Education Development Center (EDC) recruitment, December 2015


Education Development Center (EDC) is one of the world's leading non-profit research and development firms. EDC designs, implements and evaluates programs to improve education, health, and economic opportunity worldwide.
Collaborating with both public and private partners, we strive for a world where all people are empowered to live healthy, productive lives.

Education Development Center is recruiting to fill the position below:

 

Job Title: Grants Officer
Location:
Sokoto
Job Descriptions

  • The Northern Nigeria Education Initiative Plus (NEI+) project works to improve the quality of and access to education in Northern Nigeria, equitably and sustainably.
  • The Sokoto Grants Officer will be responsible for oversight of all grants activities, including ensuring efficient and proper controls for USAID grant compliance and reporting; coordinating training and grants administration with NGOs grantees; and review and submission of financial reports as required for each grant.
  • This position is based in Sokoto, Nigeria, and will report to the Finance and Administration Officer.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Implement procedures and templates to be used for formulating, negotiating, executing, monitoring, and closing grants according to USAID regulations and the projects Grants Manual
  • Develop solicitations, coordinate the evaluation of applications, award grants, monitor and report on financial activities as appropriate
  • Monitor grantee to ensure compliance with USAID regulation
  • Assist large NGOs to convey grants-management requirements, processes, and skills to their local affiliates as necessary
  • Responsible for maintaining grant files and ensuring that they are always up-to-date
  • Coordinate and support project audits, grantor's audit, or monitoring visits
  • Conduct educational and training workshops on proposal preparation and/or financial monitoring, as necessary
  • Responsible for entering and maintaining the Integrated Management Database System (IDMS)
Education
  • The candidate must have a Bachelor's Degree in the Social Sciences or related field.
Skills and Experience
  • Candidates for this position must have at least 2-4 years of experience in grant management, including disbursements and reporting.
  • Experience working with education programs is preferred.
  • Candidates must be knowledgeable about USAID Rules and Regulations and demonstrate previous experience working on USAID-funded projects is preferred.



Job Title: Accountant
Location:
Sokoto
Job Description

The Northern Nigeria Education Initiative Plus (NEI+) project works to improve the quality of and access to education in Northern Nigeria equitably and sustainably. The Accountant will be responsible for working under the Finance and Administration Officer to manage project expenditures and accounts.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Manages day to day finance operations, including implementing Creative and USAID policies, procedures and systems, reviewing accounts payable documents for proper accuracy and completeness, and liaising with bank on all banking issues
  • Completes donor financial reporting, tracks spending, and supports the Finance and Administration Officer
  • Provides updated monthly cost reports and draft quarterly financial reports and monthly ad hoc reports on financial status of project expenses and budget information
  • Manages the process of clearing bills, payments, and vouchers from the Bauchi field office; manages the transfer of project funds from the central account to field accounts
  • Works closely with the home office in Washington, DC to ensure reconciliation of monthly expense reports, and respond to any inquiries they may have.
Skills and Experience
  • Candidates must demonstrate expertise in accounting, finance or business administration.
  • They must have knowledge of accounting principles, USAID rules and regulations and Nigerian labor laws.
  • The candidate must be professionally proficient and fluent in written and spoken English.



