Ongoing recruitment at Creative Associates International

Creative Associates International provides outstanding, on-the-ground development services and forges partnerships to deliver sustainable solutions to global challenges. Its experts focus on building inclusive educational systems, transitioning communities from conflict to peace, developing sustainable economic growth, engaging youth, promoting transparent elections and more. Creative is recognized for its ability to quickly adapt and excel in conflict and post-conflict environments.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Procurement and Logistics Officer

Job ID: 2021-1819
Location: Maiduguri, Borno or Yola, Adamawa State.
Category: Procurement

Overview

• The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contracted Creative Associates International to implement the Northeast ConNEction activity to strengthen the resilience of communities vulnerable to violent extremist infiltration and conflict. By targeting communities not yet under the control of violent extremist organizations (VEOs), this activity will seize the opportunity to mitigate the grievances that make communities vulnerable to violent extremism, while building social cohesion within and across communities in northeast Nigeria.
• In addition to helping northeastern Nigerians create a stronger foundation against the violent extremist and conflict threats, the activity is designed to develop local capacity to respond to emerging threats. In order to enable flexible and adaptive management of the activity in a complex environment, the activity includes a focused effort on research and analysis of the threats and coordination around programmatic opportunities and responses.

Position Summary

• The Procurement and Logistics Officer will be responsible for reviewing overall procurement processes, tracking procurements of goods and services through the procurement cycle, ensuring that adequate competition is achieved for procurements, and providing regular procurement mentoring to project staff to support project implementation.

Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Implement procurement processes and logistics operations for the project, including grants, strictly following all rules and regulations as well as all stipulations established by Nigerian law:
  • Rule and regulations include:
  • ADS (Automated Directive System)
  • FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations)
  • CFR (U.S. Code of Federal Regulations)
  • AAPD (Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directive)
  • Local Nigerian Law
• Review and recommend changes to procurement policies and procedures as required.
• Maintain policies for procurement processes.
• Manage/maintain a registry and file system for procurements to allow for efficient document and process audits.
• Maintain the privacy of grantees and vendors.
• Maintain procurement files, including proposals, evaluations, award documents, official contracts and correspondence on all procurements, following policies and local law.
• Provide training on procurement and delivery of goods and services to program team, grantees, and beneficiaries as it pertains to established protocols by the project and local law.
• Manage account status for all credit accounts established with vendors.
• Supervise and verify the procurement of materials according to the context and or/needs of the beneficiary, community and/or project.
• Develop and analyze technical specifications of materials, with consideration for investment, loss, and associated value; review and adjust budgets, as needed.
• Design and prepare Terms of Reference and/or technical specifications for materials, goods, and services, for contracts, acquisitions, and procurements, in collaboration with the program team.
• Ensure presentation of sufficient selection that meets requirements of quality assurance, delivery, and transparency.
• Work with local, national, and international vendors of goods and services to ensure quality, maintain professional distance required to ensure high ethical standards.
• Ensure competitive procurements by attracting potential vendors for the purchase of goods or services either through direct, bid invitation, or other mechanisms that ensure high standards of transparency.
• Designate or participate in evaluation committees for proposals submitted by the various vendors, according to the solicited terms of reference and regulations.
• Verify quality and quantity of products according to the context and/or needs of the beneficiary, community, and/or project.
• Process procurements according to respective rules and regulations.
• Maintain strict control of grant budgets, and financial expenditures.
• Coordinate delivery logistics with program team and/or grantees to obtain the required permits including delivery receipts.
• Coordinate transportation, permits, authorizations, insurance, loading and unloading of goods/materials, and financial allocation or related expenses under grants.
• Prepare budgets, solicit quotations, negotiate, conduct analysis and recommend vendors for delivery of goods and materials to grantees.
• Communicate all delivery schedules corresponding to grant and operations procurements, including the projection of related expenses.
• Verify deliverables are complete and done in a timely manner.
• Perform other tasks, as assigned.

