sub-recipient financial reports and associated support documentations and recommend for liquidation and/or reimbursement in accordance with GIZ, 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 time-frame 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.
• Collaborate with Program Managers to document in project files, a justification for delays in;
• Issuing project advances; and
• Liquidating the advances; to improve partner monitoring and follow up

Sub-recipients Financial Assessment, monitoring and financial support:

• Lead 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 Project Managers in making sure that the sub recipients address all issues listed in the Corrective Acton Plan on a timely manner.
• 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 financial and programming staffs participate in the financial monitoring, including site visits, of sub-recipient activities. The trip reports must indicate the monitoring steps performed, the processes reviewed, and the result of the testing and reviews.
• Ensure all monitors prepare and submit a written trip report for each visit to a sub-recipient.
• Review and analyze monitoring reports on a timely manner and sign off for further follow-up and record for at least three years after the related grant or project has expired.

Background, Experience & Requirements Education and Experience:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance or related field plus a qualification in accounting (ICSA/ACCA or equivalent);
• At least 5 years’ experience in financial management for development/humanitarian projects;
• Extensive financial and grant management experience working with non-governmental organization sub-recipients and other sub-grantees
• Familiarity with German Government (GIZ, BMZ, GFFO) financial regulations, policies and practices; OR experience working at a senior level on a DFID/EU/ECHO-funded grant;
• Knowledge of Sun Systems financial accounting package or similar financial management and reporting software;
• Flexibility to work both in a team and independently;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook;
• Full professional proficiency in spoken and written English; and Hausa

Personal Skills:

• Ability to work to meet deadlines in multiple tasking environments
• Excellent organization, planning and analytical skills; detail oriented
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated strength in relationship management
• Travel Required 40% to field locations in Borno and Adamawa

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory: Program Manager (Mubi)
• Internal: Awards Management Officer - Maiduguri, Program Manager II, Program Manager, GIZ Finance team.
• External: government ministries departments and agencies, local and international NGOs, coordination platforms and working groups, community leaders

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• 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.
• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

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.

Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply