Project Management Specialist (Education)

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is recruiting for Project Management Specialist (Education)

Solicitation No.: 72062020R10010

Location: Abuja, Nigeria with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties

Period of Performance: Five (5) years renewable, estimated to start o/a November 2020.

Security Level Required: CCNPSC Clearance

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

• The incumbent will serve as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR), Agreement Officer Representative (AOR) and/or Activity Manager, upon USAID certification, for selected instruments within the education portfolio that align to components of USAID/Nigeria’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy.
• The incumbent will provide expertise across a broad range of technical functions including mitigating conflict in the education sector, education policy, curriculum implementation, combating school-based violence, basic literacy and numeracy acquisition, school-based management, education in emergencies, special needs education, and youth development.
• Adaptability and flexibility toward changing responsibilities is required with the emergence of new USAID strategies and evolving priorities. Travel is required.

Statement of Duties to be Performed

Program /Project Leadership and Management (40%):

• Perform the full range of program management functions from activity startup to closure including but not limited to ensuring grantees/contractors meet the full objectives of their project descriptions or scopes of work, advising and participating in ongoing evaluations of performance and ensuring program compliance with all USAID policies.
• The incumbent must ensure technical content and activity objectives are consistent with the strategic priorities of the USAID Mission and the Government of Nigeria (GON), with an unwavering commitment to continuous learning and adaptability.
• As part of her/his A/COR responsibilities, s/he conducts site visits as an official representative of USAID/Nigeria to monitor implementation and progress, identifies delays or difficulties requiring resolution, engages counterparts internally and externally to identify executable resolutions and ensures follow through on requisite actions for seamless program delivery.
• Examples of common intervention points include ensuring activity compliance with Office of Acquisition and Assistance requirements, adherence to protocols of engagement with government actors, and responsive management solutions for nuanced social, political or cultural concerns that impact program implementation.
• S/he also ensures that all official approvals are obtained from GON partners as required, as well as provides financial oversight of assigned implementation activities, including assessment of monthly liquidation reports, authorizing and monitoring disbursements, quarterly pipeline reviews, analysis of annual funding requirements, preparation and analysis of budgets, etc.
• The incumbent provides technical leadership during in-briefs and out-briefs for short-term technical assistance on activities as well as actively liaises with donor counterparts and non-USAID activity leads, where needed, to leverage resources and lessons learned, facilitate synergies and avoid duplication.
• S/he may also serve as an Activity Manager for education activities, as necessary.

Program Policy and Analysis and Reporting (20%):

• The incumbent provides direction and support in the planning, development, and evaluation of policies contributing toward the education component of the Mission’s portfolio. S/he will be involved in annual Mission portfolio reviews as well as ad-hoc proposal reviews submitted to the Mission or Washington for field concurrence.
• The incumbent ensures that the indicators for measuring the impact of education activities are accurately tracked and are used to revise strategy as necessary. Coordinates with the Education Office Director, the Deputy Office Director, and other Program Managers to ensure thoroughness and consistency of data submitted on activities for the annual report, portfolio reviews, etc. Tracks political and policy developments, legislative changes, and technical developments in the field that affect USAID’s activities and/or objectives regarding primary education, advises the Education Office Director and other Program Managers, and makes recommendations on appropriate USAID positions.
• Briefs local and visiting senior USAID officials and US Embassy staff, as required, on the implementation of assigned activities in relation to host-country programs and priorities.

Activity Development and Design (20%):

• Conceptualizes and articulates evidence-based activity design or delivery components in accordance with the education sector strategy, the Nigerian political economy, the institutional capabilities of potential USAID recipients, resource availability and funding sources. Conducts research, as necessary, on the social and economic factors affecting the education system in Nigeria
• for input into design development. S/he contributes to the development of conceptual frameworks and formulates plans for required implementation documentation.
• Contributes technical expertise and creative ideas to other technical teams in the Mission developing new interventions to support the social and economic development of Nigeria. Explores ways and strategies for integrating education into those interventions, identifying synergies and leveraging resources among those teams for maximum impact and results.

Education Team Administrative Work and External Engagement (20%):

• S/he is responsible for the management of assigned technical and administrative aspects of USAID/Nigeria’s education program. Drafts reports, correspondence, cables, GLAAS actions, scopes of work, implementation letters, acquisition and assistance plan and accruals in collaboration with the Program Office and the Office of Financial Management, and any other documents necessary for the implementation of assigned activities. Negotiates the clearance and approval of documents required for proper implementation of activities.
• S/he is also responsible for contributing ideas/strategies and participating in the Education team meetings.
• S/he will also serve in liaison roles for USAID with Nigerian officials at the Universal Basic Education Commission, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Federal Ministry of Education, State Ministries of Education and State Universal Basic Education Boards.
• Collaborates with other development partners including the World Bank, DFID, United Nations agencies, the African Development Bank, and other bilateral donors.
• Coordinates various actions related to engagement with senior GON officials, local and international organizations, donor community partners and civil society groups. S/he explains USAID procedures, responsibilities, objectives and restrictions.
• These may include various federal and state officials, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Deputy Directors in the Federal and State level Ministry of Education, Universal Basic Education Commission and State Universal Basic Education Boards, State Agency for Mass Education and related education parastatals, colleagues in other donor organizations, NGO and civil society groups, etc.
• The incumbent organizes the participation of these officials in special meetings and events, especially with high-level visitors or Embassy representatives.
• S/he acts as liaison with senior leaders in Nigerian NGOs and the civil society community to cultivate and maintain support for the USAID education sector program.
• Represents the Education team in conferences, workshops, donor coordination subgroup/committee meetings, local staff committee meetings, project design and briefing meetings and other meetings deemed appropriate. Develops necessary materials for presentations by the Education Office Director and other Program Managers, as well as other USAID/Nigeria senior staff.
• The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the U.S., or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the “Foreign Service National” Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

Supervisory Relationship:

• The incumbent will be supervised by the Officer Director but liaises daily with other Education Program Managers and members of the team to ensure synergies.

Supervisory Controls:

• None

Physical Demands:

• The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

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