Desk Officer – EU-Funded Education Project, Nigeria

Plan International; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 40,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Health Insurance

Comprehensive health and pension

Matching pension contributions up to 5

Flexible working hours

Hybrid working option on probation

Learning and career development

Job summary

Plan International Ireland is seeking a Desk Officer to coordinate an EU INTPA-funded education project in Northwestern Nigeria. You will liaise with Plan Ireland, Plan Nigeria, and Save the Children Netherlands, ensuring donor compliance and successful delivery.

You will manage budgets, reporting, and workplans, while supporting knowledge sharing across Plan Ireland and country offices. Strong English, budgeting, and coordinating skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years’ relevant experience in development/humanitarian programmes or programme management.
• Experience with project cycle management per donor requirements (EU INTPA, ECHO, bilateral).
• Strong financial management and analytical skills with budget review experience.
• Commitment to gender transformative programming and experience in gender responsive programming.
• Experience in EU and INGO compliance mechanisms.
• Knowledge of MERL and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide programmatic and financial oversight of the project cycle in line with donor guidelines with Nigeria EU Consortium lead.
• Build and maintain relationships with Plan Ireland/Nigeria, consortium partners, and implementing partners.
• Coordinate with the EU Desk and inform on project progress and challenges.
• Coordinate with Federal agencies and civil society partners related to the consortium lead in Nigeria.
• Oversee the Save the Children component and ensure timely expenditure reporting.
• Prepare and review Workplans, M&E, and procurement plans with the Nigeria lead.
• Coordinate external audits and address auditor comments with partners.
• Organise regular calls to review implementation progress and challenges.
• Provide guidance on EU INTPA rules to ensure compliance and knowledge sharing.

Skills

Analytical skills

Financial understanding

Communication skills

Networking skills

Time management

Organisational skills

Fluency in English

Education

University degree in relevant fields

Job description

Job Details

Title: Desk Officer for the EU-INTPA funded project: “Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in Northwestern Nigeria”.

Grade: 3

Reports to: Team Lead – Development Portfolio

Direct Reports: None

Department: Programmes Department

Starting date: As soon as possible

Contract type: 1-year fixed term, with the possibility of extension (subject to funding)

Purpose of role

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Working together with children, young people, our supporters, and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. We enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years and are now active in more than 80 countries. Established in 2003, Plan International Ireland influences and supports Plan International’s work worldwide. Plan International Ireland has been certified as one of Ireland’s Best Workplaces each year since 2020.

The incumbent will be part of the Programmes Department of Plan International Ireland (PII) which is responsible for managing and maintaining a humanitarian and development grant portfolio. The Desk Officer will coordinate a multi-million INTPA (European Union International Partnership)-funded education focused consortia project in Northwestern Nigeria led by Plan International Ireland. This role serves as the focal point between Plan International Ireland, Plan International Nigeria and consortium partner Save the Children Netherlands. S/he will be responsible for overall coordination of the various stakeholders of the consortium and ensure delivery of the EU INTPA education grant in Northwestern Nigeria.

Key Duties and Activities

• Programmatic and financial oversight of project cycle management in line with donor guidelines and regulations in association with the EU Consortium lead in Nigeria
• Building and maintaining strong working relationships with Plan Country office in Nigeria, consortium partners, project personnel, implementation partners
• Building and maintaining strong working relationships with the EU Desk and liaise continuously to inform on project progresses and challenges
• Building and maintaining strong working relationships with relevant Federal agencies (MoE, National Directorate of Employment, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs) and civil society organisations associated with the EU Consortium lead in Nigeria
• Coordination and oversight of the Save the Children component of the programme in association with the EU Consortium lead in Nigeria
• Manage grant budgets to ensure timely and accurate expenditure and reporting
• Financial and compliance oversight
• Compilation of narrative and financial project progress reports according to donor’s requirements.
• Ensure Workplan, M&E plans, procurement plans are developed and kept up to date in association with the EU Consortium lead in Nigeria
• Prepare Monitoring and Evaluation reports (M&E)
• Lead the organisation and implementation of Expenditure Verification exercises, prepare all relevant Plan Ireland documentation, review of Expenditure Verification draft reports and coordinate with Save the Children and Plan Nigeria to address any auditor comments
• In the case of external audit, coordinate with the auditor and the consortium partners to facilitate the implementation of the audit. Prepare all Plan Ireland documentation, review of expenditure verification draft reports and coordinate with Save the Children and Plan Nigeria to address any auditor comments
• Organise and coordinate regular calls with relevant staff from consortium partner to discuss implementation progress and challenges
• Provide continuous support to consortium partners on EU INTPA rules and regulation to ensure compliance
• Sharing of learning and knowledge management related, both internally in Plan Ireland and across Country Offices
• Conduct regular monitoring missions to Plan Nigeria to review activities, achievement of outputs and outcomes and adherence to Plan International and EU’s policy and compliance rules
• Seek opportunities to develop advocacy, communications and development education material, where appropriate.
• Key internal links:

The Desk Officer will work closely with Plan Ireland’s technical experts, and grants compliance team in the coordination of the Education-centered grant.

Competencies Required

Essential

1. Minimum 4 years’ relevant experience in development and humanitarian programmes or other programme management role (including at least 3 years’ overseas experience).
2. Experience with project cycle management according to institutional donor’s requirements (EU INTPA, ECHO and bilateral donors) and knowledge of most relevant sector’s standards.
3. Strong financial management and analytical skills, with the ability to review complex budgets, analyse financial and programme data, identify risks and variances, and provide clear, evidence-based recommendations.
4. University degree in relevant fields.
5. Commitment to gender transformative programming and experience in gender responsive programming, in line with Plan International’s policy.
6. Experience in EU and INGO compliance mechanisms.
7. Knowledge of the implementation of quality standards, including MERL.
8. Strong analytical skills and financial understanding.
9. Ability and willingness to travel to support the Programme in Nigeria as required.
10. Strong communication and networking skills and fluency in English.
11. Excellent time management and organisational skills.

Desirable

1. Experience working in education and youth programming with focus on employability and training.
2. Experience of working in West Africa.
3. Experience of working in or with consortia models

Safeguarding Level – Medium

Salary and benefits

• Plan International Ireland operates a salary scale, as well as a broad range of employee benefits.
• This role is graded as a Level 3 within our salary scale, with an expected range between €40,000 - €46,000 per annum. Placement on the scale will be dependent on level of experience and fit within the role.
• Plan International Ireland provides several employee benefits, some of which include:
  • Private Health Insurance for all employees (from commencement date)
  • Comprehensive health and pension package
  • Matching company pension contributions up to 5% (once probation is complete)
  • Flexible working hours ((core hours of 10am to 4pm daily, minimum of 37 hours per week)
• As an employee you will be able to sign up to the Bike-to-Work scheme, or the TaxSaver scheme for DART, LUAS, and Dublin bus users
• Hybrid working option on completion of probation
• Learning and career development, including technical skills, management, and professional development

Location & work permit

The Desk Officer role will be based in Dublin. Applicants must have a valid work permit at the time of applying to enable them to work in Ireland.