Senior Project Officer - Quality Improvement at Catholic Relief

Nairobi (Ref.2019/013)

Coast (Ref.2019/014)

Department: MWENDO Project - Programming

Band: 9

Reports To: Capacity and Systems Strengthening Specialist

Country/Location: Kenya/ Nairobi/Coast

Length of Contract:** Two years

Job Summary:

You will work closely with Department of Children Services (DCS) and Local Implementing Partners (LIPs) to provide technical advice and guidance to support improvements in OVC program areas in line with CRS’ program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your advice, knowledge, and support will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS Kenya is in assisting improvement in OVC service delivery at both county, sub-county and location levels.

Job Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Capacity and Systems Strengthening Specialist, the Quality Improvement (QI) SPO will work closely with Department of Children Services (DCS) and Local Implementing Partners (LIPs) to support improvements in OVC program areas. S/he will be responsible for advancing the science of improvement in OVC service delivery at both county, sub-county and location levels in the two regions. The QI SPO will ensure that MWENDO imbeds Improvement Methodology at all intervention levels.

• Support the MWENDO project team and all project partners to effectively implement strategies to ensure that quality improvement (QI) approaches are mainstreamed into all project interventions. in line with CRS’ program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your advice, knowledge, and support will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS Kenya is in assisting improvement in OVC service delivery at both county, sub-county and location levels.
• Help ensure a cross-cutting approach integrating QI in gender, case management, work with adolescents with respect to OVC, livelihoods, and systems strengthening.
• Participate in the design, development and implementation of integrated project work plans together with other MWENDO technical staff. Manage, implement, and report on all QI-related activities throughout the project cycle to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. Ensure project team and partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools.
• Conduct routine healthcare facility audits on quality improvement. Document results and assist with planning and implementing QI improvement initiatives as needed.
• Take lead in providing technical support and capacity strengthening initiatives for MWENDO county, sub-county, consortium partners and LIPs in implementing QI initiatives and improve capacity in OVC areas in line with the Kenya Quality Improvement standards through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, mentoring and coaching.
• Ensure the MWENDO MEAL implementation plan is adequate to track specific QI interventions Analyze and evaluate project QI-related performance data following MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.
• Maintain relationships and represent CRS with DCS, peer organizations, research and other institutions, participate in relevant forums and knowledge networks to collect and share best practices in QI integration, promote CRS’ work, and contribute to the CRS learning agenda.

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

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Science, Gender, International Development, Development Economics or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years for Masters degree holders or 4-years relevant work experience in holistic programming and Quality Improvement with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO. In-depth knowledge of QI frameworks and linkages and referral of OVC to array of service providers.
• Strong knowledge of the health and social service sector in Kenya to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Knowledge and experience in capacity strengthening, training, and facilitation best practices.
• Experience in the development of strategic and tactical plans in collaboration with various stakeholders who may represent a wide range of interests and needs. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Personal Skills

• Strong communication, relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings
• Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Good technical writing skills
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Required/Desired Foreign Language

Able to clearly communicate in written and spoken English

Travel Required

Up to 60% of the time to MWENDO project sites

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: None

Internal: Adolescent SPO, Case Management SPO, Gender SPO, Systems Strengthening Specialist, Economic Strengthening and Livelihoods Specialist

External: LIPs, GOK

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.