Senior Project Manager, CASADE at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. In particular, we aim to make healthier food choices more desirable, more available, and more affordable. GAIN’s mission is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially the most vulnerable to malnutrition.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Project Manager, CASADE

Location: Abuja, Nigeria 
Duration: 60 Months
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Direct reports: 1 – 5
Classification: Grade 5 – Manager
Travel Work required: Up to 40%

Overall Purpose

• The (Catalyzing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy CASCADEs and Resilience) CASCADE programme goal is to improve food security and contribute to the reduction of malnutrition of at least 5 million women of reproductive age and children under 5.
• The programme has two strategic objectives: it aims to increase access to and consumption of healthy CASCADEs, as well as increasing the resilience of households to economic and climate change-related shocks with a focus on women of reproductive age and children.
• The programme will galvanise government, business, and communities around 5 domains: Policy changes and accountability; Reengineering markets and mobilising private sector; Transforming cultural norms and practices; Taking a gender transformative approach; Systematising data and learning for policy.
• GAIN is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager (SPM) in the Nigeria Country Office for this exciting opportunity. The SPM will provide overall leadership in the implementation of specific project activities including capacity building, partnerships management and reporting. In addition, this position will report directly to the Deputy Country Director.

Tasks and Responsibilities
Provide overall leadership in:

• The primary responsibility of the SPM will be to oversee the design, development, and successful implementation of the CASCADE project. they will ensure that the project is on-time, on-budget, well coordinated and of the highest technical quality.
• Policy implementation, formulation and support to government agencies
• Integration of social safety nets and gender into programme implementation
• Consortium partner’s management

Project Management:

• Deliver standard project management in accordance with the GAIN guidelines;
• Provide high level oversight and leadership, integrating all work streams under this initiative into a coherent project, including planning resource allocation, keeping full view of overlaps between work streams;
• Manage the project work plans and budgets and track progress, including direct provision of regular updates to the Work stream global leads, funders and country leadership
• Provide mediation to resolve any project implementation issues, including differences between stakeholder and internal groups;

Knowledge Management:

• Ensure project outputs are well informed and up to date by keeping an eye on the relevant literature to ensure that the project remains fully informed by advances in the field;
• Maintain a reference document repository;
• Maintain high level liaison with government stakeholders and other organisations working on complementary projects in the country context to share knowledge and best practice;
• Plan and lead the creation of communications materials with support from the Communications Lead;
• Take part in and lead webinar presentations etc. to share GAIN’s experience

Donor and Partner Relations:

• Manage donor and partner relationships; lead and initiate donor engagement and calls in relation to the country project implementation
• Prepare and be accountable for periodic donor reports and support global collation of wider programme reports and updates

Gender Focus:

• Ensure the initiative is gender-sensitive, and where feasible, gender-transformative working through project design and implementation to continuously strengthen gender focus;
• Keep track of gender results

Stakeholder Management and Coordination:

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with civil society, INGOs, government entities, research institutes, donors. private sector and other organisations.
• Liaising with project consultants (work plans, deliverables, contracts etc.)
• Facilitate communications between government institutions, non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, and private industry, including organizing periodic CASCADE partner’s meetings and using these to shape conversations on partner support for the fortification system

People and Team Management:

• Lead a high performing project team consisting of people across the organisation; bringing together the skills, experience and competencies required for successful project delivery.
• Build a positive and inclusive culture and working environment. for the staff to carry out their activities.
• Recruit and manage staff in line with GAIN policies, including performance management, ensuring that they have the necessary induction, training and support as required.
• Coach and/ or mentor the project team members and support the development of their capacity.
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles
• Support the uptake and ensure staff accountability on the GAIN code of conduct.

Key Organizational Relationships:

• Reports to the Deputy Country Director
• Line manages the Project Manager, CASADE
• Close working relationship with the SUN Business Network (SBN) colleagues
• Regular engagements with global Workstream Leads and colleagues in other GAIN Country offices delivering similar projects
• Other Nigeria Country Office staff
• External partners including government, complimenting organisations and donors.

Competencies:

• Strong programme / project management knowledge and strategic thinking abilities
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to present complex information to a diverse audience
• Ability to build relationships and influence at a high level
• Strong writing capability and analytical skills; able to review data and present meaningful reports and make recommendations
• Able to take initiative, effectively priorities and multi-task, often working under pressure to achieve deadlines
• Computer literate, with the ability to use MS Office Suite and other bespoke systems to support effective delivery
• Strong coordination/liaison, organizational and communication skills.
• Skills in quantitative research methods (implementation, management)
• Team player, flexible and goal-oriented, a real “can do” attitude.
• Clear and systematic thinking that demonstrates good judgement, expert problem solving, and creativity
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural, matrix-style organisation and cross functional team with a flexible and adaptable approach to work.
• Computer literacy with excellent Excel, MS word, Outlook, and Power Point skills.
• Policy influencing expertise
• Nutrition knowledge and expertise
• Strong team leadership abilities with the ability to motivate and mobilise individuals within or outside their reporting line.

Experience:

• Experience in developing and managing projects and programmes in international development (experience of nutrition, health systems, public health or related areas would be an advantage)
• Experience managing a consortium and delivering complex programmes
• Experience in nutrition policy formulation and implementation
• Proven People management experience
• Knowledge/awareness of private sector roles in nutrition and food systems
• Proven track record and results in managing private sector related development projects in Nigeria
• Gender programming awareness/expertise would be an additional asset

Education

• Masters’ Degree in Social Sciences, International Development, Public Health, Nutrition, International Relations or related fields.

Other Requirements:

• Excellent communication and command of English (written and spoken)
• Flexible, willingness to travel in challenging environments.
• Ability / fluency in one or more of the major Nigerian languages an asset

What GAIN Offers

• Flexible working hours
• Friendly working environment
• Professional development opportunities

Salary
NGN12,037,380 – NGN 13,763,436 per annum, depending on experience.

Application Closing Date
22nd August, 2022.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here for more information (PDF)