Qualifications

• University Degree in Management, Business Administration, Law or related field.
• At least 4 years of general work experience with at least 2 years of procurement experience.
• Prior USAID or other donor experience is highly desirable.
• Experience with budgeting and cost analysis.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to develop tracking systems.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to function well in a team setting.
• Written and spoken fluency in English.
• Fluency in one or more of the local languages spoken in Northeastern Nigeria.
• Demonstrated ability to solve challenging and complicated administrative issues.
• Experience of working in a conflict environment is a plus.
• Must be willing and able to work in Maiduguri or Yola, Nigeria.
• Must have existing work authorization for Nigeria.

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

Job Title: Senior Grants Officer

Job ID: 2021-1820
Location: Maiduguri, Borno or Yola, Adamawa State.
Category: Grants Management

Overview

• The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contracted Creative Associates International to implement the Northeast ConNEction activity to strengthen the resilience of communities vulnerable to violent extremist infiltration and conflict. By targeting communities not yet under the control of violent extremist organizations (VEOs), this activity will seize the opportunity to mitigate the grievances that make communities vulnerable to violent extremism, while building social cohesion within and across communities in northeast Nigeria.
• In addition to helping northeastern Nigerians create a stronger foundation against the violent extremist and conflict threats, the activity is designed to develop local capacity to respond to emerging threats.
• In order to enable flexible and adaptive management of the activity in a complex environment, the activity includes a focused effort on research and analysis of the threats and coordination around programmatic opportunities and responses.

Position Summary

• The Senior Grants Officer 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.

Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• 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.
• Coordinate closely with Grants, Procurement and Programs to ensure activity-level spending is on track and provide quality control on any required budget modifications.
• 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.
• Manage the financial commitments, spending, and deobligations of the activities pool and all program fund sources.
• 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.
• Other tasks as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or professional Accounting/Financial qualification is required.
• Minimum of five (5) years professional experience (with previous supervisory experience preferred) working in complex and challenging field operational contexts.
• Minimum three (3) years’ grants administration experience with international donors is required, previous USAID grant experience strongly preferred.
• Competence in computers and using financial software.
• Understanding of budget and cost control management.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.
• Fluency in one or more of the local state languages in the Northeastern part of Nigeria.
• Ability to work under pressure and efficiently handle multiple tasks.
• Ability to work under own initiative or as a part of a team.
• Must be willing and able to work in Maiduguri or Yola, Nigeria.
• Must have existing work authorization for Nigeria.

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

Job Title: Human Resources Manager

Job ID: 2021-1817
Location: Maiduguri, Borno or Yola, Adamawa State.
Category: Human Resources

Overview

• The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contracted Creative Associates International to implement the Northeast ConNEction activity to strengthen the resilience of communities vulnerable to violent extremist infiltration and conflict. By targeting communities not yet under the control of violent extremist organizations (VEOs), this activity will seize the opportunity to mitigate the grievances that make communities vulnerable to violent extremism, while building social cohesion within and across communities in northeast Nigeria. In addition to helping northeastern Nigerians create a stronger foundation against the violent extremist and conflict threats, the activity is designed to develop local capacity to respond to emerging threats.
• In order to enable flexible and adaptive management of the activity in a complex environment, the activity includes a focused effort on research and analysis of the threats and coordination around programmatic opportunities and responses.

Position Summary

• The HR Manager will manage, develop and administer policies and programs covering several of the following: recruitment, wage and salary administration, training, employee relations, and benefits. She will prepare recommendations to top management concerning human resource policies and practices, and will work closely with line and staff management to develop human resource plans and strategies to meet organizational requirements.
• In this role, she will ensure that program policies and practices comply with applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, she is responsible for employment, training, motivation, and evaluation of assigned employees.

Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Develop and implement policies regarding human resources activities, such as recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, employee relations, and performance management.
• Process, verify, and maintain documentation relating to personnel activities, such as recruitment, training, grievances, performance evaluations, and classifications.
• Interpret and provide guidance and instruction to subordinates/peers on HR processes, policies, workflow and work unit priorities.
• Develop professional HR substantive expertise through continuous learning activities such as attending academic courses, seminars, workshops, reading professional research journals or conducting research to support program development.
• Study and analyze positions and prepare position descriptions based on job responsibility questionnaires and personal interviews; evaluate positions using established evaluation systems, determine grades and prepare records as to the validity of the evaluations.
• Record and track data from position descriptions and job salary evaluations to ensure consistency and accountability.
• Identify staff vacancies and recruit, interview, conduct candidate reference and work history authentication along with background checks and select applicants.
• Provide employees with information about policies, job duties, working conditions, wages and opportunities for promotion and employee benefits.
• Administer compensation, benefits and performance management systems and safety and recreation programs.
• Advise managers on organizational policy matters such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommended needed changes.
• Plan and conduct new employee orientation to foster positive attitude toward organizational objectives, which includes planning and managing the onboarding process and training for all new hires. Analyze training needs to design employee development, language training and health and safety programs.
• Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts, and helping to resolve work-related problems.
• Conduct exit interviews to identify reasons for employee termination.
• When needed, contract with vendors to provide employee services such as background verification, health and life insurance, and transportation.
• Assist supervisors and staff with understanding and using the Performance Evaluation System.
• Mediate conflict, grievances, and harassment cases.
• Make decisions on HR issues in consultation with the DCOP.
•  Manage all HCN staff procedures on Health Insurance and National Housing Funds and Life Assurance in compliance with the Nigeria Labor Law.

Qualifications

• University degree in Human Resources, Management, Business Administration, or related field is required
• At least six (6) years of general experience with at least four (4) years of HR experience in a high volume, complex environment is required.
• Experience working on development funded programs will be added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to solve challenging and complicated administrative issues.
• Experience with budgeting and cost analysis.
• Strong organization and communication skills.
• Experience in sourcing, recruiting, and interviewing professional and management candidates is required.
• Certification in human resources (PHR, SPHR, GPHR) is considered a plus.
• Experience in developing and implementing programs across complex organizations with software and systems related to sourcing and management of candidates is required
• Good communication and interpersonal skills is required.
• Considerable knowledge of employment law is a plus.
• Proficiency at using Microsoft office software: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc. is required.
• Excellent record keeping and documentation skills.
• Experience of working in a conflict environment preferred.
• Fluency in oral and written English.
• Fluency in one or more of the local state languages in the Northeastern part of Nigeria.
• Must be willing and able to work in Maiduguri or Yola, Nigeria.
• Must have existing work authorization for Nigeria.

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

Job Title: Operations Manager

ID: 2021-1818
Location: Maiduguri, Borno or Yola, Adamawa State.
Category: Program Management

Overview

• The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contracted Creative Associates International to implement the Northeast ConNEction activity to strengthen the resilience of communities vulnerable to violent extremist infiltration and conflict. By targeting communities not yet under the control of violent extremist organizations (VEOs), this activity will seize the opportunity to mitigate the grievances that make communities vulnerable to violent extremism, while building social cohesion within and across communities in northeast Nigeria.
• In addition to helping northeastern Nigerians create a stronger foundation against the violent extremist and conflict threats, the activity is designed to develop local capacity to respond to emerging threats. In order to enable flexible and adaptive management of the activity in a complex environment, the activity includes a focused effort on research and analysis of the threats and coordination around programmatic opportunities and responses.

Position Summary

• The Operations Manager is responsible for project-wide operations, ensuring compliance and effective operational support, including managing program facilities, assets, procurement, and logistics.
• S/he provides both direct and remote supervision to Procurement and Logistics Officers who conduct market surveys, identify vendors, procure cost-effective goods and services, and facilitate movement of goods to grantees and activity sites.
• S/he also supervises drivers and an IT Officer responsible for maintaining connectivity, information security, and equipment.

Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Ensure streamlined operations systems in line with Creative and donor rules and regulations;
• Provide administrative and logistical support to the portfolio of programs;
• Ensure an in-depth awareness of operational issues in the context of Northeast Nigeria;
• Streamline and maintain procurement processes to meet grant deliverables and milestones;
• Serve as the primary liaison to all vendors and subcontractors;
• Responsible for day to day management of subcontracts with international vendors;
• Serves as primary liaison for Creative HQ on international subcontractor issues;
• Manages and oversees staff responsible for arranging travel and logistics for staff and project equipment and inventory;
• Provides timely and accurate reports on location of staff and assets and maintains proper hard and soft copy files for each. Reports may be requested by HQ or donor;
• Responsible for program compliance with Task Order, USG rules and regulations, and Creative policies and procedures;
• Supports COP in all operations tasks and duties;
• Manages, trains, and mentors key Nigeria team members in the areas of administration, logistics, procurement,; and
• Respond to requests from donor and supervisors as needed.

Qualifications

• At least five years of relevant work experience, including experience with a Contractor or international NGO managing an office or program.
• At least four years of experience supervising complex, high-speed, and challenging field operations in developing countries.
• Familiarity with or have experience in community participation-type projects as well as those that are political in focus.
• Experience with operations, logistics and subcontracts in an insecure environment.
• Knowledge of basic operating procedures in high-risk environments.
• Experience in conflict, post-conflict, or transitional state environments.
• Proficient oral and written communication skills in English.
• Fluency in one or more of the local state languages in the Northeastern part of Nigeria.
• Strong analytical capacity.
• Previous experience working with USAID desired.
• Must be willing and able to work in Maiduguri or Yola, Nigeria.
• Must have existing work authorization for Nigeria.

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

Job Title: Deputy Chief of Party – Program

ID: 2021-1821
Location: Abuja
Category: Program Management

Overview

• The Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), part of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), contracted Creative Associates International to implement the Nigeria Lake Chad Basin (NLCB) Program, a quick-response mechanism supporting activities to strengthen and extend stability and peace in Nigeria.
• The NLCB program is initiating new programming in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and potentially the Northwest to anticipate, prevent, and respond to increasing violence and threats of attacks against civilians, including individuals and groups targeted based on their religion. Community-based interventions will be designed to help ensure that such groups can persevere as distinct communities; to ensure equal rights for individuals and groups regardless of belief; to improve the safety and security of public spaces; to build resilience and promote the restoration of the social fabric of targeted communities, and to protect and preserve the cultural heritages of these communities.
• The complexity of a peacebuilding response to conflict requires a highly contextualized, localized response at the individual, community, and national levels. Violence and conflict in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and Northwest are driven by several factors, including ethnicity, politics, lack of accountability and access to justice, criminal organized violence, insecurity and increasing competition over dwindling land resources as well as religious differences.
• The program is implemented primarily through small grants at the community level, designed to address specific problems or requests. Activity processes are as important as activity outputs in contributing to the program’s strategic goal. Program objectives are not met solely by performing tasks under an activity, but rather through an inclusive locally led process that brings the community (including the Government of Nigeria) together to realize goals and foster positive engagement.

