Latest Jobs at Palladium Group

Reports to: Senior Operations Manager
Duration: 5 years

Project Overview and Role   

• IHP is an Integrated Health Program with an expanded effort with the Government of Nigeria (GON) to identify and support rapid scale-up of proven interventions through improvement of service delivery and strengthening of health systems. It will focus its support for service delivery in six intervention areas, family planning, malaria, routine immunization, nutrition, maternal/newborn health, and treatment of childhood pneumonia/diarrhea.
• The Operations Officer (State) will work from the Abuja Country Office and provide operations support to the state offices. The Operations Officer (State) reports to the Senior Operations Manager and is responsible for ensuring the smooth operations and logistics of the state program, including local and in-country travel, local vendor relationships, and event and meeting arrangements.

Responsibilities   
Procurement and Contracts Management:

• In consultation with the project team, explore market and collect price quotations from suppliers and vendors
• Collect necessary documents and information to process purchase orders, consultant agreements, letter agreements, subcontract/agreements and/or sub-grants
• Keep up-to-date electronic database, documentation of necessary information and deliverables in the files of each consultant agreement, sub-agreement, contract, grant, vendor, etc.

Office Administrations and Logistics:

• Maintain appropriate and updated filing system for all project documents including procurement documents (Due Diligence forms, biodatas, hosting checklists; competitive quotations); field vouchers, approved budgets and purchase orders); and workshop/activity payments; checks
• Assist in management of Field Office assets, premises, supplies, publications, facilities and logistic services as required
• Administer regular maintenance of all office space and equipment including necessary insurances in place and processing of claims in case of loss
• Serve as backup for administration of transportation for the office and staff for local and international travel
• Maintain HR-related files, including monthly updating of leave time accrued/taken, ensuring medical insurance for staff
• Maintain up-to-date record of all rent, service and utility contracts for the office and, administer prompt payment of rents, insurance, service and utility bills
• Assist in performing project close out activities
• Work with project team to calculate and submit cost share information, where applicable
• As necessary, assist in financial audit. Maintain accurate and up-to-date operational, personnel, and other records as required by corporate management and/or Nigerian law
• Work closely with Finance Officer for daily tasks and overall project management

Asset Management:

• Manage expendable property
• Perform receiving function, record and tag all items
• Issue supplies and stationery to staff
• All other duties and tasks as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree from a recognized academic institution in Business or related field or 4 years working in administration; MBA is an advantage
• Proven competency in planning, organizing, and implementing operational activities
• At least 4 years of administration experience with a good understanding of business operations and controls; experience with international organizations and USAID regulations an advantage
• Proficiency in MS Office applications
• Sound written and verbal communication skills in English
• Strong supervision skills to ensure activities, schedules and progress are reviewed and monitored
• Experience leading, mentoring, and motivating staff; a good understanding of performance management
• Demonstrates good judgment and decision making. A minimum of 2 years of people management experience, including setting performance objectives, managing for results, giving and receiving feedback, performance evaluation and mentoring and coaching
• A minimum of 2 years of work experience in a developing country or similar environment
• Project Management expertise
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Financial acumen and the ability to interpret and analyze financial reports
• Sound problem solving and decision making skills
• Strong management skills with ability to mentor, coach, lead, develop and evaluate staff
• Ability to work with a low level of supervision and as a part of a team when required
• Demonstrated critical thinking, attention to detail, and organizational skills
• Demonstrated leadership skills including a high level of professional maturity is required.

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Project Overview and Role

• Propcom Mai-karfi (PM) is a market-driven programme funded by UK aid which aims to reduce poverty in northern Nigeria by intervening in markets that matter most for poor women and men. Partnering with the private sector and government agencies, Propcom Mai-karfi uses an adapted ‘Markets Development’ Approach to create systemic changes in agricultural and rural markets in northern Nigeria so that poor people get a better deal for their businesses and have access to vital goods and services.
• During its first phase which ran from 2012 to 2017, Propcom Mai-karfi raised the incomes of 628,000 poor men and women in northern Nigeria by a cumulative NGN 9 billion. The programme also stimulated more than NGN17.6 billion in private sector investment into the rural economy.
• Now in its 3-year extension phase which runs till March 2021, PM is focused on post-conflict market development and climate smart agriculture initiatives in the north east (Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi states), as well as continuing markets for the poor; with interventions in DFID partner states of Jigawa, Kano, and Kaduna. During this phase, the programme aims to increase the incomes of an additional 350,000 rural poor people by 2021. This extension allows Propcom Mai-karfi to improve markets that are most active and relevant to smallholder farmers in 9 targeted districts. The component will support farmers by first identifying the underlying causes of the non-performance of markets and then work in close partnership with local actors to invest in providing tailor made and lasting solutions for economic activities benefitting poor farmers.

