Programme Officer at the European Union (EU)

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership between 28 European countries. It plays an important role in international affairs through diplomacy, trade, development aid and working with global organizations. Abroad, the EU is represented through more than 140 diplomatic representations, known also as EU Delegations, which have a similar function to those of an embassy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Officer

Location: Maiduguri
Job family: Programme
Job category: Programme Officer (Group 1)
Line manager: Head of Office, Abuja
Back-up: TA Abuja
Supervision exercised: Driver

Job Summary

• The job holder drives the office vehicle for transporting authorised personnel and delivery/collection of mail, documents and other items for the ECHO office.

Driver Duties

• Drives ECHO vehicles upon request and according to the information contained in the logistics board;
• Provides reliable and safe driving services by driving office vehicles for the transport of ECHO staff, EU officials and visitors
• Meets EU officials and visitors at the airport and provides support with visa and customs formalities arrangement when required;
• Loads / unloads vehicle and ensures security of goods while in the vehicle;
• Ensures proper day-to-day maintenance of the assigned vehicle through timely minor repairs, arrangements for and supervision of major repairs, timely changes of oil, check of tires, brakes and water levels, car washing, etc so that the vehicle is kept clean and in good running condition at all times;
• Ensures availability of all the required documents/supplies including vehicle insurance, vehicle registration, vehicle logs, check list, fuel form office directory, map of the city/country, first aid kit, and necessary spare parts in the assigned vehicle;
• Checks the weekly mission’s schedule of the vehicle, anticipates needs and reports any changes in vehicle use plan;
• Ensures all preparations for field missions (vehicle, equipment, routes, contacts, etc..), under the supervision of the line manager;
• Ensures that the steps required by rules and regulations are taken in case of involvement in an accident;
• Report immediately any accident or incident, even minor, to the HoO and RLC if applicable;

Specific Tasks for the Driver

• Maintains all records related to the use of ECHO vehicles such as Vehicle Daily Log and Vehicle History Record, and regularly submits them to relevant administration staff;
• Fleet management - Follows-up the maintenance and insurance of the vehicles.
• Messenger
• Registers, distributes and archives all the incoming and outgoing mail;
• Gets and delivers mail where needed
• General Administration Support
• Assists office staff in filing, photocopying when required;
• Performs other tasks as assigned by the supervisor;
• Translating and interpreting, as appropriate.

Specific Tasks for the Driver:

• Assists in the training, briefing and welcoming of newly recruited personnel;

Office Specific Responsibilities/Tasks
(If/When applicable):

• Undertakes any additional tasks as assigned by the Head of Office/RSO and/or Headquarters.

Competencies required:

• See list of competencies for this job category in annex
• The definition of each competency and examples of behaviours expected for each level are listed in annex.

Job Requirements
Education:

• Secondary education or equivalent. Must have a valid driver’s license.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience driving 4wheel drives, with a safe driving record;
• Specific driving experience in the country and sub-region;
• Basic knowledge of protocol rules and procedures;
• Good communication skills;
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment;
• Knowledge of communication equipment such radio, GPS is an advantage
• Knowledge of driving rules and regulations and skills in minor vehicle repairs;
• Previous experience in a Governmental or other International Organisation is an advantage;
• Basic computer literacy.

Languages:

• Fluency in English (verbal).
• Excellent knowledge of Hausa. A good command of Kanuri is an asset.

Job Description

• The ECHO office in Abuja. Nigeria, requires a Programme Officer who will be based in Maiduguri with frequent travel to other cities of the northern Nigeria states.

Job Summary

• The job holder carries out activities to ensure that effective humanitarian response is delivered.
• The job holder conducts assessments; develop strategies and represents ECHO when appropriate.
• The program officer will be asked to run the daily business of the Maiduguri antenna, and supervise the antenna staff in the absence of a TA.

Responsibilities & Tasks
Within delegated authority, the Programme Officer (Group I) will be responsible for the following duties:
Strategy and policy:

• Contributes to designing ECHO overall strategy, policies and thematic working groups.
• Reviews policy compliance in cooperation with policy experts in the RSO/HQ;

Project appraisal and Monitoring:

• In order to ensure proper project appraisal, evaluates partners’ financing requests in the light of the intervention strategy adopted and advises, as appropriate.
• Prepares fiche-ops, as appropriate and submits to the responsible Head of Office/TA;
• Liaise with partners on finalising and reviewing proposals, once the appraisal is agreed with ECHO headquarters;
• Assesses requests for contract modifications submitted by partners and advise ECHO as appropriate;
• Evaluate interim and final reports submitted by partners and advise ECHO as appropriate ;
• Critically studies and comments upon partners’ reports and field operations;
• Conduct field trips and consultations to monitor the implementation of ECHO-funded operations, as specified in the work programme provided by ECHO headquarters, in the light of partners’ contractual obligations, including in the field of information and communication and the situation on the ground in liaison with the RIO, and report to ECHO as appropriate;

Reporting:

• Draft reports on the humanitarian situation, including any political, economic and security events relevant to the analysis of the humanitarian situation in the country/region;

Communication & networking:

• Assists with, participate in, and report on meetings, as appropriate;
• Pro-actively follows local or regional events that may impact on the humanitarian situation in the country/region.
• Liaises closely with EU DG DEVCO officers and/or TA teams in the coordination of ECHO and DEVCO projects in the region, and supports preparation and execution of joint meetings and related activities.
• The Project Officer will contribute to information exchange, coordination and policy dialogue with national and international development partners, regional, national and local government actors, civil society and the private sector.

