Job Openings at Creative Associates International

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contracted Creative Associates International to implement the Nigeria Lake Chad Basin (NLCB) Program, a quick-response mechanism supporting activities that support efforts to strengthen and extend stability and deny and undermine extremist or other groups, such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (BH & ISIS-WA), and other relevant issue sets that arise from violent extremist organization (VEO) activity, in Lake Chad Basin (LCB) countries.

The USAID/OTI NLCB Program is a successor to the successful Nigeria Regional Transition Initiative (NRTI) launched in 2014 as the flagship program to address the Boko Haram insurgency. As a regional issue, the complexity of a peacebuilding response to the conflict requires a highly contextualized, localized response at individual, community and national levels in each of the countries of the Lake Chad Basin. As such, USAID/OTI is currently operating in all of the Lake Chad Basin countries where communication and coordination among all programs is critical.

The initial objectives of the NLCB program are to 1) Offer alternatives to extremist action for vulnerable individuals; 2) Increase community resilience to extremist action; 3) Strengthen the ability of moderate actors to engage in key communities prioritized for stabilization; and 4) Inform USG and non-USG stakeholders by providing analytical data on local, national and regional instability and/or violent extremist trends.

The program is implemented primarily through small grants at the community level, designed to address specific problems or requests.  Activity processes are as important as activity outputs in contributing to the program’s strategic goal.  Program objectives are not met solely by performing tasks under an activity, but rather through an inclusive locally-led process that brings the community (including GoN) together to realize goals and foster positive engagement.

 POSITION SUMMARY

The Program Analyst processes the high volume of information generated by program activities, including learning activities, as well as open-source, third-party reporting and data collected by field staff to formulate program strategy recommendations to the senior management team. Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Party – Programs, the Program Analyst closely collaborates with the program’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist as well as Reporting Officer to lead learning and communication efforts.

REPORTING & SUPERVISION

The Program Analyst reports to the Deputy Chief of Party – Programs, and works in close collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist, the Reporting Officer, as well as the USAID/OTI Deputy Country Representative. The position is based in Abuja.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Analyze the mass of information generated by program activities (activity notes, final evaluation reports, background sections of grant write-ups), as well as learning activities (for example, influence mapping reports, cluster evaluations) and open-source, third-party reporting to formulate program strategy recommendations to the senior management team.
• In close collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist, ensure that lessons learned from past activities are reflected in the design and writing of new activities.
• Collaborate with the Reporting Officer on the drafting of weekly, semi-annual and ad-hoc reports as it relates to analytical, research pieces.
• Monitor the geographic footprint of the program’s activities to ensure that it stays relevant.
• Participate in weekly meetings with M&E team to determine priority tasks and provide support as necessary.
• Represent the program in meetings with USAID, Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders.
• In collaboration with the MEL Specialist, develop and supervise the implementation of innovative data collection techniques and tools, including working with external service providers to develop research and learning activities.
• At the request of USAID/OTI and the senior management team, conduct desk reviews or lead field research encompassing large, difficult and diverse problem sets.
• Contribute to cluster-level or program-level evaluations.
•  Any other task at the request of the senior management team.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• University degree in international development, social science, economics, or related field is required.
• 2 years’ experience in the management of field monitoring, evaluation design, empirical and statistical analysis, management information systems and/or information management design is required.
• At least 4 years of general work experience is required.
• Proficiency at using Microsoft office software: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc. is required.
• Qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis skills and experience are required.
• Ability to work autonomously and take initiative to generate valuable findings and communicate them in a timely manner.
• Prior experience with USAID or US Government funded projects is highly desirable.
• Attention to detail and ability to follow up on tasks to completion is required.
• Experience of working in a conflict environment is a plus.
• Written and spoken fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in one or more of the local state languages in the North Eastern part of Nigeria is preferable.

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POSITION SUMMARY

The HR Manager will manage, develop and administer policies and programs covering several of the following: recruitment, wage and salary administration, training, employee relations, and benefits. She will prepare recommendations to top management concerning human resource policies and practices, and will work closely with line and staff management to develop human resource plans and strategies to meet organizational requirements. In this role, she will ensure that program policies and practices comply with applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, she is responsible for employment, training, motivation, and evaluation of assigned employees. This position will be based at the head office, located in Abuja, with program activities expected to be carried out in the North Eastern States.

