Project Officer at Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana

Job Description

Background
The Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana (YHFG) was founded in 2002 with a focus on advancing the course of young people to unearth their potentials and contribute meaningfully to society. As part of our vision to enable self-reliant and self-sufficient youth living in a more equal, healthy, and prosperous society, we are seeking a dynamic, goal-oriented and team player for the role of a Project Officer.

The Project Officer shall report to the Programme Manager and work in a team of other Project Officers to implement the Shifting Gender Norms for Improved Maternal and Adolescent Health (SIMAH) project in the Upper East and North East regions. The three-year implementation research project will adopt Gender Transformative Approaches (GTA) on the delivery of youth-friendly health services at 15 health facilities.

The Project Officer will perform a wide range of duties including the following:

1. Provide monitoring oversight to all the project components and consistently work to ensures adequate community involvement in the project
2. Conduct training of Health Workers and community members on GTA, Youth Friendly Health Service (YFHS) delivery and other related topics
3. Undertake regular community visits and provide ready support to community Ambassadors to realize the objectives of the project
4. Oversee data collection and participate in the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data using software such as NVIVO/CITAVI, SPSS/STATA, ODK, REDCap etc
5. Establish close relations with stakeholders and partners and prepare adequately for external project visits
6. Monitor, organize, attend and participate in stakeholder meetings and community engagements
7. Document and follow up on important actions and decisions from meetings for relevant stakeholders
8. Prepare necessary presentation materials for workshops and trainings
9. Ensuring (together with Programme Manager) that project deadlines are met
10. Compile technical reports and document all relevant activities and indices of the project and make relevant suggestions for changes where necessary
11. Performing any other duties assigned by the Executive Director or Programme Manager
12. Submit district specific reports regularly to the Programme Manager

Working Conditions:
The Project Officer will usually work in an office environment with regular travel to communities, however the mission of the organization may sometimes take the person to non-standard workplaces. The person will work a standard work week but may be required to work in the evenings and weekends where necessary.

Salary: Competitive (applicants should expect a net pay above GH¢2,000.00 in addition to other benefits)

Required Skills or Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Population Studies, Social Science, Development Studies or related field is required. (Master’s degree is preferrable).
• A minimum of three (3) years working experience with an NGO or Research/Academic Institution.
• Familiarity with and/or experience developing research protocols, tools and data collection
• Familiarity with community terrains of the Upper East and North East regions (Talensi, Bawku West and West Mamprusi) is a plus.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of Project Management or Public Health competencies
• Ability to ride a motor bike (YHFG staff are required to hold riding license to be eligible as Project Officers).
• Fluency in, at least, Gurune, Kusaal or Mampruli (experience working in these areas is a plus).
• Proficiency in the use of MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint. Applicants with background in research software such as Kobo/ODK Collect, STATA, SPSS, NVIVO are preferred.

Personal characteristics:
The Project Officer should demonstrate competence in some or all of the following:

1. Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices and ensure that their own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
2. Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.
3. Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
4. Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization and to create new opportunities.
5. Focus on youth needs: Anticipate, understand and respond to the needs of internal and external young people to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.
6. Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
7. Organize: Set priorities, develop work schedules, monitor progress towards project goals, and track details, data, information and activities.
8. Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.