Operations Associate at Palladium Group

Project Overview and Role
Propcom Mai-Karfi is a six-year DFID programme aimed at increasing incomes for the poor in Northern Nigeria through enhanced employment opportunities for increased employment and improved productivity in selected agricultural market systems in northern Nigeria. It now has a three-year extension 2018-2021 to work in a reduced number of states from mid 2018:

• BAY States (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe);
• GBT States (Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba) and
• Partnership states (Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa).

Responsibilities

• The Operations Associate serves as part of the project’s operations team. This team is responsible under the leadership of the Director of Operations for the management and support in the delivery of projects.
• The specific purpose of the position is to support the management and implementation of effective and efficient operational, financial and compliance activities to deliver projects in accordance with contractual obligations, company policies, Group Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Guidelines and client rules and regulations

Scope of Work

• The Propcom Mai-karfi Operations Associate will be expected to provide support to the corporate operations team as well as the project teams in the execution of the day to day operational activities and provide such support around the period of key deliverables required by both DFID and Palladium.
• Propcom Mai-Karfi staff work as part of an integrated team and as such, the Operations Associate will be expected to contribute in other ways as directed by his/her line manager to the overall success of team/programme activities.

Specific Responsibilities

• Serve as one liaison point between corporate services and the project
• Prepare Payment Approval Request forms
• Review project Field Vouchers on a weekly basis
• Where applicable support the operations team with training of project staff on company policies, SOPs and Guidelines and client rules and regulations
• Support the monitoring and maintenance of compliance with head/prime contracts
• Support the development and presentation of internal and external reporting (for example: Project Highlight Reports (PHRS), quarterly Internal Project Reviews (IPRs), project risk assessments, annual reviews, and client deliverables) and ensure these outputs are fit for purpose
• Assist with project financial / cash-flow planning, process funding requests from the field, and process monthly Funds Transfer Requests (FTRs)
• In collaboration with Finance establish project account codes, ensuring they are fit for purpose and meet client’s and project’s requirements for cost allocation, monitoring and evaluation, and
• Support HR Manager while recruiting, contracting and onboarding
• In collaboration with Programme HR Manager maintain project data on relevant HR systems for short-term and long-term staff and consultants.
• Support in the updating of the asset register and any disposal process of items.
• In collaboration with Security, ensure safety and security procedures, including Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements, are in place and adhered to
• Support Contracts and Compliance Manager with procurement, spots checks and due diligence when required.

Requirements
Minimum education and experience required:

• A relevant Bachelor's degree
• A minimum of 2 years relevant work experience
• Project management of administrative support experience with DFID, DFAT, USAID or other donor client(s)
• Key competencies and professional expertise required
• Understanding of Project Management
• Financial acumen and the ability to interpret and analyses financial reports for wider audiences.
• Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision-making skills
• Flexible and adaptable. Keen to be involved in several aspect of project operations.