Job Title: Finance and Administration Officer
Location:
Sokoto
Job Descriptions
  • The Northern Nigeria Education Initiative Plus (NEI+) project works to improve the quality of and access to education in Northern Nigeria equitably and sustainably.
  • The Finance and Administration Officer will be responsible for managing project expenditure and accounts for the NEI+ project, meeting USAID requirements using EDC's policies and procedures.
  • He/she will work closely with the EDC Headquarter Operations Team to ensure Sokoto implementation finance and administration policies are followed. This position is based in Sokoto, Nigeria, and will report to the Sokoto Team Leader.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Process check requests and wire transfers for payments to vendors in compliance with contract requirements
  • Review and process vendor and consultant fee payments in accordance with USAID and Creative Associates account procedures and contract policies
  • Process local hires' monthly payroll
  • Work with the Senior Finance Specialist (based in Abuja) to develop annual budgets
  • Develop spreadsheet programs for tracking and monitoring all financial activities, and maintain spreadsheets with current project expense data
  • Provide the Senior Finance Specialist in Abuja with updated monthly cost reports
  • Draft quarterly financial reports and monthly ad hoc reports on financial status of project expenses and budget information
  • Respond to vendor inquiries regarding status of vouchers, payments, and budget submissions
  • Liaise with the Grants Manager in implementation of grants mechanism and assist to assure the smooth operation of the mechanism
  • Draft documents for and execute wire transfers from the home office in Washington, DC
  • Manage the process of clearing bills, payments, and vouchers from the Bauchi office
  • Work closely with the home office in Washington, DC to ensure reconciliation of monthly expense reports, and respond to any inquiries they may have
  • Participate in ongoing analysis, forecasting, and reviewing of project expenses
  • Oversee project procurement in accordance with the project contract and USAID and Creative requirements and regulations
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Sokoto Team Leader
Education
  • The candidate must have a Bachelor's Degree in the Social Sciences or related field. Master's Degree highly preferred.
Skills and Experience:
  • Candidates for this position must have at least 5 years of international development project financial management experience, preferably with a USAID-funded education project. Candidates must be fluent in Hausa and English.


Job Title: Assessment Specialist
Location:
Abuja
Essential Functions

The Assessment Specialist is expected to:
  • Communicate clearly, accurately, efficiently, and courteously;
  • Develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders;
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues, demonstrating leadership and initiative; and
  • Implement and maintain various technologies and data management systems. All positions require adherence to EDC policies and procedures.
The Assessment Specialist will:
  • Provide leadership with development of project-specific literacy and other kinds of assessments
  • Conduct in-country adaptations of international literacy assessment tools.
  • Develop and implement literacy and other kinds of assessments in three Northern Nigeria states
  • Participate in data analysis
  • Prepare reports on assessment results.
  • Prepare communication briefs and presentations on basic literacy and other kinds of assessments
  • Provide training to field staff on assessment-related tasks such as data collection, data management and dissemination
  • Coordinate knowledge sharing efforts related to evaluation protocols, procedures and reports
  • Collaborate closely with the M&E team in all activities
The Assessment Specialist:
  • Effectively interacts with diverse staff, colleagues, and clients
  • Seeks and incorporates feedback
  • Coordinates administrative and logistical tasks
  • Coordinates quality assurance
  • Facilitates project teamwork and feedback exchanges
  • Collaborates on troubleshooting complex problems, proposing initiatives and recommending or negotiating solutions
  • Adapts readily and demonstrates flexibility
  • Supports innovation that benefits project activities.
  • Implements and promotes the use of EDC and project systems
  • Seeks help and support as needed
  • Demonstrates initiative and willingness to learn
  • Supports staff in carrying out tasks
Qualification
This position requires educational achievement; excellent writing skills; demonstrable initiative, creativity, and flexibility; ability to effectively work independently as well as in groups; strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

Specific Requirements:
  • Master's degree, 3-5 years related assessment, research and evaluation experience
  • Experience with computer applications (including databases), psychometric or statistical measurement techniques, and Internet research
  • Some prior research or evaluation leadership preferred
  • Travel to project states required, up to 30%.
An ideal candidate will have:
  • Academic background and professional interest in basic literacy research and evaluation
  • Experience in data collection, processing, and analysis.
  • Statistical analysis skills
  • Ability to analyze and provide written synopses.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Ability to handle multiple priorities
  • Prior experience with USAID-funded projects preferred
  • Proficiency in Hausa is a plus


