CRS JOB VACANCY

Job Title: Senior Project Officer (MEAL) Reports to: MEAL Manager
Department: Program -Dar es salaam Salary Grade: 8

About CRS
Catholic Relief Services is the official humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS carries out the commitment to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas whereby it works to save, protect, and transform the lives in need in more than 100 countries without regard to the race, religion, or nationality. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. CRS’ relief and development work are accomplished through programs of agriculture, health, emergency response, education, microfinance, peace building, and WASH programming in Tanzania since 1962.

Job Summary
As a senior monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) project officer, the successful candidate will facilitate the achievement of objectives through coordinating all projects MEAL activities and providing MEAL-related technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing CRS’ work serving the poor and vulnerable. The senior MEAL project officer’s well-rounded MEAL competencies will ensure that the projects for which he/she is responsible for comply with internal CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures (MPP) and with donor requirements. The successful candidate shall also apply best practices in Collaborating Learning and Adaptating to improve program quality and strengthen the capacity of the program teams. The senior MEAL project officer’s knowledge, skills, and support will ensure quality data is readily available to use as foundation for evidence-based decision-making and programmatic adjustments, and contribute to CRS Tanzania’s effective, adaptive, and innovative country programming (CP).

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Manage and implement all MEAL activities throughout relevant project cycles – project design, startup, implementation, and close-out – to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS principles, standards, and the CRS MPP, donor MEAL requirements, and good industry practices.
Lead the development and implementation of project MEAL systems and practices while advancing the use of Information Communication Technology for MEAL (ICT4MEAL) that effectively engage partners, donors, and other stakeholders and are compliant with CRS and donor MEAL requirements.
Contribute to accountability by ensuring effectively communicate findings to diverse stakeholders for timely response and evidence-based decision-making.
Facilitate set up, roll-out, and implementation of and the complaint, feedback, and response mechanism (CFRM) at the project levels. The senior MEAL project officer must actively seek and respond to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other stakeholders as defined by the CFRM and safeguarding policies.
Analyze complex datasets and provide insights using agency standard tools and technique such as dashboards and infographics tools.
Assist the CRS program teams with the documentation of case studies, impact stories and best practices.

Equip and mobilize the program team to intentionally reflect and learn from the project implementation and promote collaborating learning and adapting management culture within the CRS Tanzania CP.

Basic Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Sciences, Social Sciences, Statistics, Health, Nutrition, or another related field is required. Master’s degree would be a plus.
Minimum of four (4) years of work experience in MEAL for an NGO or private sector,
Demonstrated experience with Collaborating Learning and Adapting approaches.
Quick learner of new projects, MEAL concepts and tools.
Strong sense of responsibility, accountability, and ownership
Excellent writing and communication skills.
Experience in generating data analysis and insights (dashboards) using standard data management and visualization tools such as (e.g., Commcare, Kobo Toolbox, ODK, PowerBI, Arch GIS, Tableau and other related tools)
Excellent in complex data analytical skills using the common tools such as Excel, SPSS, and/or Stata.

Required Languages

Must be fluent in English and Kiswahili.

Travel

Must be willing and able to travel up to 40% of the time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners.
Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented
Attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience in partnerships, participatory action planning and community engagement.
Experience working with all levels of stakeholders, such as the program teams, communities, donors, and partners, with a focus on capacity strengthening while employing adult learning principles.
Good understanding and experience in project design and MEAL in proposal development.

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.

Personal Accountability
Acts with Integrity
Builds and Maintains Trust
Collaborates with Others
Open to Learn
Strategic Mindset
Develops and Recognizes Others
Leads Change

Supervisory Responsibilities

Periodically oversee work of MEAL Assistants, enumerators, and data clerks

Key Working Relationships Internal
Other MEAL (CP, EARO, Global) staff, Non- MEAL Project Officers, and Managers

External

Community members, partner staff, other local stakeholders, MEAL staff from peer agencies

MEAL Competencies (for CRS MEAL Program Staff)
Each staff member in this position is expected to have solid knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies with minimal or no guidance, in the full range of typical situations, while requiring guidance to handle novel or more complex situations:

Monitoring
Accountability
Learning
In addition, each staff member in this position is expected to have basic knowledge and ability and, with guidance, be able to apply the following competencies in common situations that present limited difficulties:

MEAL in Design
Evaluation
Analysis and Critical Thinking
ICT4MEAL
Management in MEAL
***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. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. CRS Tanzania strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.