Job Vacancies at Creative Associates International - J & S

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Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Job Vacancies at Creative Associates International

Creative Associates International (Creative) is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization.
Creative has been in Nigeria since 2004, and is currently accepting applications from senior and mid-level candidates for long-term positions for an anticipated agriculture value chain and competitiveness development program in Nigeria.


State Governance Director

Requisition Number: 17-0304
Project Duration: 5 years

Position Summary
  • Creative Associates seeks a Governance Director - Sokoto State for an anticipated Good Governance USAID-funded project in Nigeria.
  • The Governance Director serves as the state director of all project programs, provides technical leadership, engages with state and local government leaders for monitoring and responding to opportunities for institutional reform; and manages the State Project Office staff and technical advisors.
  • He/she will serve as a member of the project leadership team, working closely with counterparts in other states and facilitating knowledge transfer between state offices and with Nigerian federal officials.
Reporting & Supervision:
  • The State Governance Director - Sokoto reports to the Chief of Party.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Assist state governments to develop strategic approaches for improving governance of state operations, including improvements in public financial management, improvements in service delivery, generation of internal funding and communication with citizens;
  • Assist state governments in identifying and then providing a broad range of technical assistance and capacity development to achieve strategic governance objectives. Support state governments to facilitate public dialogue on governance and civic engagement between government and non-governmental actors through technical assistance to local civil society organizations;
  • Monitor the progress of state governments in achieving agreed upon reforms and improvements in performance;
  • Support the COP and the DCOP in the development of the project strategic framework and work plans for the program implementation to ensure the achievement of the program goals;
  • Support state governments to facilitate interaction, collaboration, and collective action between diverse stakeholders and leverage stakeholder networks to develop strategies advocating citizen priorities;
  • Support state government efforts to engage women, youth, and excluded groups in public and political dialogue, and electoral campaigns;
  • Monitor and document all implementation activities, document successes, challenges, and lessons learned and share them with through regular program reports; and
  • Deliver presentations on program objectives and achievements to implementing partners, civil society organizations, government officials, donor, and other organizations.
Requirements
Required Skills & Qualifications:
  • Minimum Master's degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Financial Management, Public Policy, Law, Economics or a related field;
  • Minimum eight (8) years of related Nigerian development experience in public policy and administration, community development, public financial management, or political analysis;
  • Experience working in northern Nigeria, particularly in Sokoto state;
  • Knowledge of state government reform efforts in Nigeria;
  • Expertise in political economy and conflict assessment and mapping, managing complex partnerships and cross-cutting projects, and local, state, and national institutional building;
  • Expertise in public service, good governance and/or accountability and oversight;
  • Proven effectiveness in managing high-level government relations;
  • Experience with civil society and government capacity building, and governance accountability;
  • Strong experience with coalition building and collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including civil society, and government;
  • Demonstrated leadership, management, strategic thinking, training, and human resources experience;
  • Able to work effectively and professionally with high-level government officials, civil society organizations (CSOs), donor, project staff, and other beneficiaries;
  • Demonstrated track record of developing, managing and working effectively in a teamwork environment;
  • Experience with providing technical assistance, including organizing and conducting workshop and trainings; and
  • Fluency in Hausa and proficiency in writing, reading and speaking English at a senior professional level.
Desired Skills & Qualification: Experience engaging women and marginalized groups to ensure their inclusion
Location: Sokoto Application Email
            Northern Nigeria  Application Email
            Bauchi Application Email

Director of Adaptive Management, Analysis, and Evaluaton

Requisition Number :16-0425
Location:
 Northern Nigeria
Position Duration: 5 years

