Job Openings at Search for Common Ground (SFCG)

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict - away from destructive approaches towards cooperative solutions. With more than 600 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 countries across the globe.

We are recruiting to fill the following positions below:

1.) Procurement, Admin & Logistics Coordinator

Job Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers
Employment Type: Contract
Duration: 6 months
Reports to: The Procurement, Admin, and Logistics (PAL) Manager and be line managed by the Head of Program implementation Niger Delta
Working relations: Working closely with the Finance and Programs team

Job Summary

• The Procurement, Admin, and Logistics (PAL) Coordinator will provide the main logistical support to the Niger Delta offices (Port Harcourt, Delta, Bayelsa), liaising closely with the Program Team and the finance team to ensure good recordkeeping, as well as liaising with the Admin officers and assistants to support the smooth running of the office.
• The position holder will supervise PAL Officers, Assistants, Drivers, and the Office Cleaning Staff

Responsibilities
Procurement Management:

• Promptly coordinate Search procurement activities in collaboration with the PAL Manager in line with search and donor policies
• Coordinate procurement process of goods and services, ensure necessary documentation
• Ensure Search procurement guidelines are adhered to in all Search offices in Nigeria
• Enforce compliance with procurement threshold and procedures
• Ensure Search procurement processes are legal and ethical
• Regularly update the PR tracker to reflect stages of procurement for each request
• Conduct quote analysis and draft selection memos
• Interact with contractors in coordination with Admin and Procurement Manager
• Ensure prompt and correct filing of procurement related documents both hard and e-copy
• Support Invitation to bids process.

Administrative & Logistics Management:

• Supervise the maintenance of office equipment and oversee repair
• Liaise with the landlord of the office premises and other operational contacts such as vendors, suppliers and courier services to keep the office fully functional
• Ensure that SFCG’s inventory list is updated on regular intervals
• Ensure that the door security system and key management is functioning properly
• Support staff travel arrangements, relevant documentation (tickets, accommodation etc.) and any necessary travel support
• Prepare and submit a monthly logistics report about the above to the Procurement, Admin and Logistics Manager.
• Maintain and update vendor’s database for necessary goods and services
• Manage the office fleet and approve any private vehicle hire
• Oversee vehicle repairs
• Maintain and review office logs on travel, inventory and fuel usage for generator, vehicles etc.
• Monitor quality and control cost on various office supplies, stationery, hotel accommodation, transportation and other equipment
• Provide support to HR where needed
• Any other function required to undertake broadly in line with above functions.

Collaborations:

• Work with members of the PAL team to draft LPOs for contractors
• Collaborate with the PAL team to ensure a regularly updated inventory tracker for all assets purchased
• Coordinate with the PAL Manager to draft Contracts
• Coordinate with finance unit to ensure payments to vendors are timely
• Collaborate with Program team to ensure seamless support to program activities

Asset Management:

• Ensure proper tracking of all Search assets throughout the country
• Accountable for proper tracking of assets using Equipment Issue / Receipt forms
• Support asset verification process and submission of asset reports to the Admin and Procurement Manager for review.
• Ensure spot-checks are done systematically, documented and reported for all Search assets, inventory and equipment.

Strategic Objectives:

• Purchasing: Purchase goods and services at the right time and at the most advantageous price and with proper tax and duty if applicable.
• Inventory: Ensure efficient management of the movement and storage of goods and maintain inventory at appropriate level to avoid excessive or shortage of inventory
• Logistics: Coordinate seamless transportation and accommodation logistics for staff and guest, nationally and internationally
• Administration: Ensure all Jos offices runs smoothly
• Capacity Building: Identify skills gap of your direct reports and facilitate the training required

Other Duties:

• Keep colleagues apprised of developments in own area as appropriate
• Contribute to staff meetings, and other internal meetings with appropriate content , views
• and suggestions
• Fulfill requirements of internal staff management processes including performance reviews, supervisory meetings, etc.
• Develop strong relationships with all SFCG colleagues and partners to enhance their understanding of admin/logistics and build their knowledge.

