Agriculture and Nutrition Project Officer

Job Description

Job Announcement

Agriculture and Nutrition Project Officer

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of health, emergency, education, agriculture, and capacity strengthening of partners. In 2023, CRS implemented a portfolio of 18 malaria programs globally, in 15 countries (Africa and the Greater Mekong Region). Catholic Relief Services has been working in Liberia since 1957 with a current programmatic focus targeting health, nutrition, peacebuilding, and agriculture.

Job Summary:

The Nutrition and Agriculture Project Officer will be responsible for leading the design, implementation, and support of agricultural and nutrition-focused interventions under the Gardens for Resilience, Opportunities, and Wealth (GROW Liberia) initiative. This includes oversight of key agricultural activities, community savings and loans programming, and nutrition-sensitive approaches. The role involves substantial engagement in training, activity execution, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting. The Project Officer will work closely with county-based field facilitators, SILC group members, selected schools, and other team members to effectively serve target communities. This position is based in Monrovia.

Title: Agriculture and Nutrition Project Officer

Location: Monrovia, Liberia

Type of Role: Fixed-Term Contract

Reports to: Program Director – Agriculture, Livelihoods, and Landscapes

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and implement assigned project activities in alignment with the detailed implementation plan, ensuring adherence to CRS program quality standards, donor requirements, and industry best practices.
• Monitor implementation progress, identify challenges or gaps, and recommend adjustments to improve effectiveness. Support partners in reflecting on project experiences for continuous learning.
• Facilitate project accountability by coordinating evaluation activities and supporting partners in data collection and analysis using approved tools and methodologies. Ensure timely and accurate reporting in collaboration with local partners.
• Lead the implementation of nutrition, school/kitchen/community gardens, and savings and loan activities in target communities, including group formation and supervision.
• Design and execute urban kitchen, school, and community gardens, cooking demonstrations, and nutrition counseling to promote dietary diversity.
• Train participants in sustainable gardening techniques such as soil preparation, composting, container use, planting, and garden maintenance.
• Monitor and evaluate nutrition interventions, garden activities, and savings group performance, providing ongoing technical support and guidance.
• Promote the use of locally available resources and organic practices to encourage environmentally sustainable approaches.
• Facilitate behavior change initiatives focused on care-seeking, nutrition, handwashing, and gardening using the positive deviance approach.
• Establish demonstration plots to serve as practical learning hubs for project participants.
• Develop incentive systems to increase community engagement in school/kitchen/community gardening activities.
• Collaborate with the Ministries of Health, Education, and Agriculture to ensure project activities align with national policies and strategic frameworks.
• Assess partner staff capacity and technical assistance needs, and monitor the effectiveness of capacity-building efforts.
• Document project activities, identify promising practices, and contribute to case studies and learning reports.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Agriculture, Public Health, or a related field is required.
• A minimum of 3 years of work experience in project support with an I/NGO is required.
• Experience working with adolescent girls and young women for an NGO would be a plus.
• Experience in vocational training and business development would be a plus
• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning, and community engagement.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data is required.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Ability to be flexible and effective in the face of unexpected challenges
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience living and working in resource-limited environments is strongly preferred.

Required Languages – Strong English speaking and writing proficiency is required; knowledge of Liberian dialects is a plus.

Travel – Will be based in Monrovia.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Observation, active listening, and analysis skills with the ability to make sound judgments.
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members.
• Attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented

Preferred Experience

• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience implementing activities, monitoring projects, and collecting relevant data preferred.
• Experience in the conduct of school/kitchen/community garden activities.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Agency REDI 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 are 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.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

Lead Change – Continually look 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 enhance team and agency performance.
Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.
Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes (2). You will supervise two field facilitators on a service contract to the GROW Liberia project

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Program Manager, MEAL Technical Advisor, Project Assistant.

External: Local Implementing Partners, Government, etc.

Applications:

Please send a cover letter and a resume/CV to LR_HR@crs.org by October 15, 2025, with the subject line “Agriculture and Nutrition Project Officer.” Both the cover letter and CV/resume should be in PDF format and submitted as a single document. Applications will be reviewed and assessed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls, please. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity; however, if you don’t hear from us after two months of the vacancy deadline, kindly note that your application was not successful.

CRS follows an equal opportunity policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all, especially women and people living with a disability.

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviours related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

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

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.