Jobs at GIZ Nigeria

The Project

• GIZ Country offices are the central element of GIZ's field structure. They ensure consistent overall representation of the company and its successful positioning as a service provider in the international cooperation market. They are headed by a country director.
• The country directors represent GIZ as a whole in the country or countries they serve. The country director is responsible for shaping the GIZ country portfolio and assuring its quality, and in particular ensures that GIZ activities in all business sectors are coherent.
• The country directors generally have management responsibility for the officers responsible for commissions in the public-benefit TC measures in their area.
• The GIZ Offices provide human resources and commercial support services for programs and projects in their areas. These services must be contracted as set out individually in the respective processes and rules sections.
• Furthermore, the GIZ Offices perform internal audits of the project administrations in the public-benefit sector, and by agreement for International Services projects and offices too.

Responsibilities
The Personal Assistant is responsible for:

• Ensuring that the secretariat for the Country Director runs smoothly.
• Good communication flow within the GIZ Office and between the Office and the Projects.
• In collaboration with the Portfolio Manager, coordinates and organizes the public relations/communication activities at the country office level.
• Assists, on demand, the Portfolio Manager and Head of Administration with specific requests.

Tasks:

• Ensuring smooth functioning of the secretariat for the Country Director.
• Facilitating good communication flow within the GIZ Office and between the Office and the Projects.
• Coordinating and organizing public relations/communication activities at the country office level.
• Assisting the portfolio manager and head of administration with specific requests.

Administrative tasks and assistance to the Country Director:

• Organizing and coordinating the country director's schedule and travel arrangements.
• Managing appointments, reminders, and updates for the country director.
• Preparing and organizing information materials for the country director and meetings.
• Handling correspondence, including replies and document scanning.
• Participating in internal and external meetings and workshops, assisting with documentation.
• Drafting letters, speeches, and presentation slides.
• Maintaining the filing system for office correspondence and other documents.
• Assisting in creating and maintaining a filing system for the office, focusing on personnel and finance.
• Responsible for the welcome checklist for new staff.

Office coordination, office management, and general coordination:

• Coordinating and monitoring schedules, ensuring clear blocks of time for planned events.
• Managing room coordination for meetings.
• Coordinating required equipment for meetings.

National Media work:

• Coordinating media activities in the country, including project/programme activities.
• Establishing and maintaining contact with national media, setting up a national media distribution.
• Creating and updating the national media file.
• Writing and sending press releases.
• Compiling and distributing information materials for the media based on target group needs.
• Organizing national media events and tours.
• Monitoring and documenting media reports on GIZ.

National PR work:

• Developing communication instruments for PR, such as country brochures, fact sheets, advertising material, and PowerPoint presentations.
• Managing coordination processes and production of publications and materials according to GIZ standards.
• Organizing events and supporting foreign delegations and VIP visits.
• Providing editorial support to the GIZ office's website and coordinating online presentations.

Internal communications in the country:

• Passing on information and supporting dialogue between the office and employees, projects, programmes, and CIM experts.
• Developing and supporting communication instruments, including emails, internal newsletters, and internal events.
• Consulting with the corporate communications unit on articles for GIZ staff newsletters and intranet.
• Providing editorial input on practical examples and other texts for GIZ media.
• Advising local staff on public relations regulations and contacts for a uniform GIZ image.

Other duties/additional tasks:

• Welcoming visitors and offering refreshments.
• Performing other duties and tasks as requested by management.

Required Qualifications, Competences, and Experience

• Minimum of BA / MSc in Business Administration, Law, Economics, Sociology, or a similar area.

Professional Experience:

• At least 3 years of professional experience in a comparable position.
• Knowledge of purchasing and proficiency in ITC technologies and computer applications.

Desired Additional Qualification, Competence and Experience:

• Outstanding knowledge of purchasing.
• Very good knowledge of ITC technologies, including software, phone systems, fax machines, email, internet, and computer applications such as MS Office.
• Willingness to upskill and learn new technologies and tools as required by the tasks to be performed. Measures for upskilling will be agreed upon with management.
• Good organizational skills to effectively manage schedules, appointments, and documents.
• Strong communication skills to facilitate smooth communication within the office and with external stakeholders.
• German language skills will be an added advantage.
• Ability to work well in a team, collaborating with colleagues and taking on shared responsibilities.
• Innovative mindset and a positive attitude towards change, embracing new ideas and approaches.

