About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

1. POSITION IDENTIFICATION:
Department : Health Sector – (Ref: 2016/54)
Job Title : Project Officer- Early Childhood Development (ECD)
Grade : 6
Reports To : Nyanza Coordinator and Senior Project Officer-THRIVE
Supervises (Direct Reports Only) : None
Based In (Location : :Homabay
JOB PURPOSE
The aim of the THRIVE Project is to create a culture of care and support for HIV and AIDS affected children under two years and their caregivers in Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi as well as building the capacities of community-based organizations so that they can effectively act as service providers and advocates for high-quality ECD support. The ECD Project Officer is responsible for the day to day implementation of the THRIVE project funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation (CNHF).

3. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:
The ECD Project Officer is a core member of the Health Sector responsible for the implementation of the THRIVE project in Kenya. S/he will work closely with staff from the PROSPER Project and two local implementing partners, research institutions and GOK Ministries e.g MoH at all levels. S/he is expected to promote an integrated approach to service delivery to improve the well-being of HIV infected and affected children under 2 and their caregivers in Migori and Homa-Bay Counties in Kenya.

4. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES:
Responsibility 1: External Representation and Coordination
• Represent CRS at County/ Sub-County stakeholder meetings and other external meetings as needed.
• Coordinate with LIPs and other ECD stakeholders to ensure smooth project implementation

Responsibility 2: Program Quality:
• Ensure that local implementing partners understand their financial and programmatic obligations
• Provide technical guidance, facilitate project related trainings and support quality capacity building to LIPs in ECD services delivery.
• Ensure quality implementation of program components as guided by the Senior Project Officer
• Provide technical and programmatic leadership in project design and implementation
• Review narrative field visit reports prepared by LIP staff during their field visits.
• Liaise with Senior Project Officer to ensure the delivery of quality training, technical assistance to LIP staff.
• Participate in various working groups, including the ECD working group and CNHF grantees meeting, to monitor adherence to national guidelines and contribute to strategy paper development.
• Take lead in identifying LIP capacity gaps and develop strategies to strengthen their capacities in order to improve on implementation.
• Participate in developing new projects in line with identified needs.
• Assist SPO in managing budgets including tracking of financial and material resources.

Responsibility 3: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning:**
• Responsible for reviewing of LIPs monthly project progress and financial reports
• Work with MEAL staff to ensure complete and accurate data is collected and reported monthly.
• Conduct monthly site supervisory visits to LIP staff.
• Assist in the preparation of draft THRIVE Project’s quarterly and annual reports in line with the donor’s reporting timelines
• Take lead in identification, analysis, documentation and dissemination of lesson leant, best practices and success stories from the project
• Working closely with the MEAL Officer, support regular monitoring of ECD activities implementation for quality and timeliness of reporting.
• Prepare event and activity reports, field monitoring reports, quarterly and annual/final project implementation reports.
• Analyze interventions’ results, and trends for sharing with LIPs and stakeholders to enhance knowledge sharing.

4. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIREMENT
1. KNOWLEDGE
2. Degree in Teaching, Early Childhood Development, Social Work or Health related field.
3. At least 3 years of experience in working with OVC or ECD field including experience in assessing ECD development, activities to promote ECD, nutrition as a means of promoting ECD.
4. Strong background in working with HIV programs, specifically OVC, their caregivers and pregnant and postpartum women.
5. Demonstrated commitment to development through local empowerment
6. Excellent written and oral communications skills.
7. Ability to work both independently, and as member of diverse task teams.
8. Advanced computer literacy (Microsoft Office)
9. Demonstrated ability to communicate in English (written and oral)
10. SKILLS AND ABILITIES
11. Practical experience in ECD training, nutrition and PMTCT
12. Proven experience in working with partner staff
13. Ability to professionally represent CRS to other organizations
14. Strong organizational and planning skills
15. Strong interpersonal, multi-cultural and training/mentoring skills.
16. REQUIRED BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES
17. Knowledge of CRS program quality standards, partnership principles and Catholic Social Teaching principles is preferred
18. Serves with Integrity
19. Good Stewardship of resources
20. Cultivates Constructive Relationships
21. Promotes Learning
22. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal:
The PO will collaborate with the CRS Health Sector Staff, CRS/Kenya PQ and MQ departments, CRS HQ and EARO staff, as well as appropriate Regional Technical Advisors.
External:**
CNHF, CRS consortium and implementing partners, MoH, NACC, HIV/AIDS stakeholders in the country and other PEPFAR implementing partners/programs in Country.
DISCLAIMER CLAUSE
This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with the position

HOW TO APPLY:
Written applications indicating the reference number of position applied for and CV including day-time contact phone numbers, as well as names and contact information of three references should reach the below-mentioned by Close of Business Monday January 9, 2017.
Human Resources Manager
Catholic Relief Services – Kenya Program
E-mail : hr@ke.earo.crs.org
Note: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) does not charge any fees from applicants for any recruitment. Further, CRS has not retained any agent in connection with this recruitment