Position Summary
  • Creative Associates seeks a Director of Adaptive Management, Analysis, and Evaluation for an anticipated Good Governance USAID-funded project in Nigeria.
  • The Director will oversee a series of assessments which will be conducted in Bauchi, Sokoto, and a third state, synthesize the results of those assessments within a unified framework, contribute to the development and adaptation of the program implementation.
Reporting and Supervision
  • The Director of Adaptive Management, Analysis and Evaluation reports to the Chief of Party.  Director will supervise 3-5 managers related to monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, performance reviews and communications.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Manage the assessments of the governance systems in Sokoto, Bauchi, and a third state, developing parameters for research in coordination with Creative’s management team, and overseeing partners and contractors;
  • Synthesize the results of assessments and develop an adaptive management monitoring and evaluation framework;
  • Conduct ongoing analysis of program impact with special attention to identifying possible adaptions necessary to take advantage of windows of opportunity and / or to meet ‘do no harm’ concerns;
  • Assist in the identification of subject matter experts;
  • Contribute to program implementation and monitoring and evaluation strategies;
Required Skills & Qualifications
  • Minimum Bachelor’s degree – MA or PhD preferred – in political science, monitoring and evaluation, public administration, business administration, public policy, law, or a related field;
  • Minimum eight (8) years of related development experience in adaptive management, monitoring and evaluation, research and analysis, good governance, or a related field;
  • Expertise in political economy and conflict assessment and mapping, managing complex partnerships and cross-cutting projects, and local, state, and national institutional building;
  • Strong experience with coalition building and collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including civil society, and government;
  • Demonstrated leadership, management, strategic thinking, analysis, and research experience;
  • Able to work effectively and professionally with high-level government officials, civil society organizations (CSOs), donor, project staff, and other beneficiaries;
  • Excellent communication skills and a demonstrated track record of working effectively in a teamwork environment;
  • Fluency in English.
Desired Skills & Qualifications:
  • Experience working in West Africa and/or Nigeria;
  • Proficiency in Hausa; and
  • Experience engaging women and marginalized groups to ensure their inclusion.

Grants Manager


Position Summary
  • Creative Associates seeks a Grants Manager for an anticipated Good Governance USAID-funded project in Nigeria. 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, innovative, and rapid-response mechanisms are designed to target key zones within Nigeria.
  • S/he will also ensure that the Grant Management and administration function is always in compliance with Creative and USAID’s policies and procedures; and will work towards capacity building of the recipients as well as the other staff members in the area of grants management.
Reporting & Supervision:
  • The Grants Manager reports to the Deputy Chief of Party.  The Grants Manager supervises Grant Officers and Grants Specialists.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Provides oversight and management of grants staff and grants program;
  • Organizes and coordinates organizational staffing structure and workflow of grants staff activities and administration;
  • Responsible for ensuring quality control and the integrity of the data in Creative’s online grants database and ensures that the data in the system is always up-to-date;
  • Responsible for ensuring compliance with Creative’s grants policies as detailed in the Field Manual and the projects Grants Manual;
  • Coordinate closely with program staff to ensure timely administration and monitoring of grant agreements;
  • Coordinate with finance, procurement, and program staff to facilitate grantee kick-off meeting, monitoring and closeout  of grant activities;
  • Provide guidance and interpretation for program staff as well as grantees of Creative’s grants policies and procedures and USG regulation;
  • Manage the grants and direct implementation pipeline;
  • Ensure that grant master files are always up-to-date and ready for audit;
  • Lead the grants management team to serve as a central point of grant activity coordination and facilitation;
  • Provide support to technical units on grants compliance and the online grants database;
  • Provide training in grants compliance to project staff; and
  • Other tasks as needed
Required Skills & Qualifications
  • Minimum of five (5) years professional experience (including at least two year of supervisory experience) working in complex and challenging field operational contexts;
  • Bachelors' degree or professional accounting/financial qualification is required;
  • Experience managing teams,
  • Minimum two years financial administration experience;
  • Competent in computers and using financial software;
  • Understanding of budget and cost control management;
  • Excellent written and spoken English;
  • USAID program experience desirable;
  • Grants program experience preferred;
  • Ability to work under pressure and efficiently handle multiple tasks; and
  • Ability to work under own initiative or as a part of a team.