REPORTING & SUPERVISION

The HR Manager will report to the Operations Manager and supervises HR Officers. The Human Resources Manager has a dotted reporting line to the Regional HR Operations Manager, on related project and corporate human resources matters.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement policies regarding human resources activities, such as recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, employee relations, and performance management.
• Process, verify, and maintain documentation relating to personnel activities, such as recruitment, training, grievances, performance evaluations, and classifications.
• Interpret and provide guidance and instruction to subordinates/peers on HR processes, policies, workflow and work unit priorities.
• Develop professional HR substantive expertise through continuous learning activities such as attending academic courses, seminars, workshops, reading professional research journals or conducting research to support program development.
• Study and analyze positions and prepare position descriptions based on job responsibility questionnaires and personal interviews; evaluate positions using established evaluation systems, determine grades and prepare records as to the validity of the evaluations.
• Record and track data from position descriptions and job salary evaluations to ensure consistency and accountability.
• Identify staff vacancies and recruit, interview, conduct candidate reference and work history authentication along with background checks and select applicants.
• Provide employees with information about policies, job duties, working conditions, wages and opportunities for promotion and employee benefits.
• Administer compensation, benefits and performance management systems and safety and recreation programs.
• Advise managers on organizational policy matters such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommended needed changes.
• Plan and conduct new employee orientation to foster positive attitude toward organizational objectives, which includes planning and managing the onboarding process and training for all new hires. Analyze training needs to design employee development, language training and health and safety programs.
• Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts, and helping to resolve work-related problems.
• Conduct exit interviews to identify reasons for employee termination.
• When needed, contract with vendors to provide employee services such as background verification, health and life insurance, and transportation.
• Assist supervisors and staff with understanding and using the Performance Evaluation System.
• Provide oversight to the work performed by the HR Officers and ensure their duties are carried out in a timely and efficient manner.
• Mediate conflict, grievances, and harassment cases.
• Make decisions on HR issues in consultation with the Operations Manager
• Manage all HCN staff procedures on Health Insurance and National Housing Funds and Life Assurance in compliance with the Nigeria Labor Law

In Preparation of Program Closeout, Perform the Following Tasks:

• Prepare and manage staff retrenchments and severance calculation and payment request on the approach to program conclusion
• Manage the timelines and sensitivity of notifications concerning staff retrenchments
• Provide psychological counselling within period leading to staff retrenchments
• Identify, engage, procure services and oversee delivery of services to support staff to update their CVs and letters of introduction prior to retrenchment. Recommend and identify further training to support staff in roles after NERI
• Work closely with HQ to identify suitable follow-on roles in Creative for retrenched staff.  Work with HR departments in other organizations to support the handover of staff as and when appropriate
• In line with USAID/OTI and Creative HR Compliance Checklist; prepare documentation and develop indexing system to transfer all HCN staff HR files and supporting documentation to HQ/Ultipro on completion of program. Compete and support audits as needed.
• Provide technical advice and support to senior management on staff planning leading onto startup for SWIFT V and/or the potential NERI follow-on
• Perform other tasks, as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• University degree in human resources, management, business administration, or related field is required
• At least six years of general experience with at least 4 years of HR experience in a high volume, complex environment is required.
• Experience working on development funded programs will be added advantage.  
• Demonstrated ability to solve challenging and complicated administrative issues.
• Experience with budgeting and cost analysis.
• Strong organization and communication skills.
• Experience in sourcing, recruiting, and interviewing professional and management candidates is required.
• Certification in human resources (PHR, SPHR, GPHR) is considered a plus.
• Experience in developing and implementing programs across complex organizations with software and systems related to sourcing and management of candidates is required
• Good communication and interpersonal skills is required.
• Considerable knowledge of employment law is a plus.

• Proficiency at using Microsoft office software: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc. is required.

• Excellent record keeping and documentation skills are required

• Experience of working in a conflict environment is a plus.

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.

• Fluency in one or more of the local state languages in the North Eastern part of Nigeria