Emergency response and surge:

• Support the HoO/TA in the event of an emergency response;
• Provides back-stopping capacity and surge support in case of need.

Specific duties of the PO:

• Working with partners
• Advises on the operational capacity of implementing partners;
• Maintains contacts with ECHO’s partners, advising the relevant interlocutors of any major issues arising;
• Ensure the monitoring of ECHO visibility and pro-active communication by partners in operational contracts in line with the guidelines;
• Ensures communications with ECHO’s partners, including establishing and maintaining a database of relevant organisations and personnel;
• Manages/supervises contracts/grants database.
• Assess partners’ long-term planning, particularly with regard to their exit or hand- over strategy and, if appropriate, provisions for their programmes to be integrated into and/or taken over by local structures or organisations, with the support of AIDCO, EEAS or other development donors

More specifically, the PO should:

• Follow up/report on all post-crisis and other issues in line with the support provided by the EUD in the N-E (Borno package)
• Act as liaison officer to different interlocutors whenever required
• Monitor Borno package projects on specific occasions (if no other option exist with the EUD set-up)

Representing ECHO:

• Conduct field trips with other EU officials in field visits, as requested and appropriate;
• Participates to meetings of operational co-ordination fora organised by the international humanitarian community or the local or national authorities as appropriate;
• Liaises, in coordination with the HoO/TA with local authorities and institutions;
• Assist with enhancing the visibility and communication of ECHO’s overall assistance.
• Develops and maintain regular consultations with the field representatives of other humanitarian donors, especially those of EU Member States.

General Administration:
(If/When applicable)

• Daily management of the antenna in the absence of a TA;
• Performs financial and administrative responsibilities linked to the posting, liaising with the country AFA, and under the guidance of the Regional Administrative Co-ordinator;
• Provides weekly reports and other ad-hoc documents;
• Respond to requests for information;
• Establishes mission programmes.

Office Specific Responsibilities/Tasks
(If/When applicable)

• Undertakes any additional tasks as assigned by the TA/Head of Office/RSO and/or Headquarters.

Competencies required:

• See list of competencies for this job category in annex
• The definition of each competency and examples of behaviours expected for each level are listed in annex.

Job Requirements
Education:

• A relevant second level university degree or equivalent professional experience.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience at national or international level in managing programme/project operations., including at least 2 years of experience with an NGO's, donor or national/international organisation;
• Very good knowledge of the EU humanitarian aid system;
• Very good knowledge of International NGOs, UN Aid agencies and Red Cross Movement;
• Very good understanding of Humanitarian Aid principles, policies and Standards;
• The position requires excellent analytical, drafting and communication skills
• Full computer literacy, covering all relevant office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc)..

Languages:

• An excellent knowledge of English (verbal & writing).
• An excellent knowledge of Haoussa. Good knowledge of Kanouri is an asset.

Requirements
The candidate must:

• Have a relevant second level university Degree
• Demonstrate 5 years relevant experience at national or international level in managing programme/project operations, including at least 2 years of experience with an NGO’s, donor or national/international organisatien. If no advanced degree, ten years’ work experience in the humanitarian sector will he required
• Have a very good knowledge of the EU humanitarian aid system as well as Humanitarian Aid principles, policies and Standards
• Have Full computer literacy, covering all relevant office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc)..
• Be fluent in English (oral and written) plus excellent knowledge of Hausa. Good knowledge of Kanuri is an asset.

As a part of a small hut dynamic team, the Programme officer will carry out activities under the guidance from the ECHO/Technical Assistant such as:

• Situation assessments
• Analysis of ECHO partners’ proposals
• Monitoring, evaluation and coordination of pro cts
• Reporting and programme administration
• Liaising closely with EU DG DEVCO officers and/or TA teams in the coordination of ECHO and DEVCO projects in the region, and support preparation and execution of joint meetings and related activities.
• The position is open to all nationals of Nigeria and other residents holding a valid working permit or able to obtain such working permit before the foreseen recruitment date.

Application Closing Date
2nd June, 2017.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their Cover letter, a detailed CV, Academic and Employment Certificates to mailbox: [email protected]  The vacancy reference must be clearly indicated in the subject line.

Click here to view the List of Competencies (PDF)

Click here to view Functions versus Competencies

Note

• The position is open to all nationals of Nigeria and other residents holding a valid working permit or able to obtain such working permit before the foreseen recruitment date.
• Only the short-listed candidates will be contacted. Candidates who will not have been contacted by 30th June, 2017 should consider that they have not been selected.
• Any form of canvassing, soliciting or influencing will be treated as grounds for disqualification.