PROJECT OFFICER - CLTS RESEARCH PROJECT

Plan is an international humanitarian child centered community development organization, without religious, political or government affiliation. Plan started its operations in Kenya in 1982 and is committed to improving the lives and futures of poor children through a child-centered community development approach.

Plan Kenya is seeking to recruit two Project Officers located in Kilifi and Homabay respectively. The purpose of this job is to implement the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) Testing Modified CLTS for Scalability Project. This is a four-year multi-country project that Plan will be implemented with support from Plan International USA and The Water Institute at the University of North Carolina USA. It is research-based project with the overall goal of advancing global sanitation efforts by improving the cost-effectiveness and scalability of the CLTS approach. This goal will be pursued by implementing CLTS pilot interventions in Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana, while collecting, evaluating, and disseminating practical lessons learned about overcoming common challenges to implementing CLTS at scale.

The Project Officer position will work closely with the Programs Coordinator (Health) and the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator at the PU level with regular consultations and guidance from the Project Manager, Water & Sanitation Advisor, Research and Documentation Manager, and CLTS Advisor at national level. The position reports administratively to the Program Coordinator Health and technically to the Project Manager.

Key Responsibilities: •Facilitate the design, work planning and management of the project as designated •While working with the various partners/stakeholders, ensure timely implementation of all project activities and adherence to approved budgets •Support training and mentoring of project partners, natural and local leaders to use alternative CLTS triggering approaches and use of project quality monitoring tools •Maintain and populate the Project Management Information System •Coordinate good quality and unbiased data collection with appropriate MER Consultants •Provide timely updates on project activities and upload these in the project log. In addition, provide timely project and financial reports within the set requirements •Documentation and dissemination of best practices and lessons learnt from the project •Fulfill Plan's Child Protection Policy at all times to ensure protection of children from all forms of abuse Required Skills and Professional/Technical Qualifications •Degree or Diploma in a related technical discipline (Environmental Sanitation, Public Health, Social Science or other relevant qualification) •Excellent communication skills including report-writing, project documentation and oral presentation •Research and facilitation skills including such as community organizing,participatory approaches in development and research. •Good networking and partnership skills negotiation , interpersonal skills. •Proficiency in Microsoft applications and other relevant applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database, Internet. •Proficiency in the use of data management software (e.g. SPSS, Word, Excel, Epi-Info). Knowledge, Experience and Attitude required for the position: •Three years experience in rural development with a focus on water resource management, sanitation, and health promotion. Knowledge of maternal, neonatal and child health, and of the health sector is an added advantage. •Demonstrated experience in using community based approaches to achieve sustainable behavior change and specifically Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) . •In-depth knowledge of project cycle management, with at least 3 years hands-on experience managing a donor-funded project. Experience in research using quantitative and qualitative methods will be an added advantage. •Experience in managing partnerships and working through Government of Kenya Systems to scale-up development innovations •Strong team spirit, good capacity to communicate to ensure effective presentations to various audiences.

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