Project Manager, SBN (Sun Business Network) at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

Duration: 36 Months
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Classification: Grade 4 
Direct reports: 1 - 5
Travel required: 25%
Contract Type: Fixed Term

Overall Purpose

• The Project Manager Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN) will have overall responsibility for the leadership including the design, development, implementation and management of all GAIN Nigeria projects under the SBN programme. 
• The SBN is one of four global networks within the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement which supports 61 Countries, including Nigeria, to develop a multi-stakeholder approach to nutrition. The SBN Nigeria’s ambition is to increase the availability and affordability of safe, nutritious foods in Nigeria through:
  • Convening and organizing business around national nutrition priorities
  • Assessing the challenges and opportunities facing businesses in scaling up their actions and investments in nutrition and facilitating partnerships at national and global level to support national businesses
  • Improving the enabling environment to incentivize business to take action on nutrition, fostering strong links and partnerships for the SBN Nigeria with SUN’s Civil Society, Donor and UN networks, along with the Government of Nigeria
• The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) co-convenes the SBN at global level. GAIN Nigeria hosts the secretariat of the SBN Nigeria and works closely with the SUN Government Focal Point and other SUN Networks in Nigeria. 
• The SBN Nigeria Project Manager will be supported with tools and guidance by the SBN Global team. 
• The SBN Project Manager will be directly responsible for the implementation of all related workstreams including financial management.
• Reporting to the Deputy Country Director, the SBN Project Manager will work closely with the SBN Global Lead and teams, the Senior Manager Finance and Administration, other country based Project Managers, Technical Specialists, Knowledge Leadership (KL) teams and support staff to achieve high-level program quality and effectiveness through evidence-based work and to ensure compliance. 
• This position is part of the Nigeria Programme Leadership Group (PMG) and the postholder is expected to ensure organizational efficiency and effectiveness through participation in decision making, advising on strategic programmatic areas and issues, supporting communication and implementation of agreed decisions.

Tasks and Responsibilities
Program/Project Management:

• As SBN Project Manager, manage the SBN program currently consisting of a number of projects, act as lead Representative for GAIN at strategic and technical meetings/workshops pertaining to SBN.
• As lead of the project management QUAD, ensure operational, financial and knowledge leadership highlights are well represented to GAIN at all levels
• Implement the SBN program in partnership with key stakeholders – government/regulators, the private sector, development partners and consumers
• Lead and support budgeting processes including monitoring and forecasts, support the GAIN team in resource mobilization and with setting strategic direction, ensure timely submission of program reports as agreed with donors and other stakeholders.
• Keep up to date with changes in the operating environment, synthesize insights and implications, and share these with others in GAIN as appropriate.
• Roll out the SBN’s finance, technical assistance and business development surveys to assess SBN members for their needs – and identify new partnerships to address the challenges and opportunities facing business in Nigeria to scale up their actions or investments in nutrition.
• Work with the SBN Global team and GAIN Nigeria Deputy Country Director and members of the PMG to develop a post-2022 SBN Nigeria fundraising strategy.
• Lead the implementation of the SBN Nigeria programme, aligning activities to the SBN’s logic model and results framework and where relevant, utilizing National SBN tools.

Stakeholder management:

• Build a network of relevant experts locally and globally and provide content and communications support to the global SBN team by sharing and adopting best practice through liaising with other National SBNs, particularly in Africa.
• To lead the SBN Nigeria’s ambition to increase the availability and affordability of safe, nutritious foods in Nigeria, through convening and organizing business around national nutrition priorities, contribute to the monitoring and evaluation and subsequent dissemination of the outputs of SBN projects to ensure the realization of the output and outcomes.
• Assessing the challenges and opportunities facing businesses in scaling up their actions and investments in nutrition and facilitating partnerships at national and global level to support national businesses
• Improving the enabling environment to incentivize business to take action on nutrition, fostering strong links and partnerships for the SBN Nigeria with SUN’s Civil Society, Donor and UN networks, along with the Government of Nigeria
• Organize technical and political level meetings between business, government, civil society, donors and UN agencies to strengthen cross-sector dialogue on nutrition and build consensus on priorities and opportunities for business and nutrition in-country.
• Recruit national businesses to the SBN and utilize the National SBN Membership database for SBN Nigeria and support the roll out of the SBN Nigeria Pitch Competitions.
• Other activities as may be assigned by the GAIN Deputy Country Director and the SBN Global Lead.