Qualifications

• 5 years of professional experience carrying out administrative, logistical and/or operational tasks
• Bachelor’s degree
• Effective oral and written English skills.
• Good level of proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Good administrative and organizational skills and ability to keep documentation tidy and
• accessible
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to plan and organize multiple simultaneous tasks efficiently
• Ease in communicating with colleagues and third parties via email
• Ability to work independently and ask for clarification where needed
• Excellent phone etiquette
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace

Your Competencies Must Cover:

• Accountability: Being accountable and passing on accountability for one's own actions and those of colleagues and the organization.
• Attention to detail: The ability to process detailed information effectively and consistently
• Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with others in order to achieve a shared goal - even when the object at stake is of no direct personal interest possibilities.
• Creativity: The ability to come up with original and innovative ideas and solutions, to adopt points of view outside the usual parameters.
• Focus on Quality: Setting high quality standards and striving for continuous improvement and quality assurance.
• Learning Ability: The ability to absorb new information readily and to put it into practice effectively
• Adaptability: The ability to remain fully functional by adapting to changing circumstances (environment, procedures and people).

Application Closing Date: 11th November, 2024.

Click here to apply online

2.) Safety & Security Manager

Job Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time
Expected Start Date: 1st December, 2024.

Job Summary

• Search for Common Ground seeks a Safety & Security Manager to direct the development, implementation and monitoring of an effective strategy to mitigate risk, maintain continuity of operations, and provide for the safety and security of all employees.
• The idle candidate shall also serve as the subject matter expert on all safety and security related matters.
• S/He will be responsible for establishing policies and standards affecting safety and security of staff members, field facilities and assets, and program activities globally. 
• Will also ensure security protocols and mechanisms are in place to address country programs’ unique security challenges.
• The Safety & Security Manager will provide direction and technical support in developing and maintaining country programs’ context-specific field security plans.

Roles and Responsibilities
Department Management:

• Support the recruitment and selection of qualified security field staff, 
• Support and mentor national security officers, focal points, guards and drivers
• Make frequent site visits to SFCG premises to carry out performance assessments and provide constant support to the security and project team
• Maintain open lines of communications with all field staff

Context & Risk analysis:

• Develop and regularly update the country security profile (with regards to the socio-economic, political and/or military situation in country, the country criminality profile, the nature of ongoing conflicts or crises climatic & seismic hazards and health risks, )
• Follow-up on major country events and developments
• Analyze and locate key local stakeholders
• Develop security trend analysis
• Ensure internal incident tracking system is utilized properly: create an security incident database and perform incident mapping and analysis
• Fill in and regularly update the Risk Analysis Matrix (threat, likelihood, impact, level of vulnerability, level of risk)
• Carry out security assessments of new SFCG areas of intervention or areas under consideration. 

Develop and update Country Security Plans, SOPs and Contingency Plans:

• Draft and regularly update the Country Security Plan (CSP) for validation by the Country Director and endorsement by HQ and Regional Safety & Security Specialist
• Ensures the travel tracking system works effectively and all staff utilizes it.
• Recommend changes in the Country Security Plan to Country Director and HQ Security department
• Draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) adapted to the local context
• Draft and regularly update evacuation and contingency plans in capital and support Area Coordinators in developing Area evacuation and contingency plans.
• Ensure preparedness to evacuation and contingencies (check contingency kits, first aid kits etc.).
• Design and drill a security communication tree (warden system), emergency radio network, and provisioning of emergency supplies for field personnel

Daily Security Management:

