Project Manager, Advancing Nutrition Project – Business Support

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking an organised and analytical Project Manager to be directly responsible for leading the design and implementation of the Business Support component of the project.

This role is Abuja, Nigeria and is in relation to a project that is funded for up to 5 years.

About GAIN

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. In particular, we aim to make healthier food choices more desirable, more available, and more affordable. GAIN’s mission is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially the most vulnerable to malnutrition.

About the role

The GAIN Advancing Nutrition in Staple Crop Value Chains in Nigeria project proposes a set of nutrition-sensitive interventions to support the BMZ/GIZ Green Innovation Centre (GIC) in Nigeria to strengthen businesses and the value chains of cassava, maize, potato and rice through targeted business support activities, workforce nutrition interventions and increased production and use of biofortified crops. GAIN proposes to deliver an integrated suite of activities to support the GIC in Nigeria to strengthen their priority value chains and improve food and nutrition security.

The Project Manager will support the Senior Project Manager, Supply Chains and will be directly responsible for leading the design and implementation of the Business Support component of the project. The post-holder will develop strong relationships with relevant partners, exploiting synergies within GAIN and with external stakeholders to ensure project delivery. You will be responsible for influencing, providing leadership, and reconciling stakeholders’ interests in the project ensuring that the agreed project activities are implemented within project timelines.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Support the Senior Project manager to manage the development of project workplans and budgets and track progress, including direct provision of regular updates to the Workstream global leads, funders, and country team leadership.
• Provide technical oversight to the implementation of activities that strengthen businesses and advance nutrition in target crop value chains.
• Ensure project outputs are well informed and up to date by keeping an eye on the relevant literature to ensure that the project remains fully informed by advances in the field
• Prepare and be accountable for periodic donor reports and support global collation of wider programme reports and updates.
• Ensure the initiative is gender-sensitive, and where feasible, gender-transformative working through project design and implementation to continuously strengthen gender focus.
• Support the recruitment of key staff (direct reports) and motivate team members to attain project goals, adhere to their responsibilities and project milestones.

About you

Candidates for this position should have proven experience in managing projects within an international development setting in Nigeria. In addition, you will have hands on experience stimulating demand for food and agricultural commodities through social marketing.

• Minimum degree level qualification related to food science, nutrition, health, agriculture, business management or suitable equivalent
• Proven experience in Social Behavior Change Communication research and implementation in food and agricultural value chains.
• Experience of working with government, business, civil society, and donor organizations/stakeholders at national and international levels.
• Experience or deep understanding of the private sector especially MSMEs.
• Understanding and some experience/technical knowledge of health systems.

About our offer

GAIN has a fair and competitive salary structure that allows for annual progression subject to good performance. In addition, GAIN offers a total of 37 days holiday per year (including annual leave, public holidays and additional office closure days), an attractive pension scheme and competitive insurance cover including health, travel and life assurance.

We are committed to the health of our staff, especially in these challenging times, and have developed a programme of wellbeing that includes flexible working, additional leave allowances, wellbeing days, mindfulness coaching and access to independent and confidential counselling.

GAIN also has a strong commitment to professional development. We will support you to grow in your career through both formal and informal training, and are committed to providing opportunities through internal recruitment, secondments and promotion. All of this is delivered in a supportive and collaborative environment.

For more detailed information please see the attached job description. To apply, follow the “Apply Now” link.

This advert closes on 7th March 2021. Early applications are encouraged. GAIN reserves the right to close this advert early should we receive suitable candidates ahead of the closing date.