Job Vacancies at Search For Common Ground’s International

Position Summary

• Search is seeking an experienced expert in Religious Engagement who will oversee the implementation of our Nigeria FoRB strategy and Religious Engagement Programs. The role will specifically focus on the leadership of four ongoing religious engagement projects that are aligned with our Nigeria FoRb strategy. These projects include the following:
• The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands funded “Promoting and Protecting Freedom of Religion and Belief (PP-FoRB)” Project
• The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded “Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action” Project
• The EU Delegation to Nigeria funded Inclusive Religious Engagement Enhanced by Women (I-RENEW) Project
• The US Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour (DRL) funded “Nigeria Youth Collective Action for Religious Engagement” Project.
• The role is expected to lead the positioning of Search for Common Ground (Search) as an active player in leading the promotion of Freedom of Religion and Beliefs in Nigeria.

Job Responsibilities

• Leadership and oversight of Search’s religious engagement programme portfolio in Nigeria, including representation of Search with all donors, partners, authorities, and other key stakeholders.
• Manage Search’s religious engagement programme relationship and act as the primary point of contact on religious engagement in the country programme with regards to activity implementation, compliance, collaboration, and management matters relating to the projects reporting to the position.
• Provide technical oversight, administration, fiscal management, and grant and contract administration and management, assuring quality, impact and cost effectiveness of the project.
• Hold overall responsibility for assuring that all assistance provided under the religious engagement portfolio is technically sound and appropriate for the needs to be addressed and for adequately managing and supervising the work of all field staff, long‐term staff, short‐term staff, consortium partners, and/or sub‐partners, as proposed.
• Provide technical management and oversight in the delivery of Search’s religious engagement programme portfolio in Nigeria. This includes strong technical expertise in Freedom of Religion or Beliefs (FoRB) conflict analysis, conflict transformation, community dialogue/peacebuilding structures, advocacies, multimedia activities, and journalism.
• Oversee multiple activities simultaneously, including hiring, training, mentoring, and supervising local personnel.
• Provide strong senior leadership and strategic direction to the project team and as consortium lead, including relationship management with key stakeholders and project partners.
• Assemble and motivate a team of local staff and short-term consultants, and effectively supervise project personnel.
• Liaise with Search’s internal teams, including the Nigeria Country Team, the West Africa Regional Team and global HQ teams in Brussels and Washington, DC as required.
• Represent Search’s Religious Engagement Portfolio at high level events and meetings, including public speaking engagements on relevant topic areas.
• Operations: Ensure compliance of staff and partners to Search, donor and country rules and regulations
• Ensure adhesion to logistical and security architecture of the country or regional implementation landscape
• Infuse organizational Values into all work
• Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned

Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Motivates colleagues and direct reports to develop while resolving problems within the context of a proactive and broad vision set by the organization.
• Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with vendors, organizations, professional associations, partners, funders, and Search’s network of experts to facilitate work intended to provide a service to Search.
• Manages and contributes to both routine activities and initiatives while also making progress on continuous improvement efforts.
• Juggles multiple demands and adapts to new situations with fresh ideas or innovative approaches.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of departmental strategies based on organizational goals and objectives.
• Practices ethical behavior to meet Search’s expectations for conduct, minimizes ambiguity, and sets an example for others.
• Builds a framework and sets in motion a plan to overcome challenges by making sense out of complexity and an uncertain future, staying cognizant of the implications of a choice for the department, and being decisive while also applying flexibility for further change as needed and with changing work plans to meet environmental factors.
• Sets up procedures and team building to ensure high quality of work (e.g., review meetings).
• Seeks out creative solutions within a complex and international environment while working within an organizational framework of compliance, ethics, best practices, and standards.
• Shares information, advice, and suggestions to help others be more successful and provides effective coaching.
• Sought out as an expert to provide advice or solutions in their technical or functional area.
• Convenes groups or teams through the problem-solving and creative thinking processes, leading to the development and implementation of new approaches, systems, structures, and methods in a Shared Services environment.
• Involves team members in thought leadership discussions and decision making to lead to continued growth and development for team, department members, and Shared Services colleagues.

