Project Officer

Job Title: Project Officer

Department/Group: Implementation

Reporting To: Project Manager

Years of Experience 3+ Years

Location: Nyabihu - Rwanda

Travel Required: 80%

Job description

About Raising The Village

At Raising The Village (RTV), we are dedicated to eradicating ultra-poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. As a dynamic, rapidly growing international development organization, we’ve assembled a team of over 350+ passionate individuals in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and DRC, alongside an additional 10+ professionals in North America. Together, we are committed to elevating communities out of ultra-poverty by implementing innovative solutions and leveraging advanced data analytics to drive impact.

To date, our holistic approach has positively impacted over 1,000,000 lives since 2012, and we’re poised to achieve even greater milestones, aiming to assist 1 million individuals annually by 2027. Our growth and success are fuelled by the invaluable support of global partners who share our vision of sustainable change. Learn more about our impactful programs at www.raisingthevillage.org

Role Overview

Reporting to the Project Manager, the Project Officer will work to support Raising The Village (RTV) programs in Rwanda and oversee RTV’s Project Assistants in all aspects of their work. They are responsible to ensure follow up and follow through as per project designs and workplans. An RTV Project Officer is the first point of contact to resolve issues and find solutions to challenges experienced by Projects Assistants in the field as well as in the office. The ideal candidate is well-versed in processes under their roles responsibilities, is results-driven and focused with a clear goal of ensuring that implementation work is carried out on time, within budget and results in sustainable quality work.

Given RTV’s government-partnership implementation model, the Project Officer must demonstrate strong experience working closely with local government institutions, particularly at Sector and Cell levels, to ensure alignment, coordination, and smooth program delivery.

This role is highly field-based and requires extensive travel (approximately 80% of the time), including frequent visits to remote rural communities.

Roles and Responsibilities

Project management

• Ensure Project Assistants’ workplans are in alignment with the project designs and being implemented accordingly

• Ensure on-going management of workplans for each cluster under their purview

• Review and follow-up on field reporting requirements and workplan and action plans

• Take proactive measures to identify risks and issues and provide solutions and/or mitigating measures to ensure successful initiatives

• Bring to the Senior Project Officer’s attention items that need further support or guidance

• Conduct a minimum of three (3) site visits per week to oversee key activities and support Project Assistants with their clusters as required

• Participate in project progress reviews

• Support Senior Project Officers with workload and co-implement initiatives as may be required and/or assigned

Government Coordination, Capacity Building & Partnership Management

• Coordinate with Sector- and Cell-level government officials to support RTV project implementation in line with agreed partnership frameworks and local government priorities.

• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate trainings for government staff (e.g. Sector Agronomists, SEDOs, Cell ESs) on RTV methodologies, roles, and implementation processes

• Jointly mobilize communities with government counterparts and RTV staff to ensure clear messaging, strong community ownership, maximized adoption of RTV program components, and high attendance and active participation in all community-level trainings

• Provide ongoing coaching and on-the-job support to government staff involved in RTV activities to strengthen coordination, accountability, and implementation quality

• Support government counterparts in supervision and monitoring of RTV-supported activities, including joint field visits, household coaching sessions, and problem-solving at community

• level

• Collect, validate, and consolidate activity and progress reports from government counterparts and ensure timely integration into RTV reporting systems.

• Promote a strong partnership culture between government officials and RTV staff to ensure smooth, effective, and sustainable implementation of RTV projects at sector level

Supervision & Team Building

• Conduct weekly cluster meetings under your purview and provide constructive feedback and coaching for both program related aspects as well as staff related

• Provide support and guidance to Project Assistants to ensure work is progressing in each village but also to help navigate RTV’s structures and administrative aspects

• Complete mid-term and annual performance reviews

• Facilitate RTV methodology staff-refresher training for staff learning

• Provide mentorship and coaching support to Project Assistants and other colleagues as might be required

Administration

● Support Project Manager as requested on project specific activities;

● Support management with information sharing for donor reporting and proposal writing opportunities;

● Approve leave requests of staff under your management

Note: Other requirements as might be required by their direct supervisor and/or management.

Required Qualifications

Technical and Interpersonal Skills

• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written English

• Fluent in local dialects in areas where RTV works

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs i.e. Word and Excel

• Excellent organizational and leadership skills with keen attention to details

• Accurately completes multiple tasks while taking into consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions, available resources and multiple reporting relationships

• Strong training & facilitation skills

• Able to build and work as part of a team

• Reliable, with high integrity and strong work ethic

• Able to work as part of a team and create a sense of cohesion within teams

• Able to keep a positive attitude in a fast-paced and challenging environment

• Energetic and physically able to hike high terrain

• Able to travel approximately 80% of time

• Ability to ride a motorbike would be an added advantage

• Willingness and ability to travel extensively (approximately 80% of the time)

• Ability to ride a motorbike with a valid Rwandan rider’s permit and demonstrated experience navigating remote, rural and hilly terrain (mandatory)

Education and Experience

• University Degree in Community Development, Project Management, Project Planning, Development, Development studies and social work and social administration or related fields

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture is preferred but not required

• A minimum of three (3) years of work experience in community development programs, project management, facilitation and leaderships or related field

• Experience in project management and implementation at village level.

• Demonstrated experience working with and coordinating local government institutions and officials, particularly at Sector and Cell levels (mandatory)

We encourage women, people with disabilities and minority groups to apply for this position. RTV is committed to equal opportunities and diversity of perspective at the workplace.

Disclaimer: Raising the Village DOES NOT charge any kind of FEE(s) at whichever stage of the recruitment process.