Project Manager, Advancing Nutrition Project – Biofortification

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a successful Project Manager, Advancing Nutrition Project – Biofortification to be responsible for the implementation and oversight of the biofortification component within 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.

The biofortification component of this project will support and strengthen current activities under the GIC to make them more nutrition sensitive over the next 5 years in at least four focal states. The initiative is intended to achieve the increased consumption of nutritious foods, provide more, safe nutritious foods to consumers, increase the use of nutritious varieties of the target staples in processed food, and improve the productivity and efficiency of farmers and other businesses to improve the production of nutritious foods in the target value chains

The post holder will support the Senior Project Manager, Supply Chains and will be directly responsible for the implementation and oversight of the biofortification component. They will apply social and commercial marketing tools to bring these nutritious staples to scale in the implementation states.

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 must have a strong experience building relationships as well as liaising with stakeholders from business, civil society, government, donors at national international level.

• Minimum degree level qualification related to food science, nutrition, health, agriculture, business management or suitable equivalent.
• Experience or deep understanding of the private sector especially MSMEs.
• Strong experience of working with government at municipal, and state levels.
• Understanding and hands on experience in stimulating demand for food and agricultural commodities through commercial and or social marketing methods.

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.