Job Summary:

• As a member of the project team, the Senior Project Officer will lead implementation at either of the three countries mentioned above (Kisumu, Mombasa, or Nairobi) in collaboration with government counterparts, local partners, community structures, and faith-based networks. The incumbent will support child protection systems strengthening, ECD services, family strengthening, referrals, family-based care, case management, monitoring, and reporting, advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. The Senior Project Officer’s coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the project applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Coordinate and oversee working relationships with all local project stakeholders and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact.
• Oversee 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/milestone reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner.
• Support and coordinate capacity building and technical support activities to ensure assigned project activities are implemented per project guidelines and standards.
• Coordinate provision of any logistical and administrative support to staff and partners.
• Ensure project documentation for assigned activities is complete with all required documents and is filed per agency and donor requirements. Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices.

Required Languages – Ability to clearly communicate in written and spoken English and Kiswahili. Knowledge of the local language of the county is an added advantage.

Travel Required: Senior Project Officer will be expected to travel 70% of the time within the project areas of operation as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgments.
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented mindset.
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Ability to effectively use MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion, including gender equality

 Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in International Relations, a field of Child Protection, or a related field.
• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Minimum of 4 years of work experience in project support, ideally in the field of Child Protection and in an NGO.