Using a combination of innovative interventions, the project will:

• Where required scope and extend our understanding of  existing market systems that are relevant to smallholder farmers in the target States / LGAS and Communities and the extent to which they are working to support the needs of poor smallholder farmers, especially women - and where the market systems are failing this target group, support  PM’s Technical Teams  to take appropriate action to  help correct those failings;
• Promote sustainable systemic change in agronomic practices to help SHFs improve their resilience and better alignment of their engagement with key market functions and players with the incentives and capacity to work more sustainably;
• Seek scalable impact through prioritizing interventions that benefit significant numbers of poor people; and
• Pursue a facilitative approach that will provide a catalytic role in the market without negatively displacing and distorting current market functions or players

Responsibilities
This position reports to the Director of Operations. The tasks and responsibilities assigned to the Grant Manager will include:

Grant Management:

• Coordinate the process of submissions of grant proposal (e.g. request for applications, receipt of application, address questions from potential grantees, internal coordination, etc.)
• Lead on confirming eligibility of grantees. Perform formal evaluation of each application (Administrative and Compliance Evaluation).
• Work in collaboration with the Contract and Compliance Manager throughout the grant implementation to perform Due Diligence on potential grantees such that PM can take the necessary care, attention and discretion prior signing grant agreements and during the implementation. These include:
  • Ensure adequate and transparent institutional and governance structures, and robust and reliable financial internal control systems.
  • Assess the institutional capacity of grantees and subcontractors to effectively implement PM and recommend actions to strengthen their administrative and financial management systems.
  • Perform spot check visits and compile visit reports.
  • Consolidate compliance issues within Palladium required compliance reports.
• Track and report risks. Coordinate risk management measures throughout the life of the grants.
• Monitor grants implementation including workplans and budgets submitted by the grantees and manage the provision of funding to grantees. Provide support to the grantees, verify that the grant activities are progressing as per requirements of the Grant Agreement, and that any variances to the workplan are explained and justified. They will also verify that the appropriate milestone / contractual point has been reached successfully. Coordinate review meetings that are expected to take place on a quarterly basis with the involvement of relevant grantees and PM representatives.
• Be the liaison between PM and the grantee whenever a contract amendment is required.
• Ensure grantees compliance in relation to their grant agreement and report any risk or issue.
• Track and maintain tight control of key cost drivers, pursuing cost reductions and efficiency gains where possibilities emerge.
• Ensure that goods and services are purchased by each grantee according to Palladium Procurement policy and guidelines. Ensure that good and services are maintained according to processes and specifications that maximise quality and minimise lifetime cost and fully comply with DFID Guidelines with asset management.
• At close out verify the completion of all grant funded activities, confirm that they are completed to the expectations set out in the Grant Agreement, and confirm that all the expected deliverables have been provided and outputs achieved. Any variances to either the technical implementation or the budget must be explained and justified.
• Work with team members in the preparation and completion of financial audits as required.

Training:

• Advise and assist grantees in drawing up business agreements alongside the Technical Team Members
• Provide necessary training, capacity building and information to grantees to enable compliance with the financial accounting, reporting and procurement requirements of their funding agreements.
• As necessary recommend and facilitate organisational development and capacity building in partner organisations

Reporting:

• Ensure that monthly Technical Reports and Quarterly Technical and Financial Reports are submitted in the right format and on time by each grantee; review and provide feedback to the grantees.and feed into PM’s Reporting Requirements.
• Work with the PM team in preparation of quarterly and annual reports and work-plans.

Analysis:

• Assist in the provision of data to enable review, research and analysis within PM on grants disbursement use and resulting VfM.
• Participate in the collection and analyses of key performance data of grantees as part of an early warning system' to track the validity of the theory of change, to pinpoint potential risks to the programme's VfM proposition with grant disbursement,

Other Duties:

• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Operations.