Position Summary

• The Deputy Chief of Party – Program (DCOP-Program) will be responsible for ensuring that program activities are designed, implemented, and completed following a fast-paced program strategy.
• The position will be based in the head office, located in Abuja, with work expected to be carried out in Plateau and Jos States and other locations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Chief of Party, the DCOP-Program will:

• Oversee the activity development process, and will provide direct management of a national activity management team ensuring coordination and communication with activity development staff in the state offices and, if required, in other Lake Chad Basin countries;
• Along with the COP, engage OTI counterparts to guide program strategy, including setting objectives, developing theories of change, and supporting program expansion into neighboring areas if required;
• Manage program development and implementation of activities, ensure alignment with the broader program strategy and drive continuous improvement in processes and outcomes;
• Oversee the function, effectiveness, and compliance of the Grants Department to ensure all activities are conceived, delivered, and closed in compliance with the approved Activity Cycle and Activity Manual Addendum;
• Ensure the timely design and delivery of all engineering activities and compliance with prevailing environmental regulations;
• Oversee or directly maintain financial management tools and financial projections for program activity (Transition Activity Pool) spending. Advise the Senior Management Team, OTI, and HQ team on expected and actual commitments and expenditure and provide quality control on internal/external projections;
• Oversee the activity closeout process, including financial and reporting closeout of each activity;
• Provide management oversight of the M&E and research functions on the program, ensuring coordination and mutual support between Program and M&E teams, and establishing feedback processes to ensure that activity lessons and research outcomes feed into and inform the activity design process.
• Travel to state offices/field presence in Plateau and Jos states, and potentially to other locations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, or Lake Chad Basin countries, security permitting, to ensure that lessons learned are practically applied into activity design;
• Support the COP in drafting and submitting program deliverables;
• Identify windows of opportunity for new program activities;
• Perform additional tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required, Master’s degree is preferred;
• Five (5) years of relevant work experience, including experience with a donor, contractor or international NGO managing an office or program required;
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience working on complex, high-speed and challenging programs that operate in transitional environments;
• Previously demonstrated supervisory experience of HCN and expatriate staff required;
• Experience with activity design and development, including firsthand experience drafting award reporting and deliverables, implementation, and close-out;
• Experience with grant management under ADS 303 required;
• Experience working in post-conflict and resource-limited environments is required;
• Capacity to understand and analyze national and local contexts; to guide the program staff in creatively designing grants that relate to the current country context;
• Exceptional organization skills and ability to work and multi-task under pressure;
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with culturally and geographically diverse staff, fostering overall good dynamics within and between teams;
• Fluency in written and oral English is required.

Desired Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience with in-kind and small grants, preferably Program that require various and simultaneous procurements of goods and services and management of providers of short-term technical assistance;
• Proficiency in French is an advantage but not required.
• Previous OTI experience is highly desired.

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

Job Title: Finance Manager

ID: 2021-1816
Location: Maiduguri, Borno or Yola, Adamawa
Category: Accounting/Finance

Overview
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contracted Creative Associates International to implement the Northeast ConNEction activity to strengthen the resilience of communities vulnerable to violent extremist infiltration and conflict. By targeting communities not yet under the control of violent extremist organizations (VEOs), this activity will seize the opportunity to mitigate the grievances that make communities vulnerable to violent extremism, while building social cohesion within and across communities in northeast Nigeria. In addition to helping northeastern Nigerians create a stronger foundation against the violent extremist and conflict threats, the activity is designed to develop local capacity to respond to emerging threats. In order to enable flexible and adaptive management of the activity in a complex environment, the activity includes a focused effort on research and analysis of the threats and coordination around programmatic opportunities and responses.

Position Summary

• The Finance Manager, based in Maiduguri or Yola, Nigeria, 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.

Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• 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 F&C for review and approval by the Controller.
• Prepare monthly field expense reports, and report monthly expenses to HQ Offices.
• Provide DCOP and/or 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 the DCOP or COP.

Qualifications

• Required Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (Finance, Accounting, Business, etc.).
• Recommended Master’s degree in relevant field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience.
• At least 8 years of general work experience is required.
• 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.
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Proficiency in English required, proficiency in local languages in the Northeast strongly desired.
• Must be willing and able to work in Maiduguri or Yola, Nigeria.
• Must have existing work authorization for Nigeria.

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

Note: The exact location of this position is to be confirmed but may be based in Maiduguri or Yola, Nigeria. Candidates must be willing and able to live in either location.