Job Title: Office Manager
Location:
Sokoto
Job Description

The Northern Nigeria Education Initiative Plus (NEI+) project works to improve the quality of and access to education in Northern Nigeria equitably and sustainably. The Sokoto Office Manager will be responsible for organizing and coordinating office operations in order to ensure organizational effectiveness and efficiency.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Organize office operations.
  • Prepare time sheets.
  • Control correspondences.
  • Review and approve supply requisitions.
  • Maintain office equipment.
  • Assign and monitor clerical and secretarial functions.
  • Maintain office records.
  • Ensure filing systems are maintained and up to date.
  • Ensure protection and security of files and records.
  • Ensure effective transfer of files and records.
  • Transfer and dispose records according to retention schedules and policies.
  • Ensure personnel files are up to date and secure.
  • Maintain and replenish inventory.
  • Check stock to determine inventory levels.
  • Anticipate needed supplies.
  • Verify receipt of supply.
Skills and Experience
  • Candidates for this position must have at least five(5) years of experience in office management and administration.
  • Experience; working with education programs is preferred.
  • Candidates must be knowledgeable about USAID rules and regulations and demonstrate previous experience working on USAID-funded projects is preferred.
Education
  • The candidate must have a Bachelor's Degree.


Job Title: Reading Officer
Location: Sokoto
Job Description
  • The Northern Nigeria Education Initiative Plus (NEI+) project works to improve the quality of and access to education in Northern Nigeria equitably and sustainably.
  • The Sokoto State Reading Officer will provides overall technical oversight and guidance to the project’s support to improved reading instruction. This position is based in Sokoto, Nigeria, and will report to the Sokoto Team Leader.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Supervise the production of all NEI+-supported reading material, all NEI+-supported trainings in reading, all teacher and classroom supervision and monitoring and all student testing efforts
  • Ensure complementarity of activity approaches in reading across the three NEI+ activity states, liaises with government representatives and technicians on technical matters, and bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring that children in NEI+ public, IQTE, and NFLC schools achieve improved outcomes in reading
  • Work directly with the Hausa and English language experts.
Skills and Experience
  • Candidates for this position must have at least 8 years of experience in programs in sub-Saharan Africa that work specifically to improve early grade reading.
  • Candidates must demonstrate prior experience with the development of early grade reading materials, training programs, classroom monitoring protocols, and tests and assessments, including EGRA.
  • In addition, prior experience with supporting civil-society based monitoring of reading outcomes is required.
  • Candidates must be professionally proficient and fluent in written and spoken English.
  • It is preferred, but not required, that the candidate be conversant and fluent in written Hausa.
Education
  • The candidate must have a Master's Degree in the social sciences or related field.


Job Title: Reading Expert/Teacher Education Officer
Location: Sokoto
Job Description

  • The Northern Nigeria Education Initiative Plus (NEI+) project works to improve the quality of and access to education in Northern Nigeria equitably and sustainably.
  • Reading Expert/Teacher Education Officer will be responsible for providing technical leadership for all teacher education activities, including leading and coordinating the teacher education and systems support activities at the national and state level.
  • The position requires experience with teacher training policy and practice, designing programs for data collection and analysis, and personnel management.
  • This position is based in Sokoto, Nigeria, and will report to the Sokoto Reading Officer.
Primary Responsibilities
Lead integrated state and Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) working groups and steering committees in the following tasks:
  • Identification of education priorities
  • Assessment of education standards
  • Review and strengthen instructional quality and teacher performance assessments
  • Strengthen instructional quality standards
  • Ensure technical coordination of state-level activities and obtain support from directorates and local government authorities as needed
  • Work closely with the Reading Officer to manage support staff and consultants as needed to ensure the smooth implementation of project activities across technical areas
  • Ensure the timely production, coordination, and reporting of all data, including quarterly reports, M&E data, financial information, etc.
  • Support the development of reading curriculum and standards in colleges of education in collaboration with NCCE and state based colleges of education
  • Participate in regular meetings and maintain regular communication with state level team counterparts, and with the Reading Officer to ensure coherent planning, M&E practices, and project troubleshooting
  • Represent the project in major state meetings and events as appropriate.
Skills and Experience
  • Candidates must demonstrate at least eight years of experience in the education sector, with at least five years of a leadership role in a conflict or crisis-affected country context. In addition, candidates must demonstrate at least five years of relevant technical experience working with activities that are of a similar scope to this activity.
  • Monitoring and evaluation is a key component and candidates must demonstrate at least five years’ technical experience in developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation plans and results-based management.
  • The candidate must be professionally proficient and fluent in written and spoken English.
Education
  • The candidate must have a Master's Degree in the social sciences or related field.



