Latest Jobs at Creative Associates International

Job ID: 2021-1833
Location: Yola, Adamawa.
Category: Security

Overview
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contracted Creative Associates International to implement the Northeast ConNEction activity to strengthen the resilience of communities vulnerable to violent extremist infiltration and conflict. By targeting communities not yet under the control of violent extremist organizations (VEOs), this activity will seize the opportunity to mitigate the grievances that make communities vulnerable to violent extremism, while building social cohesion within and across communities in northeast Nigeria.

In addition to helping northeastern Nigerians create a stronger foundation against the violent extremist and conflict threats, the activity is designed to develop local capacity to respond to emerging threats. In order to enable flexible and adaptive management of the activity in a complex environment, the activity includes a focused effort on research and analysis of the threats and coordination around programmatic opportunities and responses.

Position Summary

• The Senior Security Officer’s (SSO) 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 and Operations Manager for West Africa (RSOM).
• This position will be based in the Yola office, with program activities expected to be carried out throughout the Northeast of Nigeria.

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

• Work with the RSOM 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 assessment of offices, compounds, vehicles, and expatriate 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 RSOM.
• 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 HCN and expatriate staff.
• Work with the RSOM 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 RSOM:
  • Be able to assist with out-of-hours emergency response for the project staff and partners, if needed.
  • Assist the project with business continuity planning, as required.
  • Ensure that the Creative Sensitive Information (CSI) Plan is distributed to and is being followed by project staff.
  • All of the above includes ensuring security protocols are understood and security drills are periodically conducted with staff in all locations.
  • Ensure field staff receive first aid and fire response training.
  • Additional assignments, as instructed by the Deputy Chief of Party and / or Chief of Party.

The SSO 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, SMS blast service, 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.

Qualifications

• Four-year university degree in a Security-related field is required.
• Minimum of five (5) years general work history is required.
• Minimum of three (3) years professional experience in security management for an organization.
• Experience working for an international organization or company.
• 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 Abuja and throughout Northeastern Nigeria.
• Proficient at using Microsoft office software: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc. Prior experience using MS Access and web-based database applications.
• 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 within Northeastern Nigeria
• Written and spoken fluency in English.
• Fluency in one or more of the local languages used in Northeastern Nigeria.
• Must be willing and able to work in Yola, Nigeria.
• Must have existing work authorization for Nigeria.

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Previous experience as an officer from the Nigerian military or police.
• Prior extended experience with private security company or Nigerian government security services.
• 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 and areas affected by Boko Haram and ISWA 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.

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Job ID: 2021-1880
Location: Northeast Nigeria   
Category: Program Management

Position Summary

• The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) works under the leadership of the Chief of Party (COP) to support technical and operational oversight of an anticipated education access project Northeast Nigeria.
• The DCOP will also serve as the gender and social inclusion lead for the project, ensuring these considerations are effectively integrated throughout implementation of all IRs, and may serve as a state team lead dependent upon project location and design.

Reporting & Supervision:

• Reports to the Chief of Party.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of technical implementation through leadership and management of project components in the following areas: Non formal education; community outreach and engagement; systems strengthening; gender and social inclusion
• Ensure that cross-cutting educational technical areas such as gender, social inclusion, and conflict sensitivity are integrated into design and implementation of all components of the project and all staff SOWs, and ensure synergies and cohesion between the various components and activities;
• Ensure that program components are results-oriented and ensure high quality deliverables and relevant and timely reporting;
• Lead the project’s team of technical staff across multiple offices, and lead all aspects of project implementation in one or more state offices as assigned;
• Work in collaboration with the MEL Director and team to ensure programmatic monitoring and evaluation in accordance to the award;
• Support the COP in programmatic representation, strategic development and quality control duties; and liaise with USAID and government stakeholders to respond to their informational, data and monitoring requirements;
• Assist the COP in developing scopes for and managing international and local partners and grantees to ensure that their performance meets or exceeds technical agreement requirements;
• Provide technical oversight over and contributions to procurement, grants, communications, and knowledge management;
• Ensure that technical and operational activities are carried out according to USAID and Creative’s policies and procedures;
• Maintain a working knowledge of project financials, working with and supporting the COP ensure that appropriate systems and procedures are in place and being followed;
• Support the COP in the preparation of annual work plans and ensure technical quality and cooperation with project staff, USAID, and government representatives;
• In absence of the COP, serve as acting COP of the project.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Education or another relevant field;
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in developing countries, and specifically in areas relevant to basic literacy and numeracy acquisition, non-formal education, and gender equitable programming;
• At least five (5) years of experience managing sizable budgets ($25M) and leading large teams (25+ staff);
• Demonstrated exemplary diplomatic, management, communication and interpersonal skills to ensure internal coherence among diverse team members, as well as relations with the client, subrecipients, government, donors and the international community;
• Previous experience in Nigeria is required; and
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Hausa, Kanuri, and/or other languages spoken in the region strongly preferred.