Requirements

• A relevant Bachelor's degree (with a Master’s degree in Business Administration preferred).
• A minimum of 7 years’ relevant work experience.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience managing grants (with experience in Northern Nigeria preferred).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Financial acumen and the ability to interpret and analyse financial reports.
• Sound problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong management skills with ability to train grantees.
• Willingness to travel and work in the 9 targeted States.
• Ability to work with a low level of supervision and as a part of a team when required.

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Purpose of Position

• The Private Sector Engagement Advisor of PERL Engaged Citizens is responsible for providing technical support to the PERL Delivery Teams (in partner states, regional hubs and at the federal level) on developing and implementing strategies to work with the private sector to facilitate or strengthen inclusive governance and inclusive growth.
• He/she may be  supported by strategic advisors provided by consortium and niche partners on private sector engagement and inclusive growth issues and manages any mentoring and advisory inputs from them to Delivery Teams.
• The Private Sector Engagement Advisor is part of the PERL Engaged Citizens National Support Team and is expected to actively collaborate with other members of the team and with colleagues in the other pillars of PERL (ARC and LEAP), as well as relevant contact points in other development programmes, to ensure a co-ordinated, integrated engagement approach.

Responsibilities   
Visioning, Strategizing, Development of Approach:

• Contribute to thinking on PERL’s overall strategic direction and approach, and ECP’s role with this, primarily through programme level planning and learning processes, cross-pillar task teams and development or review of strategic approach papers / technical learning briefs relating to private sector engagement.
• Support continued development of a vision and strategy for PERL’s engagement with the private sector to strengthen inclusive governance and facilitate inclusive growth
• Facilitate periodic reflection and review of PERL’s / ECP’s approach to engaging the private sector in line with new information and learning. Ensure that the approach for private sector engagement is integrated with that for engaging the media, legislatures and government and for forging partnership among them, and between citizens and government.
• Provide focused support to the Delivery Teams to develop, or update their private sector engagement strategies and implementation of the plans.

Leadership, Teamwork and Relationship Management:

• Actively contribute to team-building within the ECP team
• Maintain strong working relationships with other members of ECP’s Technical Support Team (and where necessary, ARC and LEAP) to deliver a shared approach and work-plan.
• Maintain close working relationships and ensure co-ordination and integration of approach and plans with members of ECP’s MEL and Operational Support Teams.
• Provide support to the Delivery Teams in a manner that respects their autonomy and the specificity of their context.
• Maintain close working relationships and ensure co-ordination with counterparts in ARC and LEAP.

Operationalisation of Approach, Delivery of Support and Results:

• Advise Delivery Teams on best tactics and approaches to deliver their work-plans through planned interventions which involves an effective working relationship with their counterparts in ARC. Work closely with ECP’s MEL Support Team to support Delivery Team’s to establish technically-smart, MEL-smart and operationally feasible progress makers and KPIs for each intervention.
• Identify and oversee external support to ECP Delivery Teams from local consultants and from ECP’s consortium and niche partner organisations.
• Support the Head of Technical Support to review and approve Delivery Team’s monthly / quarterly forecast of programme activities through a coordinated approach within the Technical Support Team. 
• Work with ECP’s MEL Support Team to review progress made by Delivery Teams against agreed plans on a quarterly, six monthly and annual basis and to capture and report results.
• Contribute to the monitoring and promotion of Value for Money (VFM) analysis and diminishing financial dependency of local partners on ECP in line with ECP’s broad empowerment approach
  

Job Requirements
Minimum Education and Experience Required:

• Educated to university degree level or above, preferably holding a Masters’ degree
• Significant experience in facilitating private sector development and inclusive growth in Nigeria
• Experience working in or with a donor (preferably DFID) funded programme

Key Competencies and Professional Expertise Required:

• Expertise in working with or experience in the private sector in Nigeria, at the state and federal level, and building relationships between them and state and civil society actors
• Very strong understanding of governance processes  and civic engagement  dynamics in Nigeria, particularly at the state level
• Strong understanding of public policy, planning, budget development and implementation process and the role of citizens within it
• Expertise on contemporary facilitation, communication and mobilization approaches and strategies
• Expertise in providing technical support and capacity building to complex teams – mentoring based approaches in particular
• Strong knowledge of systems for programme delivery, including strategic planning, M&E, adaptive learning and knowledge management.

