Program Officer Youth Life Skills Development Project at Africare Nigeria

Program Officer Youth Life Skills Development Project at Africare Nigeria
Africare, a US-based NGO established in 1970, has been working in Nigeria since 1978 and is currently operating more than 150 community-based development projects in 25 African countries. Africare has long standing experience in the design and delivery of technical, training, material and financial assistance to self-help efforts in the fields of health/HIV-AIDS, food security, natural resource management, water resource development, micro-enterprise, civil society strengthening and good governance. Health programs are important to Africare's work in virtually all countries where it operates and constitute about one-quarter of Africare’s overall development assistance effort. In Nigeria, Africare has its main office in Abuja and field offices in Port Harcourt and Asaba and Uyo and Benin, with smaller satellite offices in Bayelsa and Cross Rivers State.

Funded by the Chevron, the Malaria Control and Health Promotion in Flood Affected Populations (MCHP-FAP) Project has a goal of reducing the prevalence and mortality related to malaria in following communities; Idah, in Kogi State, Agenebode in Edo State and Koko and Ogbe-Ijaw in Delta States. The specific targets relate to use of LLITNs, ACTs, and RDT in line with the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) targets from the NMCP National Strategic (2009-2013).

Africare Nigeria is looking to hire candidates to fill positions in Delta and Edo as two new projects commence: The Youth Life Skills Development Project will engage secondary school students in a program that leverages sports to teach literacy, health and social development skills. The program is a one year pilot with expectation for further funding.

Position Title: 
Program Officer Youth Life Skills Development Project

Reports To: 
Senior Support Program Manager as well as the Country Director for Africare Nigeria.
Location: 
Africare office in Abuja FCT.
Duration of Appointment: Depending on availability of donor funds; however, Africare appointments are for 12 months only, renewable annually

Overall Responsibilities 
The Project Officer will work under the supervision of a Senior Support Program Manager as well as the Country Director for Africare/Nigeria. The Project Officer will supervise a Finance Assistant, Project Assistant, HR assistant and a driver in the course of managing this project. This position requires an active individual who will constantly be on the road visiting schools and ensuring that the curriculum for the students is being administered in the right way by the coaches.

The Program Officer will have the following responsibilities and duties:

Specific Responsibilities:

• Under the supervision of the Senior Support Program Manager and the Country Director for Africare/Nigeria, the Program Officer is responsible for the following:
• Selection, monitoring and oversight of coaches in the program to ensure that they are fulfilling contractual obligation and administering curriculum.
• Relationship management with stakeholders in Government, officials at the schools etc.
• Project management with an ability to track scope, budget and time.
• Fully understand the project curriculum and be able to provide guidance to coaches and project staff on curriculum where needed.
• Vendor selection, oversight and coordination of infrastructure improvements and quality assurance the construction and maintenance of all infrastructures procured during the project.
• Quality assurance of work done.
• Communication on project results with country office, headquarters, donors and partners.
• Reporting on the project as required to all stakeholders.
• Logistics for donor and partner visits, inter school tournaments etc.
• Ensures that all project staff and coaches comply with Africare policies and procedures, donor and partner established rules of engagement and selected schools policies.
• Coordinate train the trainer session for coaches.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least five years of experience working in a professional environment with reporting lines and structured communication and work flows. Experience with an international NGO is preferred.
• Project management and relationship management knowledge and experience.
• At least five years experience of playing basketball competitively at the secondary and tertiary or professional level. Informal competitive experience counts.
• Quick learner with a good grasp of development issues in Nigeria like health, literacy and the death of social skills among youth.
• Undergraduate degree from a reputable university and knowledge of the game of basketball and current happenings and trends at the international, FIBA and NBA level.
• Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, Internet applications; Microsoft office suite highly desirable.
• Ability to carry out independent work with initiative, creativity and good judgment without close supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse staff and clients.

Application Closing Date
11th September, 2013

How to Apply:
Applications should include a CV and cover letter. In the cover letter (no more than two pages in length), the candidate should briefly describe his or her motivation for the position and highlight relevant experience.

Please send CVs to: nigeria.vacancies@africare.org and include the title to the position for which you are applying in the subject line.