Salary

• According to GIZ Salary Scale for Band 4

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Responsibilities
The senior national expert responsible for implementation is responsible for:

• Independently managing the national technical team of advisors and in accordance with the order and project goals and activities agreed with the partners, team agreements and/or agreements with the superior
• Providing professional advice to partners and cooperating with important stakeholders
• Integrating results and experience into teamwork and the work of all relevant groups
• Technical management of experts in the team of MOVE Nigeria advisors
• Technical and financial planning, coordinating, implementing, and monitoring of MOVE activities.
• Supporting MOVE MF partners and stakeholders in the implementation of projects funded under the matching fund scheme
• Regular reporting to MOVE programme director
• Coordinating and networking with relevant stakeholder in the sector
• Strengthening implementation instruments and introducing innovation
• Managing implementation knowledge by disseminating and documenting know-how, experience, and information
• Supporting the GIZ Nigeria Agric Cluster in its setup as well as serve as resource person for it.

These duties are complex and demanding due to their mere outreach. Their implementation requires sound and careful coordination.

The Officer responsible for implementation performs the following tasks:

Tasks
Management Responsibility:

The Country Coordinator Responsible for implementation:

• Is responsible for the orders and measures in the MOVE Nigeria project that are assigned to him/her and for managing all staff members who report to him/her (management responsibility for staff in bands 1-4)
• Manages staff in accordance with management principles and guidelines to promote a sense of corporate identity, enable employees to carry out tasks independently and create scope for developing creativity and innovation
• Is responsible for recruiting, selecting, grading, planning the assignment of and professional development of staff members who report to him/her
• Is also responsible for monitoring, managing staff and ensuring that they provide cost-effective services
• Carries out the annual staff assessment and development talk for staff members who report to him/her.

Professional advisory services and implementation of technical priority areas:

• Preparation and implementation of operational plans and budgets for effective engagements with MOVE private and public partners, beneficiaries and stakeholders with the view to ensuring that all parties work together seamlessly to deliver the program’s objectives
• Preparation and implementation of activities related to MOVE instruments i.e. Matching fund (MF), Human Capacity Development (HCD), Technical, Organizational and Business Advisory Services, and Support to Policy Advocacy Services
• Oversees in particular on of the 5 Outputs that MOVE has committed itself to
• Development and implementation of advisory services models that will deliver appropriate value chain-wide technical support (i.e. capacity building for rice actors, milling technologies, mechanization services, etc.); and business development support (i.e linkages with financial services and
• input & output markets, business planning etc.) for MOVE beneficiaries
• Ensure quality of all aspects of implementation with a focus on supervision of training activities and reporting
• Working closely with MOVE MF partners to further develop and implement the existing out grower model to integrate smallholder farmers
• Assist to develop and implement appropriate and sustainable ICT solutions for the rice industry.
• Design and development of MF project concepts with partners according to plans and opportunities in line with the objectives of the MOVE
• Working closely with banks and other relevant financial institutions, develop and support the implementation of appropriate financial products and services for the rice industry together with financial institutions and private sector partners
• Support the development of appropriate business models and plans
• Contributes to preparing and implementing the coordination process, joint project activities and work in the field
• Formulates job descriptions, terms of reference, selects and supervises third parties in the course of carrying out project activities, including performance evaluation
• Monitors the development and implementation of MOVE project plans and activities in close consultation with counterparts
• Deals with the design, preparation and implementation of workshops, seminars and other events on issues related to the programme’s area of activity
• Develops and organises quality assurance measures and suggests necessary changes, improvements and initiatives
• Monitors project progress and the activities of the MOVE NG implementation unit, reviews reports and documents on the progress of activities, identifies bottlenecks and recommends alternative management options to the programme director
• Is responsible for seeing that the services provided by the implementation unit are aligned with the partner’s needs
• Working closely with key stakeholders to steer and coordinates technical activities related to Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) implementation

Strategic Networking and Cooperation:

• Preparation and negotiation of memoranda of understanding, agreements of contracts on project implementation and collaborative ties with MOVE partners stakeholders of resource person with a focus of inclusive business modes
• Establish and maintain collaborative ties with MOVE partners, stakeholders and delegations from different backgrounds
• Preparation and negotiation of collaborative ties with MOVE partners, stakeholders and delegations from different backgrounds
• Support the discussions with national and regional partners on and the development of sustainability strategy for MOVE program
• Travels in the field, in accordance with project requirements.

