Private Sector Engagement Manager at Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) - Kano & Lagos

Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) is an international development company. For more than 45 years, we have worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 80 countries.

Our development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Private Sector Engagement Manager

Locations: Kano and Lagos
Contract Duration 12 Months
Reports to: Private Sector Engagement Lead
Name of Project: USAID Youth-Powered Ecosystem to Advance Urban Adolescent Health (YPE4AH)

Program Overview

USAIDs Youth-powered Ecosystem to Advance Urban Adolescent Health activity aims to empower out-of-school youth with skills, social capital, and resources needed to realize their full potential. The program will improve adolescent health by increasing access to voluntary family planning services and situating family planning within a broader, more holistic context of youth empowerment, coupled with a deeper understanding of the challenges that adolescents face.

Program objectives include 1) life skills - improving skills for healthy living and future planning; 2) leadership - fostering an enabling social and policy environment for adolescent health and development 3) livelihoods - increasing youth workforce readiness, job opportunities, and entrepreneurship to address socioeconomic determinants of adolescent health. Cross-cutting program objectives include local capacity development and evidence generation and learning.

Job Summary

• To provide high-quality, proactive, and efficient support to the Private Sector team. Under the leadership of the PSE Lead, support the development and finalization of the Private Sector Engagement Strategy and Plan and lead on its implementation bringing it to life as an essential component of the YPE4AH project.
• The PSE Manager will identify and engage new and existing private sector contributors and identify and track new or increased contributions in cash and kind.
• The PSE Manager is expected to build on their existing network and develop collaborative relationships in the private sector to increase in-kind donations of skills training, speakers, and internship opportunities forYPE4AH beneficiaries in Lagos and Kano states.
• The Manager will bring innovative ideas, methodologies, and approaches to Private Sector Engagement and garner support from other internal teams to ensure consistent delivery on PSE objectives. The PSE Manager will report to the PSE lead.

The PSE Manager will support the execution of the livelihoods strategy by delivering the following tasks:

• Work closely with the PSE Lead to identify new potential donors, individual or corporate.
• In close collaboration with the PSE Lead, prospect and engage at least four new potential private sector partners in a month based on identified project/adolescents’ needs as highlighted by the technical team.
• Work with the M&E teams to monitor and measure the progress of the beneficiary training
• Conduct periodic assessments with youth engagement and Youth Hub teams to identify new areas of training interest in collaboration with the technical/M&E teams.
• Lead in brainstorming and creating new methods to grow contributions for USAID YPE4AH livelihoods component in liaison with the technical team.
• Maintain tracker of leveraged cash or in-kind donations and potential contributions. (to be created from PSE
• Strategy / Plan and mapping exercises already undertaken).
• Leverage technology and social media where possible to improve support for USAID YPE4AH skills acquisition drive.
• Maintain complete and orderly records of donors and potential donors and manage communications.
• Identify and establish relationships with faith-based organizations, NGOs, and groups within the community to build partnerships and enhance skills acquisition activities.
• Follow up on all leads from PSE lead and as far as possible make every effort to bring these leads to a successful closure.
• Follow-up to see that series of training take place, speakers are engaged and other private sectors in-kind support is delivered.
• Prepare reports for and on behalf of the PSE team.
• Manage and coordinate logistics with agreed training partners to ensure identified series of training are carried out seamlessly at Youth Hubs.
• Conduct periodic reviews with training partners to assess beneficiary development at partner organizations.

NB: This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties.

Skills and Qualifications

• 5-7 years experience in Business Development / Relationship Management / Private Sector Engagement
• Experience working with the private sector essential and international non-governmental organizations, or bi- and multi-lateral agencies is desirable.
• Knowledge of the Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.
• Ability to communicate effectively with C-level executives and present program objectives.
• Good understanding of Nigerian CSR environment and top players.
• Strong research capability to gather information on organizations and philanthropists that can support YPE4AH.
• Ability to communicate with Adolescents and document their needs.
• Demonstrate the ability to work under short timelines and deliver with quality.
• Experience on a U.S Government funded project/USAID will be an added advantage.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively in an IT environment.
• Demonstrated coordination, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in English. Knowledge of the Hausa language will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated technical report writing skills.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the ethical issues surrounding surveillance in Nigeria.

Application Closing Date
22nd February, 2022.