Job Title: State Team Leader
Location:
Sokoto
Job Descriptions
  • The Northern Nigeria Education Initiative Plus (NEI+) project works to improve the quality of and access to education in Northern Nigeria equitably and sustainably.
  • The Team Leader (Sokoto) will be responsible for overseeing strategic and day-to-day implementation of Sokoto activities.
  • The Team Leader will provide supervision and guidance to the technical advisors and support services personnel.
  • He/she will work closely with the Project Director to ensure Sokoto implementation is closely aligned with the overall project.
  • This position is based in Sokoto, Nigeria, and will report to the NEI+ Chief of Party.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Provides technical leadership in the implementation of education programming, managing critical program components and service delivery, and coordinating the work of the technical team
  • Supports the development of implementation strategies and work plans, and coordinates the day-to-day management of technical staff and program implementation
  • Provides leadership and oversight of the core program functions (program design, documentation, approvals, and close-out)
  • Ensures that planned program activities are included in work plans, within budget and are properly documented
  • Ensures that the technical advisors provide information for weekly, quarterly and annual program updates and reports
  • Ensures close cooperation and coordination between programs and procurement, HR, finance and administration units
  • Promotes a team approach and a learning culture across all operational support services to prioritize and ensure responsive, quality support to delivery of programs
  • Ensures the consistent implementation of the project with adherence to donor policies and procedures across all operational support services
  • Provides on-going problem-solving guidance for program staff on issues related to operational functions
  • Interacts productively and collegially with program partners and stakeholders
  • Represents the project in meetings and events
  • Serves as an active member of the project's Senior Management Team
Education
  • The candidate must have a Bachelor's Degree in the Social Sciences or related field. Master's Degree highly preferred.
Skills and Experience
  • Candidates for this position must have at least 5 years of Management experience, preferably with a USAID-funded education project.
  • Candidates must demonstrate management ability with capacity to think strategically, prioritize and meet deadlines in a complex and challenging environment.
  • The position requires strong diplomacy skills; ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with partners, donors and other stakeholders in a sensitive environment.
  • Candidates must be fluent in Hausa and English.



Job Title: Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Location: Sokoto
Job Description

  • The Northern Nigeria Education Initiative Plus (NEI+) project works to improve the quality of and access to education in Northern Nigeria equitably and sustainably. 
  • The Sokoto Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will be responsible for organizing and coordinating office operations in order to ensure organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
  • This position is based in Sokoto, Nigeria, and will report to the State Team Leader.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Assist with establishing monitoring and evaluation system using EDC M&E Toolkit
  • Contribute to the implementation of the project’s M&E plan
  • Coordinate and assist monitoring and evaluation data collection activities, including logistics of form distribution and collection
  • Coordinate and assist data processing, including data transfer, entry, verification and cleaning
  • File forms according to compliance protocols
  • Coordinate internal communication on M&E progress and results
  • Coordinate temporary M&E staff or consultants (e.g. data entry personnel)
  • Assist with M&E database management
  • Provide other support to M&E team as needed
  • Other functions as needed.
Qualifications and Requirements
  • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent with 3 - 5 years relevant experience, OR  Master's degree or equivalent with 1 - 3 years relevant experience
  • Experience with monitoring program implementation
  • Experience using database management systems, preferably Access and MS Excel
  • Experience in data collection and data processing
  • Ability to balance work within a team environment while working with minimal supervision
  • Strong organizational, communication, computer, and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Education
  • The candidate must have a Bachelor's Degree in the social sciences or related field.


How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their resumes to: [email protected] with job title as mail subject e.g; “Grants Officer” in the subject line of the email.

Note
  • EDC is committed to diversity in the workplace. EDC offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and an excellent benefits package.
  • Only candidates who are being invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.