Management and Coordination Tasks:

• Design and support the implementation of specific studies
• Country-specific contributions to monitoring, reporting (to biannual and annual progress reports) and evaluation of program activities
• Synthesize achievements and conceptualize project approaches for institutions in the rice sectors
• Monitoring of MF projects and coordinate the national team in their support activities for the MF partners to achieve their objectives
• Communicates findings and shares lessons learnt during project delivery/implementation
• Contribute to the development of appropriate financial products and services for the rice industry and provide guidance to partners involved
• Monitor MF partners applications lodged with banks, development banks, incentive schemes and other financial intermediaries
• Manages and monitors the MOVE NG implementation budget in consultation with the program director responsible for the contract and cooperation
• In the absence of the programme director, takes appropriate measures to secure operation of the programme.

Knowledge Management:

• Compiles information on project implementation and ensures knowledge transfer
• Develops ready-to-use strategies and technical concepts, including guidelines, manuals and procedures
• Draws up reports and presentation documents
• Formulates appropriate input for various programme reports including annual reports, and contributes to the other reports required by the programme director
• Assists with research activities and studies on policy topics that benefit the rice sector.

Other Duties / Additional Tasks:

• Provide all documentation related to program activities for accounting in line with requirements from co-financing partners
• Present and support the concepts and experiences of the program during national and international events
• Preparation, moderation and documentation of meeting and workshops and the organization of field trips as requested
• Receive and accompany consultants/ recourses persons
• Coordinate the work of consultants /recourses persons
• Liaises with country coordinators and MOVE colleagues in other countries on subject matter topics and procedures.
• Contributes to and shares learnings and innovations within MOVE
• Any other instructions given in furtherance of project operations and management.

Required Qualifications, Competences and Experience
The ideal candidate offers the following qualifications, capacities, experiences, and personal skills:
Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Sustainable Agriculture / Agronomy / Agricultural Economics
• Additional training in the areas of value chain approach; cooperatives/ social entrepreneurship, banking and finance, non- governmental organization (NGO) administration, business development services, grant fund management, policy formulation and advocacy, mechanization knowledge, ICT will be an advantage.

Professional Experience:

• 5-7 years professional experience, with at least 5 years professional experience in a comparable position
• Experience in agricultural values chain development / agricultural banking / agricultural consulting & advisory services / farmer training / grant management / policy formulation & advisory / partnership brokering sustained by corresponding references
• Experience in project management
• Working experience with/ for agro-industries, bank or development partners.

Other Knowledge, Additional Competences:

• Ability to lead and work with a team
• Ability to work independently and without supervision
• Experience of working with political stakeholders
• Ability to manage project timelines, processes and tasks effectively
• Demonstrated ability to design, manage and implement value chain, agricultural financial services, agribusiness development support activities, farmer organization & training, financial grant services, policy & advocacy support activities in agriculture/agribusiness, use of ICT in agriculture/ agribusiness, etc.
• Knowledge of agri-food support polices for Nigeria and of corresponding markets; local knowledge of pilot project areas will be an advantage.
• Self-motivated, pro-active approach in identifying and promoting innovative approaches
• Capacity to analysis and constructive evaluation combined with the ability to translate evaluation findings on beneficences in optimization of curricula and implementation.
• Facilities of discussion and workshops (preparation, implementation and documentation)
• Presentation techniques and concepts for the marketing of project achievements.
• Very good computer skills in contemporary MS office (Word Excel Powrpoint, Outlook)
• A proven track record in a leadership position

Personal Skills:

• Clear and diplomatic communication (oral and written)
• Ability to communicate adequately with interdisciplinary / multi-institutional teams (units / research organizations, NGOs and Governmental agencies, farmers, their organizations and donors)
• Team worker and constructive attitude in case of difficulties or conflicts
• Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed - corresponding measures are agreed with management
• Self-motivated, pro-active approach in identifying and promoting innovative approaches
• Developed attitude and awareness of service delivery
• Fluency in English as well as in French are mandatory.

Salary

• According to GIZ Nigeria Salary scale for Band 5.