Jobs at Creative Associates International

Program Description

• Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and in close partnership with federal partners and select Nigeria States (designated as legacy [Bauchi and Sokoto], launching and technical assistance), the five-year Leveraging Education Assistance Resources in Nigeria (LEARN) project will support sustainable improvements in reading outcomes for first and second grade pupils.
• The goal of LEARN is to strengthen and scale early grade reading (EGR) best practice by ensuring that standards-based, context-appropriate assessment, materials, training, and administrative supports needed to improve literacy skills for P1-2 pupils are embedded within the federal policy, funding, and monitoring frameworks, and state and local authorities have the implementation protocols, capacity, and resources to carry out and sustain standards-based, data-driven EGR reform.
• The project objective is to instill ownership in and build capacity of school-community, local, state, and federal systems to establish a base for adequate, consistent data-driven funding, monitoring and performance that increase the equity, inclusion, and wellbeing necessary to achieve sustained EGR gains.
• LEARN will therefore be building on lessons learned from prior Nigeria reading programs to introduce a flexible, cost- efficient EGR intervention model that can be tailored to state contexts.

Position Summary

• The Program Security Advisor’s overall mission is to keep all project personnel and assets safe from harm.
• S/he has delegated responsibility for the day-to-day management and coordination of operational field security activities, provides continuous security and contextual information to the team, ensures compliance with corporate security policies and maintains liaison with the Regional Security Manager for West Africa (RSM).

Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Work with the RSM to develop, manage, and coordinate all Creative security and safety programs, plans and policies relevant to the project including detailed security procedures that comply with Creative security policies. This will include emergency response drills and communication procedures for the project.
• Provides security, safety and risk mitigation advice and recommendations to the management team and staff.
• Ensure that project staff comply with project security procedures.
• Carry out security assessments of offices, compounds, vehicles, and Expatriate/TCN housing and make recommendations for required security upgrades, as required.
• Monitor and analyze the ongoing threat environment faced by the project and brief the Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party and other project staff accordingly. Distribute threat warnings to all staff as appropriate.
• Ensure that appropriate risk migration measures are taken by the project to respond to the threats or changes in threats faced by the project. This is to include physical protection measures, safe working routines, movement restrictions, protection equipment and security staff provision, as required.
• Oversee movement control and coordination for the project, including driver and vehicle deployment and staff whereabouts.
• Oversee the local security provider contracted by the project to ensure contractual compliance and performance of their duties, and act as the focal point of contact with the security provider.
• Provide training, mentoring, and monitoring of the local security provider’s guards.
• Conduct regular training and drills for project staff on lock down drills, office evacuation and fire drills.
• Report security incidents, violations and recommended corrective actions, as appropriate, to the Chief of Party and RSM.
• Ensure all new employees, consultants, and partners working in Creative offices and traveling in Creative vehicles receive appropriate security orientation and briefings.
• Verify that all security devices such as locks, alarms, access systems and physical force protection measures are operational or reported for repair.
• Carry out regular check in calls and communications tests with drivers and field personnel traveling outside of the main cities and or during any critical security incident.
• Ensure visitor access and vehicle control systems are effective and appropriate for the threat environment.
• Review travel requests to ensure staff safety.
• Maintain an “In Country Travel Register” to log and administer all in country and international travel by Expatriate/TCN staff.
• Work with the RSM to develop and maintain the project Crisis Response Plan in coordination with the Operations Manager and ensure that the contact information contained therein is always up-to-date.
• Provide, if directed, a weekly security report to the Chief of Party and RSM.
• Be able to assist with out-of-hours emergency response for the project staff and partners, if needed.
• Ensure that the Creative Sensitive Information (CSI) as well as Vetting Plans are distributed to and is being followed by project staff.
• Serves as the liaison with the US Embassy Regional Security Officer and/or equivalent US Government personnel for project security matters, in coordination with the Chief of Party and or Deputy Chief of Party.
• All of the above includes ensuring security protocols are understood and security drills are periodically conducted with staff in all locations, including regional offices.
• Ensure field staff receive first aid and fire response training.
• Additional assignments, as instructed by the Chief of Party and/or Deputy Chief of Party.

The PSA should understand, brief and regularly train all project staff on:

• The need for all staff to maintain a good level of situational awareness, and to report concerns.
• Project movement / field trip planning and control procedures.
• Project communications procedures including emergency phone trees, WhatsApp alert groups, and contact lists.
• Office emergency response procedures including fire evacuation, direct threat lockdown, etc.
• The need to avoid all demonstrations, possible demo sites and areas where crowd trouble could start.
• The location of the nearest medical facilities.
• Implement and execute actions relating to the Crisis Response Plan.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• University Degree in Management, Business Administration, Law or related field.
• At least 4 years of general work experience with at least 2 years of logistics experience.
• Prior USAID or other donor experience is highly desirable.
• Experience with budgeting and cost analysis.
• Proven understanding of security management protocols essential.
• Demonstrated ability to solve challenging and complicated security issues.
• Ability to develop in-depth understanding of and willingness to comply with all Creative security policies and procedures.
• Should have a proven and established network of contacts within the local security establishment in Nigeria
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to develop tracking systems.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to function well in a team setting.
• Written and spoken fluency in English.
• Demonstrated ability to solve challenging and complicated administrative issues.
• Experience of working in a conflict environment is a plus.
• Ability to draw information from a broad range of sources and provide concise and timely analysis and recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to engage all team members as resources to manage security and contextual awareness in a manner that is proactive.
• Must have the physical capacity to travel extensively on short notice to remote regions throughout Nigeria.
• Written and spoken fluency in English.

