Job Advertisement

Management Sciences for Health, a US based international NGO founded in 1971 working in more than 40 countries including Cameroon, seeks a Program Officer(PO) based in Yaoundé. 

The Program Officer is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of technical activities by providing technical, administrative, and logistical support for the Cameroon Evidence to Action (E2A) project which aims to increase access to family planning (FP). She or he works with the Technical Advisor to coordinate and monitor clinical training activities as well as support to a local NGO that trains youth peer educators and performs community outreach work.  

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILTIES

Technical/ Monitoring and Evaluation

1. Coordinate assistance to an NGO that trains and supports peer educators to conduct regular peer outreaches on family planning and other sexual reproductive health and rights topics in their respective constituencies
2. Work with partner to develop effective behavior communication change (BCC) strategies and tools, communication materials, message development, training materials, etc., to support family planning and reproductive health behavior change and outreach activities, with a focus on impacting youth and other vulnerable populations
3. Provide technical assistance in BCC approaches to local partner for implementation, including coordination, monitoring, and capacity building
4. Stay current with latest technical knowledge and programming experience in BCC related to family planning and reproductive health, and incorporate latest research and programming into program and communications strategies
5. Facilitate mobile outreach services, collaborating with clinical service providers to offer FP counseling, information, methods, and referrals as mobile providers during peer education sessions
6. Develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system for all project activities

Program and Logistics

• In coordination with the Technical Advisor, prepare a detailed activity plan and budget for all technical activities, including workshops, training, site visits, supervision visits, etc. 
• Prepare written communications for participants, partners, and clients.
• Secure adequate meeting rooms for activities.
• Arrange lodging, tea breaks and meals for participants and trainers in accordance with project policy and USAID regulations.
• Collaborate with accountant to assure all purchases for activities are procured according to USAID rules in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with accountant to arrange payment of per diem and transport to participants.
• Coordinate production and binding of materials.
• Manage logistical conflicts expeditiously, keeping Program Staff and Fin/Ops staff informed.
• Coordinate travel in project vehicles with Travel/Logistics Coordinator.
• Communicate and follow up with consultants to assure all documentation necessary to prepare their contracts has been received.
• Work in collaboration with contracts officer to ensure that all consulting agreements are in place for activities for specific activities prior to implementation. 
• Contribute to the preparation of workshop agenda and any necessary technical materials.
• Draft and send follow-up correspondence with participants after completion of workshop.
• Coordinates all international/domestic travel and hotel arrangements related to E2A Cameroon project activities.  Ensure that all travel arrangements are in compliance with USAID regulations and procedures.
• Provide general support to project team members when traveling.
• Travel to various field activities to provide support when required.

Operations and Information Management

1. Update electronic calendar daily as activities are scheduled or modified.
2. Attend and document meetings, including technical working group meetings, as required.
3. Develop and maintain project tracking sheets for ongoing activities and pending items.
4. Orient and brief consultants regarding MSH procedures.
5. Serve as a resource to and operational liaison for MSH headquarters regarding program activities, as necessary.
6. Maintain responsibility for file management on the shared drive on the network.
7. Maintain contact lists for counterparts, clients, resource persons, consultants, etc.
8. Ensure timely submission of project reports
9. Following guidance from the Technical Advisor, contribute to the collection of project information, the documentation of progress towards results and oversee the preparation of reports. Reporting includes collecting information, formatting, producing, and distributing reports. File, fax, and photocopy, as appropriate.
10. Conduct and/or support any special projects or other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and/or equivalent relevant.
• Minimum of 5 years working experience in a similar role
• Verbal and written language skills in French required; English verbal and written skills also preferred

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Experience in behavior change communication, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, training, family planning/reproductive health, budget monitoring, and coordination
• Experience in peer education and outreach preferred
• Prior experience working for a NGO preferred
• Ability to work independently and take initiative
• Ability to learn complex program procedures
• Demonstrated competence to assess priorities and manage a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality
• Strong logistical and organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to work as an effective team member in a complex and fast paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, maturity, integrity, and demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse staff, clients and consultants.
• Demonstrated ability in computer skills for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations (Microsoft Office applications preferred); and ability to learn new software packages.
• Experience using social networking (e.g. Facebook or Twitter) for disseminating health messages is a plus.

For more information and application please visit our webpage on https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/7314/program-officer/job

Deadline for réception of application files is 21 March 2014.

Please send complete application files(curriculum vitae, motivation letter, copies of certificates and diplomas) to Management Sciences for Health, Immeuble 1067 de la SCI Foul'Assi, Rue 1750 Nouvelle Route Bastos Yaounde, P.O. Box 35551, Yaounde.

Attn: Pelagie CHEDJIO