• Coordinate and monitor security activities to ensure that safety and security policies and procedures are implemented
• Monitors SEARCH Nigeria travel tracking system.
• Ensure that all field staff are fully cognizant of prevailing security threats and fully advised on means to reduce their vulnerability to those threats
• Ensure compliance with Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) and develop action plans for security upgrade
• Carry out security assessments of new SFCG facilities, ensure a standard level of facilities protection, and supervise guards.
• Monitor the security preparedness of country staff and enforce staff compliance with internal security rules and SOPs, ensuring they are communicated to all staff and understood
• Set up and control the implementation of mitigation measures and security rules according to the local context
• Ensure missions have adapted communication means, and ensure maintenance to support the Logistic team in the Country. Ensure constant update of the emergency contact list.
• Ensure a proper level of preparation before movement on the field, ensure transportation means are adapted, ensure a good fleet maintenance, and set movement rules which are adapted to the local context to support the Logistic team in Country. Ensure operational follow-up of movements.
• Ensure logistics follow a servicing and maintenance schedule for vehicles
• Spearhead security assessment missions prior to SFCG staff deployment to a new area and ensure minimum security standards are in place before their installation.

Crisis management:

• Adapt crisis and incident management protocols to the local situation
• Act as a key member of the Crisis Management Team so that safety policies and procedures are implemented

Reporting:

• Ensure weekly/monthly security reports are completed timely and sent to Country Director and HQ as the case may be, providing timely updates of all situational and security developments including investigation of security incidents
• Produce real-time incidents report using the security incident report template
• Ensure lessons learnt are quickly documented and infused into policies and processes.

Training and briefing:

• Conduct security briefing for each new international staff arriving in the country and new staff during onboarding.
• Design security training modules for Country Director’s approval and HQ/ Regional Safety & Security Specialist endorsement.
• Determine training needs for the security staff
• Train national staff to increase their awareness and sense of responsibilities
• Conduct any staff security training that is warranted (HEAT, training to drivers and guards, evacuation drills, fire safety etc.).
• Carry out investigations and capture lessons learned to be incorporated into future staff trainings

Develop and maintain a security network:

• Actively participate in Weekly and Monthly Coordination Meetings
• Create an information network in country, identifying key informants
• Build strong professional relationships with UN agencies, local authorities, other NGO’s (local and international), and all relevant stakeholders

Ensure external representation:

• Attend security coordination meetings and update Country Director and HQ on current security issues
• Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application of the SFCG Code of Conduct, values and policies with regard to internal and external stakeholders

Requirements
Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Security Administration or related area or ability to demonstrate a work-based equivalent;
• Experience in INGO security, military or law enforcement background;
• Some familiarity with USAID and other donor agencies policies and procedures;
• Experience working in conflict and post-conflict settings

Required Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years implementing security programs and procedures and a strong knowledge of security management in complex environments;
• At least 2 years of working experience in similar capacity in an insecure environment; 
• Demonstrated communication and organizational skills;
• Ability to train, mobilize, and manage both international and national staff and ability to multitask under pressure;
• Ability to work well in unstable and frequently changing security environments;
• Willingness to work and live in often remote areas under basic conditions;
• Proven ability to work creatively and independently both in the field and in the office;
• Exceptional communication skills for explaining complex security concerns, policies, protocols, and procedures to senior management, employees, consultants, volunteers and consistently apply them at all levels
• Knowledge of local language where SFCG operates and/or regional experience is highly desirable.

Application Closing Date: 15th November, 2024.

Click here to apply online

3.) Information Technology Officer

Job Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time
Expected Start Date: 1st December, 2024