Preferred Experience & Skills:

• Previous experience as an officer from the Nigerian military or Department of State Security.
• Proven experience directly and indirectly supervising and managing staff and teams.
• Experience with a USAID-funded or other international organization implementing a program operating in insecure areas is desired.
• Strong ability to deploy and use various forms of tracking.
• Develop security management and movement tracking systems.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills are required.
• Excellent record keeping, and documentation skills are required.
• Working knowledge of modern technical security systems, security standards and procedures within the private sector of Nigeria.

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Program Description

• Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and in close partnership with federal partners and select Nigeria States (designated as legacy [Bauchi and Sokoto], launching and technical assistance), the five-year Leveraging Education Assistance Resources in Nigeria (LEARN) project will support sustainable improvements in reading outcomes for first and second grade pupils.
• The goal of LEARN is to strengthen and scale early grade reading (EGR) best practice by ensuring that standards-based, context-appropriate assessment, materials, training, and administrative supports needed to improve literacy skills for P1-2 pupils are embedded within the federal policy, funding, and monitoring frameworks, and state and local authorities have the implementation protocols, capacity, and resources to carry out and sustain standards-based, data-driven EGR reform.
• The project objective is to instill ownership in and build capacity of school-community, local, state, and federal systems to establish a base for adequate, consistent data-driven funding, monitoring and performance that increase the equity, inclusion, and wellbeing necessary to achieve sustained EGR gains.
• LEARN will therefore be building on lessons learned from prior Nigeria reading programs to introduce a flexible, cost- efficient EGR intervention model that can be tailored to state contexts.

Position Summary

• Creative Associates International seeks a Grants Manager for a USAID-funded project in Abuja, Nigeria.
• The Grants Manager will provide sound business advice to the project on (as well as oversee the administration of) its grants program.
• The Grants Manager will serve as the principal point of contact and Manager for Grant Administration.
• S/he will be responsible to ensure effective and efficient management of grants administration and to ensure flexible, and innovative activities are designed to target key states.

Expected Outcomes:

• Successful facilitation of project grants programs as outlined in its Grant Manual.
• Provide sound business advice to the project on the management of its grant program.
• Award impactful grants that are compliant with client rules and regulations, and Creative policies.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee/facilitate all aspects of the grant lifecycle and supervising grants staff; contribute to market research, preparation of Notice of Funding Opportunities, grant design, facilitating evaluation process, pre-award risk assessment, budget development, kick-off meetings, award monitoring, and closeout processes.
• Conduct iterative trainings to ensure that technical staff and grantees understand and adhere to grant policies, procedures, practices, roles/responsibilities, and Creative’s grants management system, SMART.
• Ensure quality control and the integrity of data in Creative’s online grant management system, SMART, and the client’s (if applicable), and ensure that the data in the system is always up to date to provide grants data in a moment’s notice to upper management.
• Analyze activity budgets for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and consistency; work with program staff to negotiate budgets.
• Ensure timely preparation of grant documentation, such as agreements, neg memos, and amendments.
• Identify issues that may arise during grant implementation in a timely manner, propose and execute appropriate adjustments.
• Demonstrate creative problem solving in addressing and resolving emerging project needs.
• Accountable for up-to-date and audit-ready grant files.
• Participate in the development of the projects annual workplan.
• Contribute on interviews and in the selection process for grant staff.
• Prepare updates, reports, and analyses regarding the grants program to the Chief of Party, Project Director, and Director of Grants Management.
• Incorporate lessons learned to improve processes and procedures based on realities of the project.
• Assist with updating the grants manual and/or templates based on realities of the project; and
• Preparing scheduled and special reports, studies, and analyses regarding the grants under contract program to the Chief of Party, Project Director, and USAID.
• Other tasks as assigned by Supervisor, the Chief of Party (CoP) or CoP’s designee.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Must have 6+ years of general work experience, 4+ years of grants experience, and 3+ years of supervisory experience with groups or teams of staff.
• Bachelors’ Degree or professional qualifications in Accounting, Finance, Business, and/or International Development is required.
• Fluency in spoken and written English highly desired, advanced knowledge required.
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.
• Ability to think critically through a situation that does not conform to common practice.
• Ability to interpret client rules and regulations.
• Competent computer skills is essential (i.e. Microsoft Word and Excel);
• Experience in using grants management software is desirable.
• Understanding of budget and cost control management essential.
• USAID funded program experience desirable.
• Ability to work under pressure and efficiently handle multiple tasks; and
• Ability to work under own initiative or as a part of a team.