Christian Veterinarians Nigeria (CVN) Recruiting

NGO Type – Faith Based Organisation

Positions – Veterinary Mission and Community Service Officers (VM-CSO) &

Veterinary Mission – Finance, Admin and Mobilization Officer (VM-FAMO)

Location – Ibadan, Oyo State.

Deadline for Application – 4.00 p.m, 27th January, 2014.

Christian Veterinarians Nigeria (CAC/IT/NO 55706) is the national platform for mobilizing Christian Veterinarians (and allied professionals/others) and providing them with practical opportunities for “veterinary mission and community service” i.e. modeling the Love of Christ through balanced ministry to the physical, spiritual, social, economic, technical/technological and environmental/ecological needs of livestock communities and other animal owners. CVN uses veterinary or livestock-based humanitarian relief, social enterprise, workplace ministry, church planting, missions and development as points of entry to communities.

CVN is currently joining other organizations to implement a rural agro-pastoral/dairy development program in some parts of Nigeria “Where there are no Vets” (WTNV) i.e. where animals serve important psycho-social, cultural or economic purposes and veterinary and allied services are poor, inadequate or non-existent and veterinary/allied professionals and others will need more of humanitarian/missionary motives to serve. CVN’s aim on the program is to share the Gospel, while providing access to sustainable production and postharvest technologies/innovations that will enable rural farmers and herders to better market, manage and link up their businesses for their ‘holistic’ well being.

Veterinary/allied professionals and others who have strong personal initiatives and are mature, highly creative/innovative and self-motivated to serve as missionaries are now being recruited on the program. Provisions have been made for them to have the best possible conditions of service that will encourage significant personal growth, competence, professionalism, independence, job-satisfaction and fulfilment as missionaries.                      

THE POSITIONS

Veterinary Mission and Community Service Officers (VM-CSO)

The VMCOs are the critical human resources for designing, planning, fundraising and implementation of the program as described above. Those recruited for the position of VM-CSO will have the option to serve part-time or full-time and on a long or short term basis in a community or on secondment to a partner organization/church interested in the program. However, all VM-CSOs will be required to participate actively in other CVN activities within and outside Nigeria.

High qualifications and ability to speak and write Fulani or Hausa and one other Nigerian language will be an added advantage. Applicants with very high qualifications may be offered a higher position, as found appropriate.

Veterinary Mission – Finance, Admin and Mobilization Officer (VM-FAMO)

The VM-FAMO will take charge of resource mobilization, financial management and other high level administrative tasks of CVN, including monitoring and reporting as well as ensuring compliance with standard policies, guidelines and best management practices in the organization and its projects. The VM-FAMO will be required to work full-time, but will have the option for either long or short term service and will be based at the CVN National Office in Ibadan, while being required to travel frequently and participate in other CVN activities within and outside Nigeria.

High qualifications and ability to speak and write Fulani or Hausa and one other Nigerian language will be an added advantage. Applicants with very high qualifications may be offered a higher position, as found appropriate. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

All VM-CSOs and VM-FAMO will be responsible for –

• Ensuring that CVN is in continuous touch with current developments/realities, challenges, trends and emerging opportunities in livestock, agriculture and rural livelihoods programming as it pertains to practical implementation in the field.
• Participating in CVN strategy development, performance reporting, programming and other administrative tasks; ensuring sound planning, design and implementation of CVN projects.
• Carrying out strategic analysis of current developments/realities, challenges, trends and emerging opportunities in global livestock, agriculture and rural livelihoods programming as an input to CVN strategic planning.
• Assisting in developing and managing strategies, policies, plans, procedures and guidelines for CVN projects;
• Working closely with and supporting CVN leaders in the area of organizational development as well as other activities; this will include travelling for assigned duties and visits to CVN members, partners and projects in different locations.
• Pursuing grant/funding opportunities, writing grant proposals and cooperating with veterinary/agriculture staff of other agencies, while cultivating relationships with donors, peers, organizations and partners working in related fields, including non-governmental organizations, private sector businesses, think tanks, and academic institutions.
• Participating in the development and maintenance of updated database and statistics of CVN members, partners and projects.
• Carrying out surveys, other research activities, program tracking and standardization as well as developing quality control and monitoring systems and writing technical reports on current field work;
• Ensuring that cross-cutting issues, such as gender, climate change, food security, youth, and other issues are included in CVN mission projects as appropriate, and that programs comply with government regulations and CVN policies.
• Writing and/or reviewing practical manuals on veterinary mission and community service projects and activities.
• Sharing best practices (through providing training or resources) with colleagues, while maintaining excellence in the veterinary mission and community service efforts of CVN;
• Ensuring integration of spiritual aspects into the veterinary/agriculture and other interventions of CVN.
• Leading and participating in frequent and timed group devotions and joint prayer support for CVN ministries, donors, staffs and volunteers.
• Maintaining a strong Christian witness to colleagues, vendors, clients, beneficiaries of CVN and the general public;
• Assessing, managing, and reporting critical physical, emotional or spiritual concerns of colleagues and supervised staff;
• VM-CSOs and VM-FAMP, in addition to their duties in CVN, may engage in “tent-making” activities;
• Participating in the preparation and negotiation of program agreements and contracts with partners and clients;

Specifically, the VM-CSOs will be responsible for –

• Designing, planning, fundraising and implementation of specific field projects as described above;
• Participating actively in fundraising and social enterprise efforts of CVN; supporting senior management in ensuring moderation, prudence, transparency and accountability in the management of CVN finances;
• Assisting in developing and managing strategies, policies, plans, procedures and guidelines for CVN projects;

The VM-FAMO will be responsible for –  

• Mobilizing (human, financial and material) resources and managing them by providing policy guidance, advice and support to colleagues on the field.
• Leading fundraising and social enterprise efforts of CVN; supporting senior management in defining strategic financial objectives, policy formulation, decision making concerning procurement actions and allocation of resources, monitoring and evaluating financial performance and managing the budget cycle; this will include travelling for assigned duties and visits to mission fields and CVN members, partners and projects within and outside the country.

