Senior Project Officer MEAL - Marsabit & Turkana

Job Summary:

As the County Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Lead for the project, the Senior Project Officer MEAL will coordinate and oversee implementation of the project MEAL system in the assigned county, advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Working under the technical leadership of the Program Manager - MEAL, the position will lead county level monitoring, data management and quality assurance, accountability, learning and reporting; provide technical guidance to project and partner teams; and ensure that reliable performance information and participant feedback inform timely decisions, corrective action and continuous improvement. The position will work closely with county project leadership, implementing partners, government counterparts, community representatives and relevant technical and operations teams to promote harmonized MEAL approaches, compliance with CRS and donor requirement, and high-quality delivery of food assistance, food for assets and nutrition related project activities. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

1. County MEAL Planning and Performance Monitoring

• Lead and coordinate implementation of county-level MEAL activities in line with project implementation plans, CRS program quality standards, donor requirements, and established best practices.
• Coordinate the collection, validation, consolidation, and analysis of performance data from CRS and implementing partners, ensuring accurate and timely reporting.
• Monitor progress against approved indicators, targets, and milestones, identify gaps and risks, and communicate findings and corrective actions to the Program Manager - MEAL and county leadership.

• Support county teams and partners in the consistent application of approved indicators, tools, methodologies, data collection processes, and reporting requirements to ensure data quality and program performance.

2. Data Management, Digital Systems and Data Quality

• Coordinate and oversee county-level data management processes, including data entry, cleaning, validation, storage, analysis, reporting, and maintenance of indicator tracking tools, databases, dashboards, and supporting documentation to ensure accurate and timely performance reporting.
• Manage the effective use of digital MEAL systems, including participant registration and verification, QR-coded participant tracking, commodity and food distribution monitoring, accountability mechanisms, and performance reporting systems.
• Conduct routine data quality checks, verifications, and assessments, monitor resolution of identified issues, and ensure compliance with data quality standards.

• Collaborate with MIS, Digital Programming/ICT4D, accountability, supply chain, and compliance teams to address system, device, and data flow challenges while ensuring the secure and responsible management of participant information.

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3. Field Monitoring, Accountability and Corrective Action

• Lead and coordinate risk-based field monitoring, spot checks, verification visits, and routine monitoring activities across project sites to assess implementation quality, compliance with established standards, and performance of key interventions including participant targeting, food distribution, commodity management, food-for-assets activities, nutrition services, and market systems.
• Support the implementation of accessible and responsive Feedback, Complaints and Response Mechanisms (FCRM), including analysis of feedback trends, documentation of findings, and prompt referral of sensitive complaints and safeguarding concerns through established CRS procedures.
• Ensure monitoring findings, observations, post-distribution monitoring results, and verification outcomes are documented, communicated, and translated into corrective actions, while tracking resolution of issues with project, partner, supply chain, accountability, and compliance teams.

4. Learning, Assessments, Reporting and Resource Coordination

• Lead county-level learning and reflection processes by using monitoring findings, performance data, participant feedback, and contextual insights to inform adaptive management and improve project implementation.
• Support the implementation of baselines, endlines, assessments, surveys, and learning studies through tool review, enumerator preparation, field supervision, data quality assurance, and validation of findings.
• Ensure timely submission of accurate and validated county MEAL data and reports for CRS, partners, and donors, while producing dashboards and performance summaries to support management decision-making.
• Document and share lessons learned, promising practices, implementation adaptations, trends, and case studies, ensuring supporting evidence for reported results is properly maintained in line with donor and CRS requirements.
• Support county MEAL work planning, budgeting, and the responsible management, tracking, and safeguarding of MEAL equipment, devices, and other resources

5. Partner Coordination, Capacity Strengthening and Team Supervision

• Build and maintain effective relationships with implementing partners, county government counterparts, community representatives, and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, accountability, data sharing, and the use of MEAL findings for decision-making.
• Coordinate county-level MEAL priorities and promote consistent application of approved indicators, tools, data quality standards, and reporting requirements across project stakeholders and partners.
• Assess and strengthen MEAL capacity through training, coaching, technical support, and follow-up mentoring for project staff, partner teams, frontline data collectors, and relevant county government systems.
• Supervise county MEAL staff and coordinate temporary enumerators and other short-term personnel, providing performance management, workload planning, professional development, and operational support for monitoring and assessment activities.

Required Languages: Fluency in English and at least one local language

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 60%, with regular travel to project implementation locations in Marsabit and Turkana. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Strong data management, database and data quality assurance skills.
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, International Development, Public Health, Food Security, Economics or another relevant field.
• Experience supporting MEAL for food assistance, food for assets, nutrition, resilience, or humanitarian programming.
• Experience working with county governments and local partners in arid and semi-arid contexts, preferably in Marsabit
• Experience with institutional donor funded programming, preferably in food security, nutrition, resilience or humanitarian assistance.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Project Officer Accountability (Marsabit)

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: PM - MEAL; County based technical and operations staff; MIS/Data Manager; Accountability staff; Compliance staff; Supply chain and commodity management teams; Digital Programming/ICT4D staff

External: Implementing Partner staff; County government counterparts and relevant county departments; Community representatives and Project Accountability Committees; project participants; and relevant coordination and technical stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Statistics, International Development, Public Health, Food Security, Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field, with additional relevant experience considered in lieu of some educational requirements.
• Minimum four years of NGO experience in MEAL, with demonstrated expertise in indicator tracking, routine monitoring, data management and analysis, reporting, and data quality assurance.
• Proven experience using digital MEAL and information management systems, including mobile data collection platforms, participant registration and verification systems, commodity and food distribution tracking, post-distribution and market monitoring, reporting, and data visualization tools.
• Experience supporting assessments, surveys, baselines, endlines, evaluations, and other learning initiatives, with the ability to analyze and use data to inform program decisions and improve performance.
• Demonstrated ability to work with implementing partners and communities, strengthen MEAL capacity through training and coaching, and supervise staff, enumerators, or data collection teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, mobile data collection platforms (e.g., CommCare, KoboToolbox), statistical analysis software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R), data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI), web conferencing applications, and information management systems.

MEAL Competencies:

• Demonstrates solid knowledge and ability, and can apply Monitoring, Accountability and Learning competencies with minimal or no guidance, in the full range of typical situations. Would require guidance to handle novel or more complex situations.
• Demonstrates basic knowledge and ability and, with guidance, can apply MEAL in Design, Evaluation, Analysis and Critical Thinking, ICT4MEAL and Management in MEAL competencies in common situations that present limited difficulties.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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.

• Personal Accountability - Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others - Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn - Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to 

       learn new things.

 Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change - Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others - Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhances team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset - Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Disclaimer: 

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

What we offer: 

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world. CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting men, women, boys and girls safe from abuse, exploitation, and harm.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for this position, especially those from marginalized and people with disabilities backgrounds 

Data Protection/Disclaimer: 

Catholic Relief Services is committed to ensuring the security and protection of the personal information that we process, and to provide a compliant and consistent approach to data protection. 

Recruitment Disclaimer: 

We wish to notify that CRS does not demand or charge any fee/charges from the aspiring candidates for considering their candidature, or at any time during the recruitment process, nor have we authorized any individual, agency or firm to recruit candidates for us. Any person seeking employment with CRS needs to be cautious and not trust any agency or individual claiming to be our representative and charging fees for providing/securing employment with us.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

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

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.