Project Officer Research Nigeria

Our vision is of a world where no one is blind from avoidable causes and where visually impaired people participate equally in society. Each year, we improve the lives of millions of people in the poorest parts of the world.

Project Officer Research
Kaduna, Nigeria

Sightsavers is an international development organisation which focuses on building eye health systems and championing the rights of disabled people in developing countries by working with partner organisations in poor and least served communities. We support ongoing activities that prevent and cure blindness, restore sight and promote equal opportunities for visually impaired people and otherwise disabled people. We are about to support research initiative as part of our organisational strategy of piloting and demonstrating scalable cost effective approach to strengthen health systems.

We are looking for a Research Officer to support this programme.

Overall purpose and responsibilities:

• To lead the implementation of the new research initiatives in the organisation.
• Assist project partners in the preparation of budgets and forecasts for the research initiatives.
• Take the lead to compile reports for the research initiatives and annual reports.
  
• Develop and support long term relationships with partners that are involved in the research initiative.
  
• Take the lead in certain programmatic areas within the country.
  
• Be proactive in providing relevant and good quality information needed for research, fundraising, communication and advocacy purposes.
  
• Work with partners to ensure effective and smooth implementation of projects within budget, supporting them to manage all aspects of the project cycle (project development, implementation, financial management, monitoring and evaluation etc).
  
• Represent the organisation at all levels with government, partners and other agencies, and advocate for the organisation’s philosophy and policies.

Person Specification:

• You should have a degree in relevant Field (Social Sciences, Development Studies and Public Health Education) Preferably at MSc level and extensive experience, ideally on research in an academic or NGO environment and progressive experience in public health.
  
• You must be a development practitioner with good experiential knowledge of public health management challenges in Northern Nigeria, particularly in the areas of research design implementation, project management and community development programmes, as well as health policy including a robust understanding of the institutional landscape governing the administration of health systems in Nigeria.
  
• A Programme Management and leadership experience will be essential, including ability to lead and deliver a large project with state offices in Northern Nigeria and ability to deliver in a multi-disciplinary team context.
• Knowledge in the use of tools like the Participatory Rural Appraisal and assessing the impact of programmes is required.
  
• Experience of working with donor agencies or managing grants will be an added advantage.
  
• Extensive project management skills and experience (understand and work with project budgets, forecasts and reports)

Candidates with disabilities who are qualified for the position are encouraged to apply.

Remuneration:

Competitive and commensurate with education background and previous relevant work experience.

Closing date: 5pm on 14 June 2012

How to apply

To apply for this post, please download our application pack and return the completed application form, along with your CV to vresearchproject@yahoo.com.

Alternatively you can post a hard copy to HR Department, Sightsavers, 21 Nii Nortei, Ababio Street, Airport Residential Area, Airport - Accra. Ghana

As an equal opportunities employer we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Qualified people living with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply.

We will be contacting short-listed candidates for interview, shortly after the closing dates. We very much regret that in view of the large number of applications we receive, we are unable to respond if you are unsuccessful. I am sure that you will understand the need to concentrate resources towards our work.