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS AND PERSONAL QUALITIES –

All applicants must demonstrate a sense of calling unto the service of God and must have the conviction of a ministry focus or vision which will contribute to the life and work of CVN. All applicants must show willingness to trust God for the resources to carry out the work as other Christian workers have done over the ages. This is in addition to –

• New/transformed life and personal faith in Jesus Christ and growing personal maturity as a Christian. More important than any experience is the applicant’s strong and growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His call on his/her life, which can be confirmed by independent opinions; additional study in a recognized Bible College or similar institution or alternatively, at least four (4) years of service as a worker/leader in recognized church or fellowship is required;
• The applicant must be confirmed by independent opinions to be in good standing and active in fellowship and service in a local church which does not hold any belief that is contrary to CVN’s Statements of Faith and other laid down principles, values and practices of CVN; applicants may wish to confirm these from the address below;
• Openness, perseverance, initiative and willingness to work with other Christians irrespective of their differing backgrounds and views on non-essentials and must demonstrate respect for the views and personality traits of other people and respect for people of other faiths and culture;
• Emotionally stable and fit, showing evidence of character qualities (e.g. self-discipline, adaptable and flexible, inter-personal skills, demonstrated love, understanding, compassion etc) that will enable him/her to exert a positive influence upon the life and work of CVN;
• Willingness to assist eagerly in promoting the physical, spiritual life and mission of CVN and to submit to discipline within the organization;
• Knowledge of self; strengths and weaknesses; being a relational person who is able to form and maintain friendships, and having a strong desire to reach out to and influence others; having evidences and testimonies of life and service in ways that reflects the vision and expectations of CVN;
• High level of both written and verbal communication skills is critical; must be attentive to detail and be able to write and/or provide constructive feedback on technical documents like grant proposals and project plans.
• Desire and ability to mentor colleagues; build their technical and program management capabilities as well as encourage them spiritually.
• The applicant must not have any record of financial or legal embarrassment and be available for assignments in any CVN duty station (rural or urban) within and outside Nigeria.
• The applicant must belong to a family in order and possess qualities as described in 1Timothy, chapter 3.
• Ability to speak and write in Fulani or Hausa and one other Nigerian language will be an added advantage.

Applicants for the position of VM-CSOs must possess the following:

• A university degree in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Livestock Agriculture or similar disciplines (applicants with a university degree in non-livestock related fields may be considered, especially if he/she is mature and can provide evidence of strong interest in livestock husbandry/relationships with rural agro-pastoralists and is ready to learn on the job).
• Knowledge and skills in Veterinary and Agriculture/Livelihood technologies relevant to poor or rural communities;
• Willingness to live and work in rural conditions; demonstrated ability to adapt to or adopt other people’s language or culture and build friendships with rural people adjust to cross-cultural situations e.g. showing competencies in carrying out community mobilization and informal trainings in rural settings.

Applicants for the position of VM-FAMO must possess the following:

• A university degree in Business Administration, Management, Accounting or similar fields (applicants with a university degree in non-management related fields may be considered, especially if he/she can provide evidence of strong interest in business management and book-keeping and office administration and is ready to learn on the job).
• Knowledge and skills in Business Management, Financial Management and office administration tools and techniques relevant to Christian mission organizations;
• Willingness to live and work in rural, cross-cultural situations for up to several weeks at a time. E.g. conducting outreaches or other informal activities in rural settings.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration packages are attractive, based on qualifications and experience in line with standards in similar veterinary and mission organizations. The packages include pensions, life insurance, hazard/accident insurance, health care insurance, leave grants, holiday, children education and other benefits.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested and qualified applicants should email application in a single attachment. This means all 3 required set of information should be in a single MS -Word document and mailed to cvn2002@yahoo.com

–          A formal application letter, which should also indicate the applicant’s option of service e.g. part-time or full-time and long or short term and the period preferred;

–          A brief description of own background, calling, service, ministry vision/goals, family life and personal faith/believe system as a Christian;

–          Detailed and updated curriculum vitae (CV) together with complete contact details of three references (NOT relatives).

Only shortlisted applicants will be invited for the “Interest Assessment and Pre-appointment Induction Program” (IA-PIP), during which each of them will be supported individually to:

1.                                 i.       Pray further on own decision to serve as a missionary within CVN
2.                                ii.       Develop or review own sense of God’s calling as well as personal interests and abilities as well as ministry vision and goals as a missionary within CVN
3.                              iii.       Discuss, clarify and align own expectations, aspirations and other personal considerations with those of CVN.

NB: CVN will bear the cost of applicants invited for the IA-PIP. And only the applicants found suitable after the IA-PIP will be eligible to receive formal offer of appointment into the appropriate positions.

Thanks.

Dr. ‘Gbenga Idowu

Executive Secretary

Association of Christian Veterinarians Nigeria

8, Obe Street, Kongi, Bodija.

+234 805 486 5671

E-mail: cvn2002@yahoo.com , cvntraining@gmail.com