Department Summary

• Information Technology (IT) oversees the installation and maintenance of computer network systems within Search. IT ensures 1) a governance for the implementation of operational parameters for using IT systems, architecture, and networks.
• The governance of the master data is based on workflow processes that integrate business rules and subject matter domain expertise. This is part of the conventional IT security as well as the data assurance for which the IT department is also responsible; 2) an infrastructure for the hardware components, the network, the circuitry, and all other equipment necessary to make an IT system function based on the size and needs of Search; 3) a functionality that creates and maintains operational applications; developing, securing, and storing electronic data that belongs to the organization; and assisting in the use of software and data management to all functional areas of the organization.
• To carry out these functions, IT at Search focuses on the IT helpdesk support for all staff worldwide for daily response to support tickets for a full resolution for users and provides professional support and guidance for projects aiming to improve Search infrastructure and systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide IT support to Nigeria staff
• Provide awareness training for Cybersecurity and Data Privacy and monitor compliance with associated policies
• Provide technical expertise and user orientation and/or training for Search’s employee database, organizing and maintaining employee records and documents, ensuring data privacy, providing help desk support and participating in various information technology projects.
• Provide general office troubleshooting for Dell, Apple, and Android devices as well as provide support for Windows, Mac OS X, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, and other solutions in our current portfolio

Contributions
Employee Records Management:

• The information in the employee records management system drives the flow of user accounts from onboarding to end of employment and the accuracy of information has a critical impact on operations and other integrated systems including but not limited to accounting, expenses, timesheets, OneLogin, Google Apps and Staff Directory.
• The accuracy of these records also have a cost impact as they drive software licensing activation related to cloud systems.
• Troubleshoot data sync issues between systems related to data accuracy and integrity issues
• Set up user accounts
• Prepare procedures requiring extensive manual documentation.
• Set up administrative (security/permissions) rights for existing and new employees
• Provide training to users and generally in collaboration with HR
• Create evolving layman-friendly training materials and ongoing documentation to support system effectiveness and compliance.
• Contribute to and collaborate to workflow solutions related to HRIS
• Sync Fields Integrity
• Know the system well to perform various technical tasks depending on needs such as assigning user security and permission settings and helping resolve software issues and organizational structure changes that include department or team name changes and other updates that impact another system or security or access rights.

Document Management:

• Assist with the development, publishing and awareness training related to global document management architecture
• Monitor global consistent use of document management architecture and assist users in the proper use of document management and collaboration tools, especially regarding document sharing and associated permissions

Cybersecurity And Data Privacy Awareness Training:

• Assist in the development, publishing, awareness and training of IT related policies and procedures
• Analyze cybersecurity reports on a regular basis and flag issues to the Senior Specialist, IT for follow up and potential remediation procedures
• Monitor compliance with data privacy policies and procedures and flag issues to the Global IT Director for follow up and potential remediation procedures

Helpdesk Support:

• The Information Technology Associate will ensure the IT services in the headquarters offices operate smoothly.
• Serves as the initial point of contact for troubleshooting IT related problems in the Nigeria Office, including hardware/software, and printer problems.
• Provide audiovisual and technical assistance in conference rooms
• Provide tier 1 support through the helpdesk ticketing system, and work with other members of the IT team to resolve related issues.

Other Activities:

• Administer and support the Navex system
• Serve as backup for job posting and other transactional tasks related to applicant tracking system
• Provide general IT project support and implementation to the organization when implementing new technologies and solutions
• Document processes and procedures
• Assist in research, procurement, provisioning, and shipment of IT equipment including laptops/desktops, accessories, and other equipment
• Manage vendor payments
• Assist department with registering, tracking, and renewing equipment maintenance contracts
• Work with hardware and software vendors in initiating warranty claims and general support

Education And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field.
• 3 years of professional experience carrying out IT duties.
• Experience working in an INGO sector.

Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities):

• Engages and communicates effectively across functions and across teams.
• Participates in external meetings.
• Works across functions from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
• Sensitively recognizes ethical situations.
• Focuses on the key objectives of a task or project.
• Builds relationships and engages effectively with collaborators.
• Uses resiliency and exhibits flexibility and adaptability to changing tasks and team priorities.
• With oversight by the supervisor, writes technical sections for team documents, briefing materials, and presentations.
• Creates accurate, organized, and timely work.
• Is resourceful with time management and technology to prioritize tasks with limited supervision.

Application Closing Date: 15th November, 2024.

Click here to apply online