Monitoring and Evaluation Manager


Position Summary
  • Creative Associates seeks a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for an anticipated Good Governance USAID-funded project in Nigeria.
  • The DCOP will support the Chief of Party (COP) and provide overall day-to-day management and coordination of project technical and administrative personnel and functions, including ensuring that appropriate technical and financial reporting requirements are met.
  • S/he should have appropriate levels of complementary expertise, professional and work experience to support the COP and coherent and effective program coordination and operations, and possess the relevant management, communication, and interpersonal skills to fulfill this role.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Manage program operations, including administration, logistics, procurement, budgeting, finance and compliance, property, and oversight of grants under contract;
  • Support a broad range of activities related to good governance, public financial management, citizen engagement, government service delivery, and conflict mitigation;
  • Serve as USAID liaison in coordination with COP and during his/her absence;
  • Support the development of the project strategic framework and work plans for the program implementation to ensure the achievement of the program goals;
  • Support the COP in management of the program team in an open and respectful manner; and
  • Support the COP in implementation of project monitoring and evaluation activities.
Required Skills & Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in a relevant field is required; Master’s degree is preferred;
  • A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience working in governance programs, including experience with a Contractor or international NGO with demonstrated supervisory experience;
  • Experience working in West Africa with experience in Nigeria strongly preferred;
  • Demonstrated experience and knowledge establishing systems and overseeing start-up under limited time constraints as well as program close-out;
  • Experience in the hiring and supervising of host country local personnel and ensuring, when need arises, that they secure necessary training required to meet program needs;
  • Financial management experience, including budgeting; financial management (tracking, reporting, and accounting); and procurement;
  • Excellent oral and written English communication skills.
  • Fluency in US Government policies and procedures in regards to contract management, financial reporting, procurement processes, systems, and grants and contracts management; experience with construction procurements a plus.
Desired Skills & Qualifications:
  • Experience working on programs related to good governance, public financial management, government service delivery, citizen engagement, and/or conflict mitigation; and
  • Experience engaging women and marginalized groups to ensure their inclusion.

Finance Manager


Position Summary
  • The Finance Manager will be based in Sokoto, Bauchi, or a third state in the north of Nigeria. The Finance Manager will be responsible to (1) ensure contractual requirements are met, based on USAID policies and procedures; (2) develop and implement financial procedures in compliance with Creative and USAID policies and procedures; (3) oversee procurement actions, activity execution, subcontracts and consulting agreements consistent with USAID and Creative procedures, (4) provide financial training and guidance to program staff and partners.
Reporting & Supervision
  • The Finance Manager reports to the Chief of Party and supervises the Finance Officers.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Ensure that the project meets all USAID contractual requirements and ensure compliance with USAID policies and regulations.
  • Provide financial oversight, including the maintenance and monitoring of the project budget.
  • Manage financial systems, files, and maintain Creative’s online accounting system
  • Liaise between Creative Associates' field and headquarters offices regarding all program financial matters and all internal or external audit requests, as needed.
  • Process check requests and wire transfer requests for payments to vendors in compliance with contract requirements.
  • Review and process invoices and in-field fee payments in accordance with Creative accounting procedures and contract policies.
  • Manage personnel and payroll office staff and procedures.
  • Participate in ongoing analysis, forecasting and review of project expenses.
  • Track the transfer of funds between headquarters and the field office, and manage accounting and finance records of in-country expenses, including developing tracking and monitoring all financial project activities, and maintaining current project expense data.
  • Draft quarterly and annual financial reports on financial status of project expenses and budget information and forward to Finance & Contracts for review and approval by the Controller.
  • Prepare monthly field expense reports, and report monthly expenses to HQ Offices.
  • Provide COP with project’s current financial status
  • Provide financial management and systems training for project staff.
  • Travel to field location(s) as necessary and provide oversight to field office financial systems and processes.
  • Provide training and guidance to grantees, local partners, and beneficiaries, as needed
  • Review and approve the financial close-out of program activities, and verify documentation and information is complete.
  • Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Required Skills & Qualifications
  • Required Bachelor's degree in relevant field (finance, accounting, business, etc.)
  • Recommended Master’s degree in relevant field
  • Minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience.
  • Experience managing the finances for a project of similar size.
  • Experience with USAID project finances and budgeting (preferred) or similar work for other donors/U.S. Government agencies.
  • Competent in using computers and financial software
  • Experience managing teams
  • Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills
  • Excellent written and spoken English essential
  • Ability to work under pressure and efficiently handle multiple tasks
  • Ability to work under own initiative or as a part of a team.