Experience and Education

• Master’s degree (or higher) in Peace and Conflict Studies, Development, Political Science, International Affairs, Social Sciences, or other relevant subjects.
• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience, with at least 5 years of senior management experience in Religious Engagement Programming and/or work with Local, State, Regional, National and International actors.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with donor program requirements. Senior management level experience in similar grants.
• Experience managing subgrants and contracts under grants for complex projects. Proven ability to manage all aspects of grant and contract administration and technical assistance staff with a commitment to teamwork.
• Professional experience and knowledge of the Religious context of Nigeria.
• Experience overseeing Religious Engagement focused Projects is an advantage.
• Proven ability to manage technical assistance teams and lead multidisciplinary teams while developing a common vision.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a culture of respect and inclusion.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English is a requirement

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Objective

• Search Nigeria is seeking an Administrative and Program Support Intern, who will provide support to the Procurement, Admin & Logistics Coordinator, and the I-RENEW Project Manager to ensure smooth Administrative and effective maintenance of the SFCG Office and premises while providing support to the Project team in Kaduna state. Search has established a permanent presence in Kaduna state as an operational base and implementing projects with activities that include capacity building, dialogues, peace architecture, media programming, participatory theatre, and collaborative joint activities.

Roles and Responsibilities - Admin and Logistics Support

• Monthly stock recording and ensuring adequate stock supplies around the office as needed
• Receiving and reviewing correspondence to the office
• Maintaining office filing and storage systems
• Following up on hotel booking hotels and making travel arrangements for participants & staff.
• Provision of information to the staff on travel including travel route and hotel arrangements;
• Assist with conference room scheduling and maintenance, including setting up of tables and chairs for meetings.
• General administrative tasks like filing, scanning, photocopying, and answering phones.
• Welcome guests and visitors at the reception.
• Keep a tab of the clock in-and-out book.
• Identify key administrative and housekeeping challenges and raise the challenge with the supervisor.
• Ensure that office equipment is kept in good condition.
• Support in the management of petty cash.
• Work closely with vendors during general maintenance of office equipment.
• Coordinate package delivery and pickup.
• Carry out terrorist checks

Roles and Responsibilities - Program Support

• Provide support to the project team in the implementation of Search’s activities in the related project State.
• Organize and participate in workshops, needs assessments, consultations, and planning sessions, and provide technical inputs as necessary.
• Develop relations with partners and work towards the enhancement of the project
• Support in the organization and implementation of activities; assistance in the design and delivery of training and other support activities.
• Contribute to effective communication and reporting on project activities in the field.
• Provide inputs for periodic technical reviews and manage changes in program direction and focus; project monitoring, evaluation, accountability & learning, etc.
• Conduct frequent supervision and monitoring visits to project areas and identify any issues needing attention related to implementation, compliance, and program quality standards.
• Work closely with the Search team for the implementation of learning and recommendations from external or internal reviews and feedback.
• Work with the project team to develop a detailed costed work plan at the start of the project and ensure monthly updates are made to the output databases.
• In consultation with the Project Manager, represent Search at meetings, seminars, coordination fora, and other events.
• Ensure good collaboration and working relationships with the government and other relevant partners.
• Create appropriate links, working procedures, and information sharing with key stakeholders
• Ensure project reports are produced on time and to a high standard.
• Provide brief updates (bi-weekly or weekly) to the Project Manager and members as the case may be.
• Report any new developments, problems, and challenges encountered in implementation promptly.
• Fulfill any additional assignment as deemed necessary by the project team.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrate integrity and promote SFCG values and ethical standards;
• Promote the vision, mission, and strategic objectives of SFCG.
• Demonstrate capacity to adapt to a multicultural context, and tolerance and respect to issues related to gender, religion, race, and nationality.
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism and solves problems in collaborative ways.

Required Qualifications & Experiences

• A minimum BA/BSc holder with a good knowledge of admin functions.
• Minimum of a (1) year of work experience as an Office Assistant or similar experience
• Highly organized and systematic with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral.
• Excellent cross-cultural communication and working skills, enjoys a multicultural work environment;
• Success Indicators?
• Ability to perform minor administrative tasks
• Ability to accomplish tasks with minimal supervision
• Ability to perform daily routine to ensure detailed filling and archiving of assets and documents
• Ability to perform general duties including logistics support.
• Ability to stock and label office supplies and keep proper stock records to ensure ample supply to carry out duties.