State Project Coordinator at Search For Common Ground’s International

Locations: Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta

Position Summary

• The Project Coordinator will work with Search's senior leadership and program teams and successfully implement project activities under their area. The position entails overseeing the day-to-day implementation of the projects that are being implemented in the regions of Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta State.
• The Project Coordinator will be primarily responsible for organizing and conducting activities, budget management and logistics, and reporting, managing a team of three program assistants. S/He will also contribute to the design and strategic development and management of subsequent projects, and to representation, conducting meetings with a variety of stakeholders, including peer organizations, donors, and government officials.
• The position requires an experienced conflict transformation, prevention of violent extremism, mediation or peacebuilding expert, conversant with project management cycles and compliance requirements of various donors.
• The position holder will be a seasoned planner and experienced conflict and context analyst capable of steering various projects in the country to respond to real peace, security and conflict transformation needs. Experience as a trainer in a related field will be considered a strong asset.
• The Project Coordinator must have advanced diplomacy skills and capable of negotiating with challenging stakeholders, and must be available to travel regularly to project locations outside of Niger Delta.
• The position holder advises the program manager on programme needs, strategies, staffing issues, local context and dynamics. S/he will work under the direct supervision of the Program Manager and closely with other coordinators and the operations team. 

About the Project
The project goal will be achieved through two specific objectives and corresponding outcomes.

Objective 1: Strengthen linkages between citizens and local authorities in the Niger Delta to respond to drivers of violence in the region. Expected outcomes of activities under this objective are:

• (1.1) People of the Niger Delta, including militants and ex-militants, feel that cooperation between them and local authorities is strengthened;
• (1.2) Platforms for collaborative response to underlying conflict issues by communities, government, and security are established in eight LGAs.

Objective 2: Amplify the voices of key stakeholders, particularly women, youth and marginalized groups to contribute to discussions around regional conflict issues and promote peace in the Niger Delta region. Expected outcomes of activities under this objective are:

• (2.1) Journalists and civil society organizations increase their capacity to report on elections and manage rumors;
• (2.2) Increase in the number of voices of women, youth and marginalized groups contributing to discussions on regional conflict issues in the Niger Delta; and
• (2.3) Increase in public awareness and support for peace in the Niger Delta. Collectively, the activities support the project's objectives and outcomes and contribute to a more inclusive, grassroots-informed dialogue process aimed at addressing conflict issues and vulnerabilities to violence.
• Search believes that this will support a community-owned peace architecture that will contribute to long-term peace and stabilization in the region beyond the lifespan of the project.

Roles and Responsibilities
Program oversight, quality assurance, reporting:

• Leads Search’s Community Peacebuilding (CPB) projects and facilitates attainment of project objectives in target regions in close collaboration with the Program manager and DME Coordinator;
• Ensures proper, timely implementation of project activities, taking into consideration partner capacities, the operational environment and potential security issues, and based on the principles of inclusivity and do no harm.
• Ensures effective application of results-based management methodologies;
• Monitors and manages the projects’ costed workplans, preventing delays and maximizing cost-effectiveness;
• Keeps abreast of context developments and drafts regular context updates to steer project activities as needed; and
• Ensures all donor and internal reports are submitted within the given deadlines and to the expected quality standards.

Representation and Coordination:

• Under the guidance of the Program manager, represents Search in target regions, and attends donor meetings related to the projects under their care;
• Provides orientation about Search’s approach and objectives at the local level;
• Provides strong coordination support to NGOs, partners, and national authorities involved in the CPB projects, through wider consultation and collaborative processes to community peace-building and violence prevention in target regions;
• Work closely with the Media coordinator in regards to the media component of the project

Program strategy, development, and planning:

• Supports the program manager in implementing Search’s strategic directions in the Niger Delta;
• Collaborates with relevant staff in other Search offices for quality program development and planning;
• Supports the Program manager with ideas for new business development; and
• Advises the Program manager on program needs.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key duties.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Peace Building, Conflict, Security Studies, Political or Social Science, International Studies, Public Administration, Development Studies and experience in a related area; 

Required Experience:

• Minimum three years of progressively responsible professional experience in peace, conflict transformation, violence prevention, governance, civil society strengthening
• Experience coordinating and managing projects, programmatically and financially;
• Experience leading and managing teams.

Other Relevant Requirements:

• Demonstrate integrity, alignment with Search’s values and ethical standards;
• Promote the vision, mission, and strategic objectives of Search;
• Capacity to adapt to a multi-cultural context, and tolerance and respect to issues related to gender, religion, race and nationality;
• Excellent ability to multi-task and produce time-bound deliverables.
• Expertise in writing reports and success stories; and
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism and solves problems in collaborative ways.
• Knowledge of and prior exposure to a wide range peace; community peacebulding, prevention of violence; conflict transformation; human rights, governance  and/or development-related issues;
• Analytical capacity, including ability to analyse and articulate peace, violence prevention, human security and conflict issues;
• Ability to identify problems, and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve them;
• Good knowledge of Niger Delta region, including the political, economic and social dimensions;
• Ability to work under pressure in a highly rewarding, but stressful and demanding environment;
• Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the field;
• Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports and communications and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style;
• Ability to work independently and plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and deadlines;
• Team player, able to empower other team members under their supervision and delegate as appropriate;
• Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications; and
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and collaborative working relations.

Added Advantage:

• Good knowledge of the local languages will be an asset.
• Resident of Delta/Bayelsa/Rivers