Chief of Party


Position Summary
  • Creative Associates seeks a Chief of Party (COP) for an anticipated Good Governance USAID-funded project in Nigeria.
  • The COP will be responsible for the strategic and technical leadership and in-country management of the project.
  • S/he will oversee the long-term expatriate and local staff and short-term experts in achieving project results.
  • The COP ensures compliance with all terms of the project contract and all relevant USAID and USG rules and regulations.
  • The COP will also take the lead in coordinating with USAID, the Government of Nigeria - federal and state-level - and other implementing partners.
Reporting & Supervision:
  • This position reports to the Project Director at headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Manages and is responsible for strategic, technical and financial performance of the project;
  • Provides leadership, and oversight of all administrative matters;
  • Ensures technical, financial, and administrative activities are carried out according to Creative’s policies and procedures and consistent with USAID regulations;
  • Works in partnership with the Project Director, engaging in frequent, routine communication with the Home Office around the project’s progress and potential issues;
  • Develops and implements Results Framework/Logical Framework, and work plans for project activities;
  • Oversees project monitoring and evaluation activities and ensures that project results are met;
  • Supervises development and submission of project deliverables and provides timely and accurate reporting and briefings to USG/Stakeholders on all program areas;
  • Oversees implementation of Creative’s security protocols and provides leadership in handling security-related issues;
  • Responsible for managing the project’s relationships with federal and national level organizations and coordinating relationships with state, and local counterparts, with project State Governance Directors.
  • Oversees implementation of project monitoring and evaluation activities, and ensures that project results and targets are met;
  • Manages project team in a manner that is open and respectful and encourages professional development, and solicits constructive staff input.
Requirements
Required Skills & Qualifications:
  • Minimum of Master's degree from an accredited university in Public Administration, Public Financial Management, Economics, Public Policy or a relevant field is required;
  • A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant experience working on public administration and governance programs;
  • Demonstrated experience in strategic development and managing to achieve strategic results;
  • Experience working in Sub-Sahara Africa, which experience working in Nigeria strongly preferred;
  • Prior experience implementing large USG programs with a Contractor or international NGO with demonstrated supervisory experience and in remote or distance management;
  • Demonstrated experience and knowledge establishing systems and rapid start-up of analytical studies and surveys;
  • Demonstrated experience in developing managing and working with effective host country teams. Experience in hiring and supervising host country staff and ensuring they have the necessary training and skills to meet program needs;
  • Financial management experience, including budgeting, financial management (tracking, reporting, and accounting) and procurement;
  • Experience with project design and implementation;
  • Past representational experience with host governments, other donors, and civil society and demonstrated success with inter-agency coordination and joint programming; and
  • Fluency in English, written and spoken.
Desired Skills & Qualifications:
  • Knowledge of state government reform efforts in Nigeria;
  • Experience working on programs related to good governance, public financial management, government service delivery, citizen engagement, and/or conflict mitigation;
  • Understanding of and ability to implement findings of political economy analysis;
  • Proficiency in Hausa is preferred; and
  • Experience engaging women and marginalized groups to ensure their inclusion.

Monitoring and Evaluation Manage


Position Summary
  • Creative Associates seeks a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Manager for an anticipated USAID-funded project in Nigeria.
  • The M&E Manager will design, develop, and implement a monitoring and evaluation system within assigned area.
  • S/he gathers, analyzes, and processes complex information related to all aspects of program activity implementation.
  • The M&E Manager will carry out his/her work according to an established standard operating procedure for collecting data, monitoring project progress and measuring program inputs/outputs.
Reporting and Supervision:
  • The Monitoring and Evaluation Manager reports to the Chief of Party or his/her designee. S/He will supervise M&E Officers.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Coordinate weekly with M&E team to determine priority tasks. Ensure the M&E team is aware of and up to date on all M&E tasks and reports.
  • Conduct site visits during the project implementation phase for each grant in assigned areas.
  • Produce a “routine monitoring report” (RMR) according to an approved template for each site visit prior to the indicator verification visit.
  • Accurately interpret Bills of Quantities (BoQ) and grant database file shared by head office to determine indicators according which the Officer will be evaluating projects.
  • Draft “final evaluation reports” (FER) based on prescribed format after visiting a grant site for verification of indicators.
  • Identify lessons learned, constraints, and project impacts based on determined theme and/or sector for inclusion in FERs.
  • Share observations from monitoring visits with Chief of Party when findings demonstrate questionable actions.
  • Serve as primary point of contact for Grants Office when developing impact assessments, success stories and weekly reporting.
  • Serve as primary point of contact for Grants Office when additional information is needed to close grants.
  • Undertake comprehensive analysis of projects based on history of site visits; present findings to Chief of Party in a concise and professional manner.
  • Participate in professional training and development activities, as necessary.
  • Represent the program positively and professionally in both internal and external environments.
  • Perform other tasks, as assigned.
Required Skills & Qualifications
  • University Degree in International Development, Social Science, Economics, or related field is required.
  • Five (5) years' experience in the management of field monitoring, evaluation design, empirical and statistical analysis, management information systems and/or information management design is required.
  • Proficiency at using Microsoft office software: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc. is required.
  • Strong analytical skills are required.
  • 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 Northern Nigeria is required.
Mode of application

Use the email(s) below to apply.
Note
  • Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.
  • This position is contingent upon donor funding.
  • Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please



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