Team Management:

• Supervise and manage program staff (e.g. Associate) by providing direction, input and feedback
• Work as part of GAIN Country Office and Global teams, nurturing and supporting a positive organizational culture

Key Organizational Relationships

• Reports to the Deputy Country Director, Nigeria with dotted lines to Global SBN Coordinator/ Lead.
• Works with other GAIN Nigeria programmes and operations including the Enhancing Access to safe and Nutritious Food (ENSAND), Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Food Staples (SNIPS), , Evidence and Action Towards Safe Nutritious Food (EatSafe), Support to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), GAIN Country Operations, etc.
• Liaises as required with GAIN’s global SBN team and the QUAD project management mechanism.
• Liaises with local partners, members of the SUN Business Network and stakeholders to ensure optimal project implementation.
• Liaises with consultants and experts who provide technical assistance to the project.
• Liaises with partners, donors, and other stakeholders to safeguard GAIN’s external reputation and to support resource mobilization.

Educational Qualifications

• Minimum of Master's Degree in Social Sciences, International Development, Business Management, Public Health, Nutrition, International Relations or related fields or equivalent work experience.

Experience:

• Substantive work experience in developing and managing projects and programmes in international development (experience of nutrition or related areas would be an advantage)
• Experience in strategy development, advocacy, communications, and documentation of best practices
• Proven track record and results in managing private sector related development projects in Nigeria.
• Experienced partnership broker and/or negotiation skills with the private sector
• Proven track record in identifying and supporting SMEs, including female-led and female owned businesses, to scale-up private sector investment in nutrition
• Excellent relationship management and familiarity with managing a wide platform of stakeholders
• Experience in communications and advocacy with the private sector
• Track record of successful fundraising with multi-lateral, private and corporate donors
• Experience in providing on-the-job and formal training to various partners as well as management of workshops and other public events
• Experience of managing and developing staff.

Job Requirements
Competencies, Skills and Attributes:

• Excellent stakeholder management, with the ability to operate within the corporate and public sectors to effectively liaise with private companies, development agencies, and governments at senior level.
• Ability to advocate, cultivate and negotiate significant senior level partnerships and relations and operate in high level meetings and similar settings
• Excellent follow-up skills within a diverse set of concurrent operation, programme, and business development related functions
• Strong presentation and communication skills in multi-cultural, multi-lingual environments
• Ability to provide direction and support in the development and dissemination of strategy, policy analysis, and recommendations
• Critical thinking that demonstrates good judgment, expert problem solving, and creativity
• Strong leadership/team management
• Excellent negotiation skills and effective risk management
• Innovative mindset
• Takes initiative, prioritizes, multi-tasks, and works well under pressure to meet deadlines
• Organization and planning Skills
• Strong ICT proficiency.

Other requirements:

• Experience working in Nigeria
• Fluency in spoken and written English is essential
• Business acumen with a focus on innovation
• Comfortable to travel up to 25% of the time

Salary
NGN 8,923,728 - NGN 10,183,104 / Annum, depending on experience

What GAIN Offers

• Flexible working hours
• Friendly working environment
• Professional development opportunities

About our Offer:

• GAIN has a fair and competitive salary structure that allows for annual progression subject to good performance. In addition, GAIN offers a total of 37 days holiday per year (including annual leave, public holidays and additional office closure days), an attractive pension scheme and competitive insurance cover including health, travel and life assurance.
• We are committed to the health of our staff, especially in these challenging times, and have developed a programme of wellbeing that includes hybrid flexible working, additional leave allowances, wellbeing days, mindfulness coaching and access to independent and confidential counselling.
• GAIN also has a strong commitment to professional development. We will support you to grow in your career through both formal and informal training, and are committed to providing opportunities through internal recruitment, secondments and promotion. All of this is delivered in a supportive and collaborative environment.