Recent Job Opportunities at Palladium Group, 25th September, 2019

Location: Lagos

Project Overview and Role

• PLANE is a UK aid funded education programme aimed at influencing policy making and strengthening education systems at all levels. The programme is set to run for 8 years (2019-2027) in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and in the South West and in the South East. The opportunity is valued at up to £95m.
• PLANE’s overall objective is to enable a more inclusive and effective state and non-state systems to deliver foundational skills to all children through:
  • Improved teaching techniques, learning approaches and materials
  • Improved state systems- personnel management, planning and financial management
  • Improved performance of non-state systems/actors to delivering basic education
  • Effective mining and communication of results to allow for citizen engagement and education service delivery
• Palladium is looking for a driven, reform-minded and passionate Regional Team Leader (South West) to help the programme have a sustainable impact on the future of the planning and delivery of basic education in the region.
• The Regional Team Leader will be responsible for the strategy and operations of PLANE in the region, overseeing activities, which include:
  • Technical assistance to the participating States on regulatory frameworks for non-state education,
  • Support for non-state school associations
  • New approaches to enable the non-state sector contribute to addressing the needs of marginalised children
  • New models of PPPs
• The position will be based in Lagos.
• The position is contingent on contract-award.

Responsibilities
Relationship Management:

• Bring and/or develop and manage strong working relationships with the programme’s contact points at all levels of the State Government and agencies; DFID and other donor programmes; private school associations, private funders, project partners and other stakeholders.
• Represent the programme at the state level and with other audiences as needed, including with national and global communities of practice.

Strategy and Operational Planning:

• Support the development of the Theory of Change and lead on a context-specific and adaptive approach to deliver the programme Outputs in cooperation and consultation with technical advisors, the state team, Project Director, DFID, project partners, the government and other key stakeholders.
• Maintain a strong working relationship with the Team Lead and reach a consensus on PLANE’s overarching, as well as component specific, technical approach and direction.
• Lead in the preparation of state work plans and budgets; staffing plans; performance improvement plans and other plans as required.

Project Management:

• Provide guidance, oversight and quality assurance for all state activities, outputs and deliverables.
• Assume overall responsibility for the effective implementation of state work plans to ensure delivery is on time, within budget, meets client and stakeholder expectations and is contractually compliant
• Monitor implementation progress; maintain up to date project logs and registers; work to resolve issues, manage and mitigate risks; and escalate material issues and risks as appropriate.
• Develop and implement plans for results measurement, monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, value for money analysis and communication management at the state level.
• Ensure good staff management practices including staff planning, recruitment, on-boarding, appraisal and development.

Financial Management and Administration:

• Ensure the state activities are performed efficiently and demonstrate Value for Money.
• Assume responsibility for consistent implementation of company Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Guidelines at the state level.
• Ensure the programme adheres to the state budget and oversee budget variations

Requirements

• Relevant academic qualification in a related field
• A passion for education in Nigeria
• Knowledge of the context of basic education planning and delivery, particularly where this involves the non-state sector
• Experience working with key state government departments and the various actors involved in Education, an intricate understanding of the power dynamics and an ability to navigate the different agendas and build coalitions leveraging his/her existing relationships with influential stakeholders in the government, the private sector and the civil society
• Experience in leading donor programmes, initiatives, trusts etc which has involved managing up to £5m budgets and managing mentoring inter-disciplinary staff
• Ability to work adaptively and think outside the box
• Ability to speak, read and write in English. Fluency in other national and local languages is an advantage.
• We welcome applications from business leaders and other actors from the private sector

Applications Closing Date
18th October, 2019.

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