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Project Overview and Role   

• The Governance Advisor - Partnership and Accountability of PERL Engaged Citizens is responsible for providing technical support to the PERL Delivery Teams (in partner states, regional hubs and at the federal level) on strengthening existing strategies to forge effective partnerships between citizens groups; between citizens and government and among critical stakeholders to facilitate inclusive and participatory governance and improved service delivery.
• He/she may be supported by strategic advisors provided by consortium and niche partners on citizens’ engagement and inclusive governance issues/processes and manages any mentoring and advisory inputs from them to Delivery Teams.
• The Governance Advisor - Partnership and Accountability is part of the PERL Engaged Citizens National Support Team and is expected to actively collaborate with other members of the team and with colleagues in the other pillars of PERL (ARC and LEAP), as well as relevant contact points in other development programmes, to ensure a coordinated, integrated partnership approach.

Primary Responsibilities
Visioning, strategizing, development of approach:

• Contribute to thinking on PERL’s overall strategic direction and approach, and ECP’s role with this, primarily through programme level planning and learning processes, cross-pillar task teams and development or review of strategic approach papers / technical learning briefs relating to citizen partnership: i.e. partnerships among citizens and their representatives and with government.
• Support the development of new aspects of PERL’s engagement in core governance processes linked to service delivery, and ECP’s role in this, as the need arises.
• Support the delivery teams to review their partnership development frameworks and seek ways of  expanding relevant partnership (where necessary) to incorporate new actors/stakeholders based on emerging information and opportunities to make them more effective
• Contribute to periodic assessments of political economy, conflict, gender equity and social inclusion in relation to citizen partnership. Support Delivery Teams to use research findings to update their strategies for  forging and strengthening partnerships among critical governance stakeholders (government and citizens constituencies)
• Facilitate periodic reflection and review of ECP’s approach to forging and strengthening citizen partnership in line with new information and learning.
• Provide focused support to the Delivery Teams to update and further develop their citizen partnership strategies and plans.

Leadership, Teamwork and Relationship management:

• Actively contribute to team-building within the ECP team
• Maintain strong working relationships with other members of ECP’s Technical Support Team (and where necessary, ARC and LEAP) to deliver a shared approach and work-plan.
• Maintain close working relationships and ensure co-ordination and integration of approach and plans with members of ECP’s MEL and Operational Support Teams.
• Provide support to the Delivery Teams in a manner that respects their autonomy and the specificity of their context.
• Maintain close working relationships and ensure co-ordination with counterparts in ARC and LEAP.

Operationalisation of Approach, Delivery of support and Results:

• Advise Delivery Teams on best tactics and approaches to deliver their work-plans through planned interventions which involves an effective working relationship with their counterparts in ARC. Work closely with ECP’s MEL Support Team to support Delivery Team’s to establish/review technically-smart, MEL-smart and operationally feasible progress makers and KPIs for each intervention.
• Where relevant, oversee external support to ECP delivery teams from local consultants and from ECP’s consortium and niche partner organisations.
• Support the Head of Technical Support to review and approve Delivery Team’s monthly / quarterly forecast of programme activities through a coordinated approach within the Technical Support Team.
• Work with ECP’s MEL Support Team and other members of the Technical Support Team to review progress made by Delivery Teams against agreed plans on a quarterly, six monthly and annual basis and to capture and report results. Support Delivery Teams to adapt their plans based on review findings.
• Contribute to the monitoring and promotion of Value for Money (VFM) analysis and diminishing financial dependency of local partners on ECP in line with ECP’s broad empowerment approach

Job Requirements
Minimum education and experience required:

• Educated to university degree level or above, preferably holding a Masters’ degree
• Significant experience in facilitating citizen engagement with government and voice and accountability in Nigeria
• Experience in facilitating complex and multi-level partnerships, relationships or engagements within the governance space/sphere
• Experience of working in or with a donor (preferably DFID) funded programme

Key Competencies and Professional Expertise Required:

• Expertise in forging and working with partnerships among citizens and their representatives and with government in Nigeria, building, sustaining and extending the relationships within and between them, with shared learning and scale-up
• Very strong understanding of state, governance and civic engagement  dynamics in Nigeria, particularly at the state level
• Strong understanding of public policy, planning, budget development and implementation process and the role of citizens within it
• Expertise in providing technical support and capacity building to complex teams - mentoring based approaches in particular
• Strong knowledge of systems for programme delivery, including strategic planning, M&E, adaptive leaning and knowledge management