Project Manager at Search for Common Ground (SFCG) - Jos

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and a European office in Brussels, Belgium, SFCG’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict - away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. SFCG seeks to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately 600 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects from 50 offices in over 30 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. The organization is an exciting and rewarding place to work, with a dedicated and enthusiastic staff that is committed to its mission and values. You will be joining a highly motivated staff with a good team spirit and there will be opportunities to grow in the role.

SFCG has been working in Nigeria since 2004, beginning with the production and broadcast of a TV series targeting a youth audience. In 2010, SFCG began building its engagement in Nigeria, establishing a full country office program, utilizing media, capacity- building, and civil society engagement to expand and deepen the impact of the Common Ground approach in Nigeria. SFCG Nigeria is headquartered in Abuja, with offices in Port Harcourt, Jos, and Maiduguri to support our peacebuilding work in the Niger Delta, the North East and North Central areas of the country.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Tittle: Project Manager

Location: Jos, Nigeria

Summary of Position

• The Project Manager is responsible for the management of activities in the North Central States (Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Bauchi), related to five projects currently being implemented by SFCG.
• These projects are funded by USAID, the US State Department, and National Democratic Institute, with a combined value of over $4,000,000.
• The Project Manager may be required to assume further responsibilities on new projects as they arise.
• The Project Manager will ensure a timely and effective implementation of activities, supervise a cohesive and efficient action team of partners and staff, and ensure appropriate measurement of the results of the project.
• The Project Manager reports to the Deputy Director.

Responsibilities
The Project Manager’s duties include, but are not limited to:

• Program Implementation
• Develop and update detailed workplans for each project under his/her supervision, including start-up and closedown plans as needed;
• Coordinate project staff (program officers, assistants, finance staff) and partners to implement activities according to the workplan, in line with SFCG’s Common Ground Approach and ensuring effective gender and minority mainstreaming;
• Manage an action team for implementation of the project, including partners, consultants and members of staff for the effective implementation of projects;
• Ensure management and capacity-building of partners in line with capacity-building plans and SFCG procedures and Partnership Protocols;
• Ensure production and submission of high quality activity reports and donor reports, with a focus on capturing results;
• Produce and/or review communications and visibility material related to projects under supervision ;
• Coordinate with Monitoring and Evaluation team to ensure tools and methodologies are developed to capture results, including capturing of gender and minority participation;
• Maintain regular written and oral reporting to the Deputy Country Director on key country, regional, program, security and staff issues;
• Develop and maintain proactive, positive and professional relationships with government offices and officials at federal, state and local level, other NGOS, donors, clients, politicians, key government officials and civil society groups working on peace; and
• Serve as SFCG’s representative with donors and local stakeholders in North Central Nigeria.

Finance and Administration:

• Conduct budget versus actual reviews to analyse spending and develop corrective plans as needed
• Liaise effectively with Finance and Logistics teams to ensure adequate preparation for activities, ensure compliance of all activities with organizational operational procedures, and prepare for audits as requested
• Ensure all staff under supervision and partners are familiar with the latest organizational finance and compliance policies
• Maintain an updated staffing plan/organogram for all projects under supervision
• Provide information on security context in areas under supervision to update Nigeria country program security plan

Strategic Planning:

• Participate in meetings with the Country Director, Deputy Director and other staff to establish strategic priorities for SFCG in Nigeria, and ensure that strategy is reflected in program implementation;
• Identify and assess current and existing conflict management and prevention initiatives in North and Central Nigeria and the relevant actors and stakeholders;
• Identify local partners and target communities, and seek their input through individual meetings and planning sessions;
• Participate in new business development, as requested, and ensure strategic priorities are reflected
• Be directly engaged in the continuing development of the organization, its mission and its staff, through the sharing of experience and knowledge, particularly contributing to its Institutional Learning efforts.
• NB: As job descriptions are not exhaustive, the position-holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications for the Position
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following competencies and values, as well as possessing the required knowledge, skills and experience for the position:

• Core Values and Guiding Principles
• Integrity: Demonstrate consistency in ethical conduct and upholding and promoting the values of SFCG in their actions and decisions, in line with the organization’s mission to help the world understand differences and act on their commonalities.
• Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence, discretion, sound judgment and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
• Cultural Sensitivity and Valuing Diversity: Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff.
• Tolerance for uncertainty, instability and unpredictable environment.

Core Competencies:

• Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Take initiative and be creative in addressing challenges and promoting solutions.
• Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
• Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behaviour towards others.
• Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.
• Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge among staff and partners.
• Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies:

• Strong communications skills, with proven expertise in writing cogent and convincing policy and program documents.
• Proven analytical and problem solving skills.
• Good strategic planning, goal-setting and prioritization skills.
• Proven effectiveness in establishing and fostering good relations with government counterparts, donors, NGO partners and beneficiaries.
• Ability to leverage information technology, executive information systems, management techniques and tools for optimal office performance.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience
The Position Holder will possess:

• A Post graduate degree in social sciences or related field
• At least five (5) years of experience managing peace-building and/or development projects for an international NGO or multilateral institution
• At least three (3) years of experience managing a full-time staff of 5 or more
• At least three (3) years of experience working with governments, donors and civil society organizations at the field levels
• Demonstrated knowledge of US Government donor rules and regulations, and the ability to manage multi-donor funding
• Demonstrated financial management and program administration experience
• Demonstrated budgeting, proposal writing, and grants management skills
• Experience living and working in Nigeria
• Spoken and written fluency in English
• Familiarity with dialects of North Central Nigeria would be a bonus

Salary
Commensurate with education and experience, with excellent benefits.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Note: Please send as One (1) document a cover letter and resume with the subject heading: PROJECT MANAGER - JOS through our application system. Please be sure to include Minimum salary requirements (in currency figures) or current salary, projected start date, and to mention where you found this posting. No phone calls please. Noncompliance will automatically disqualify your application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.