Program / Department Summary
The Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE) Programme is an initiative to improve learning outcomes and the economic status of marginalized adolescent girls aged 16-19 in the Northern Nigerian states of Kano and Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the metropolis of Lagos, Nigeria.
ENGINE through funding from the UK Department for International Development’s Girls Education Challenge, the Coca-Cola Company and other stakeholders supported over 18,000 marginalized girls to reduce education and financial barriers in its first implementation phase.
In its second phase, ENGINE 2 will facilitate transition of these girls into functional literacy, numeracy and scale up their business opportunities and linkages.
ENGINE 2 will further increase girls’ and young women’s access to (1) financial education and life skills; (2) peer to peer networks and mentoring; and (3) direct assets (materials and savings).
Beneficiaries will be integrated into value chains as well as conduct other market-driven employment opportunities.
ENGINE 2 will also work with girls in formal and informal education to increase their learning opportunities and outcomes to prepare them for future economic activities and work in the policy environment to provide an enabling environment for girls to flourish in their chosen pathways.

General Position Summary
The PPP Advisor will be responsible for ENGINE 11’s PPP initiatives and activities.
S/he will be responsible for exploring, implementing and advocating for opportunities to engage the private sector along with the public sector in creating economic empowerment opportunities for project beneficiaries within their communities.
S/he will provide technical leadership on PPP issues.
This position will ensure ENGINE 11 implementation is responsive to marginalized Nigerian girls, their communities, state and non-state secondary schools, vocational school, and other skill-based centers.
This also includes implementation partners and aligned with Mercy Corps principles, values and strategic plan.
This position will coordinate with other donor-funded programming to link marginalized girls with ENGINE 11 activities.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:
Develop overall vision and strategic plan for the PPP unit.
Establish a fully functional PPP Unit and ensure that the needs of project beneficiaries are met when it comes to a PPP programme.
Identify, assess, and recommend potential private sector partners and partnership opportunities.
Recognize and adapt PPP programmes that are sustainable, financed, and delivered by the private sector.
Program Management:
Provide technical leadership for the design, formalization, and management of innovative public-private partnerships.
Provide technical assistance to project partners relative to the structuring of PPPs and outreach to the private sector.
Maintain a database of public-private partnership activities.
Coordinate Advisory Groups activities across implementation states to create an enabling environment for project implementation and promotes girls advancement.
Manage partnerships with relevant Federal and State level Government ministries/agencies, private sector players and development partners.
Build the capacity of communities and local governments to take leadership on PPP issues.
Develop and implement outreach strategies to the private sector.
Team Management:
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
Implement performance planning and management systems, establish performance expectations with team members, and regularly provide constructive feedback on team members’ performance.
Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
Finance & Compliance Management:
Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
Draft and /or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
Influence & Representation:
Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with private sector, communities, local governments and other stakeholders.
Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
Proactively form relationships with private sector actors to complement DfID funding.
Represent ENGINE 11 on PPP issues at technical and strategic planning meetings, or as requested by the Director of Gender Programs.

Security:
Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies
Work closely with Mercy Corps Nigeria country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its implementation process.

Organizational Learning:
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries:
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically
to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Knowledge and Experience
Master’s Degree or its equivalent in a related field.
At least 5 years experience in private sector development, economic development, and/or value chains.
At least five years of experience in design, implementation, and management of public-private partnerships.
Experience leading program activities as part of a donor-funded project within an emerging market.
Experience in working with stakeholders to facilitate PPPs.
Entrepreneurial spirit with proven ability to mobilize public and private strategic partnerships
Strong understanding of DfID compliance issues.
Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues in high security environment.
Strong written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing.
Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
Demonstrated experience working with country-level ministries and government officials, Ministry of Education experience preferred.

Success Factors
The successful candidate will combine exceptional leadership, management and technical skills with a focus on innovative interventions to engage adolescent girls in informal education and skills building linked with private sector entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in a culturally and religiously conservative environment.
S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative and complex programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.
The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours .Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Application Closing Date
6th February, 2017.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their CV’s and Cover letter in one document, addressing the position requirements to: ng-recruitment.nigeria@mercycorps.org

Note
All applications must include the position title in the subject line. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
We are an equal opportunity organization and we strongly encourage women to apply for this position.