Latest Jobs at Development Alternatives, Inc (DAI)

Job Code: 3455
Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers
Project Title: Market Development in the Niger Delta (MADE) Phase II
Reports to: Deputy Team Leader/Operations Manager
Start Date: March 2018

Programme Overview
Market Development in the Niger Delta (MADE) II is a 2 year phase II of an earlier 4.5 year programme that uses the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) approach to generate pro-poor and inclusive economic growth in the non-oil sectors of the nine Niger Delta States. The programme’s stated objective is to raise the incomes of at least 155,000 poor people, 50 per cent of whom will be women, by up to 15 per cent.

MADE II will also, identify and address livelihood and economic factors contributing to human trafficking, forced labour and modern day slavery in the region, particularly in Edo State. MADE II will pilot interventions aimed at tackling the root causes of MDS, strengthen efforts to combat slavery and reduce vulnerability. A target of increasing incomes or providing livelihood opportunities to 30,000 people (as part of the target to add 155,000 incomes increases) within at risk geographies and demographic groups. MADE II will focus on sectors such as ICT, hospitality and the creative industries to support investment and growth in sectors that are seen as ‘aspirational’ and attractive to potential victims of trafficking, and thus reduce drivers for emigration

The programme’s base is Port Harcourt, with project offices in Abuja and Benin City.

Purpose
The IT Specialist is responsible for oversight of IT needs for the project main and regional offices, including system installations, maintenance, support and technical advice. The IT Specialist is responsible for ensuring that DAI established standards set by the DAI home office are followed and that proprietary project solutions are fully functional, efficient and cost effective.  The IT Specialist provides user support and manages relationships with outside System Support Companies (as needed).

Responsibilities also include the management and maintenance of LANs (Local Area Networks) in the program’s main office in Port Harcourt (14 staff) and Abuja and Benin city (12 staff). IT Specialist will ensure that proper backup and restore procedures are followed, maintain network security (antivirus and communication devices), and that end users have access to shared files, printers and email. When needed, he/she will also be responsible for conducting IT assessments and preparing reports for grantees and project partners per OIMT standards to ensure that appropriate solutions (equipment, software and services) are proposed and provided to beneficiaries.

DAI’s Office of Information and Management Technology (OIMT) will provide the training, guidelines and technical support to IT Specialist. It is the responsibility of the IT Specialist to keep OIMT informed of issues and/or proposed system modifications (hardware and software purchases) via tools provided by OIMT IT Operations team such as request templates, support email address, and OIMT Technical Approval group email address.

Objectives and Duties
The objectives and duties include but are not limited to:

• Local network maintenance and installation (cabling, switches and NIC configuration TCP/IP, NAT, TCP/IP printing, windows network and domain services on TCP/IP);
• WAN connectivity and maintenance (Internet connection and services, and devices configuration and maintenance);
• Server and server application maintenance (Hardware integration, Windows 2012 / 2016 server maintenance, Hyper-V, WSUS services, antivirus maintenance and monitoring, backup services);
• Client computer hardware and application installation, configuration and maintenance (Laptops, Desktops, MS Windows 10 Pro, MS Office Suite, IBM Notes, O365 general use and troubleshooting, antivirus installation and troubleshooting);
• User support and training;
• Management and supervision of support provided by local companies (ISP or other provides or IT services);
• Responsible for all of the above mentioned tasks in Project’s field offices;
• Regular communication with the Home Office OIMT IT Operations team regarding network, system hardware and software changes/issues/updates and user registration, updates and termination;
• Provide assistance in procurement and evaluation of all technical equipment (including phones, copiers, etc., in compliance with DAI IT Standards and procedures);
• Administer IP PBX extensions;
• Maintain IP PBX hardware and phones;
• Communicate with OIMT IT Operations team regarding implementation of special features on the system;
• Assist local office managers in properly inventorying IT equipment;
• Conduct IT assessments for beneficiaries and produce reports per DAI OIMT procedures;
• Prepare procurement specifications and SOWs for IT procurements per DAI standards;
• Review all IT procurement requests in Tamis;
• Assist Facilities Manager and provide advice in annual IT inventory and software audits;
• Maintain a good knowledge and understanding of all policies and procedures as set forth in the project’s Field Operations Policy Manual and DAI Operations Manual.

Qualifications

• Completed college education in relevant field and minimum 5 years of relevant experience in IT system administration, maintenance and user support;
• PC and Server support experience;
• Knowledge of Windows Server & Windows Client operating systems;
• Knowledge of Hyper-V visualization platform;
• Knowledge of Windows network services: AD, DNS, DHCP, WSUS, Print and file sharing;
• Experience with IBM Notes Client configuration;
• Experience with Outlook client or O365 services;
• Knowledge of backup and restore services;
• Physical and logical LAN and WAN infrastructure principles;
• Communication equipment and VPN services;
• No prior legal convictions for fraud or theft and no prior terminations for cause from a prior employer;
• Demonstrated honesty, trustworthiness, initiative and self-motivation in handling all assigned tasks;
• Must have English language proficiency, verbal and written.

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Job Code: 3450
Location: Benin City, Edo
Project Title: Market Development in the Niger Delta (MADE)
Reports to: Edo State Investment Manager
Start Date: March 2018

Programme Overview

• Market Development in the Niger Delta (MADE) II is a 2 year phase II of an earlier 4.5 year programme that uses the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) approach to generate pro-poor and inclusive economic growth in the non-oil sectors of the nine Niger Delta States
• The programme’s stated objective is to raise the incomes of at least 155,000 poor people, 50 per cent of whom will be women, by up to 15 per cent.
• MADE II will also, identify and address livelihood and economic factors contributing to human trafficking, forced labour and modern day slavery in the region, particularly in Edo State. MADE II will pilot interventions aimed at tackling the root causes of MDS, strengthen efforts to combat slavery and reduce vulnerability
• A target of increasing incomes or providing livelihood opportunities to 30,000 people (as part of the target to add 155,000 incomes increases) within at risk geographies and demographic groups. MADE II will focus on sectors such as ICT, hospitality and the creative industries to support investment and growth in sectors that are seen as ‘aspirational’ and attractive to potential victims of trafficking, and thus reduce drivers for emigration
• The programme’s base is Port Harcourt, with project offices in Abuja and Benin City.

Objectives of the Role

• The Investment Officer Edo (IO) position will be integral to achieving MADE’s stated aims. Reporting to the Senior Investment Manager (SIM), She/he will provide support to technical implementation and guidance in managing multiple programme interventions. The IO will manage and lead a field officers  and co-facilitators in select economic and enterprise activities.
• The IO will support development and maintenance of close relationships with project partners (mostly businesses) while overseeing and coordinating the implementation of project interventions.
• S/he will work in close collaboration with the SIM to develop, realise, and communicate the programme’s strategic vision to internal and external stakeholders.
• The IO Edo will have line management responsibilities for the select field officers.  She/he will be responsible for ensuring that field officers are effectively and appropriately managed to deliver and report on programme results.

Key Duties and Responsibilities
Intervention Design and Implementation:

• Supports the effective project planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of progress and outputs against the plan for their interventions.
• Supports overseeing and maintaining the quarterly, annual and full project plan in timely manner to meet quarterly reporting and planning requirements.
• Supporting and overseeing Field Officers performance using the project plan to ensure implementation is undertaken in accordance with the plan and any avoidable deviations are minimised.
• Supporting and contributing to the early stages of intervention design to ensure they comply with programme and intervention mandates.
• Supports defining or reassessing sectors that are of chief importance to develop the markets for the poor in the select sector.
• Related to the select sectors, supports identifying and analysing the enterprise and investment opportunities, supporting functions, and assessing key constraints.
• Supports identifying appropriate intervention areas and develop potential project interventions in close collaboration with external partners / stakeholders in the market.
• Supports project interventions to conform with set principles and have the potential to have sustainable impact at scale for the targeted beneficiaries (potential migrant) and have the potential for up-scaling within the sector to have indirect outreach to a wider group of poor within the sector.
• Supporting other intervention managers and project staff to think strategically about the scaling-up potential across the programme.
• Supporting the development and updating of a detailed monthly intervention work programme of intervention tasks and activities.
• Supports identifying outputs and outcomes in line with planned activities and logframe indicators as agreed with the MRM lead, ESIM and Team leader.
• Supports monthly monitoring and reporting of intervention performance against these outputs, outcomes and indicators.
• Supports updating of intervention records, data and files and ensure they are accessible for review as needed by the team.
• Contributing as appropriate and as agreed to the development of intervention tools and the capacity building of key stakeholders in the sectors.
• Identifying the need for external advisory support, along with the SIM, and ESIM.
• Supports drafting terms of references for consultants and identify potential candidates..
• Supports facilitating collaboration across interventions as appropriate to ensure value for money of the project.

Collaboration and Coordination with Cross-Cutting Functions:

• Supports SIM to engage cross-cutting area managers on intervention strategies and workplans
• Supports SIM to identify and communicate required areas of input and support in both intervention design and implementation.
• Supports SIM to identify and leverage synergies between cross-cutting functions and enterprise and investment activities

Strategic Leadership:

• Supports SIM to liaise with key programme stakeholders and participate in multi-stakeholder platforms on programme’s strategic approach, achievements, and lessons.

People Management:

• Supports field officers in ensuring quality programme delivery (technical and financial) through mentoring and providing constructive feedback on areas of strength as well as required improvement.
• Supports SIM to identify and proactively resolve conflict between Edo State team, field officers as well as cross-cutting function members.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Undertake tasks provided in agreed deliverables as planned and agreed with the SIM, ESIM, Deputy Team Leader or Team leader to time and budget;
• Take responsibility when requested for periodic activities and ensure these are completed in a regular and effective manner
• Helpful and positive attitude

Key Skills & Qualifications

• A Graduate Degree in Economics, Business, or a related field
• 5 years’ experience working on enterprise development and agri-business development programmes delivering demonstrated results, preferably in Africa
• 2 years’ experience designing and managing economic and incomes generating activities in developing countries, preferably in Africa
• Demonstrated experience leading complex teams
• Strong business management and financial management skills
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Previous experience with DFID funded projects would be advantageous
• Fluency English is required