Background

The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) is the first national-level body of its kind tasked with applying behavioural insights and other innovative policy tools in Africa to improve the design and implementation of government policies and programmes in Nigeria through lessons from behavioural and social science as well as other policy tools. We work with public bodies, the private sector, NGOs and the international community, to provide evidence for design and implementation of programs and policies. The PIC is an initiative within the Nigeria Economic Summit Group that is sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The PIC is seeking to hire a Program Officer to provide technical support on projects and the PIC Behavioral Innovation Lab (BIL).

Specific Duties / Job Description

Project / Programme Management

• Collaborate with team members to create comprehensive project plans, timelines, and budgets.
• Provide end-to-end technical project management support from project design to initiation, implementation, completion, documentation, and closure.
• Collaborate with project teams in analytical processes including evidence gathering, design and implementation of social programs and policies.
• Provide high-level administrative support to technical teams on event planning and coordination.
• Maintain accurate documentation of program activities, expenses, and impact for internal records and external reporting.
• Conduct periodic monitoring of the activities of implementing partners on various projects of the Unit, and conduct review meetings.
• Support the monitoring and evaluation of the progress and impact of various projects of the Behavioral Insights Unit, and propose recommendations to aid achievement of strategic objectives.
• Prepare regular reports and presentations on program progress, outcomes, and challenges for management and donors

Project / Programme Management

• Drive the development and implementation of multi-level stakeholder engagement strategy, plans and implementation activities on allotted projects.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and advocacy efforts towards the achievement of stated project objectives.
• Initiate and nurture relationships with partner institutions and agencies relevant to supporting project implementation.
• Collaborate and network with relevant stakeholders within civil society, government, and the private sector with a view to developing relevant partnerships for PIC

Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy

• Drive the development and implementation of multi-level stakeholder engagement strategy, plans and implementation activities on allotted projects.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and advocacy efforts towards the achievement of stated project objectives.
• Initiate and nurture relationships with partner institutions and agencies relevant to supporting project implementation.
• Collaborate and network with relevant stakeholders within civil society, government, and the private sector with a view to developing relevant partnerships for PIC

Research, Innovation & Design

• Contribute to the design-thinking, ideation and co-creation processes of the Behavioral Innovation Lab.
• Support Unit in curating content and case studies on behavioral insights application to social programs and policies.
• Conduct literature search/desk review for ongoing projects.
• Contribute to writing and editing briefs, and knowledge outputs, including presentations, communication materials, and reports.
• Provide administrative support to experimentation and research, including engaging research assistants, and supporting training and data collection activities.
• Contribute to the drafting of research outputs, including presentations and manuscripts on PIC research and work.
• Contribute to promoting the Gender, Equity, and Social Inclusion efforts of the Policy Innovation Centre.
• Support the BI Lead in other designated PIC activities.

Research, Innovation & Design

• Graduate with a minimum of 7 years of experience in programs design, planning, implementation, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Strong analytical skills, problem-solving and technical writing skills are essential.
• Experienced in engaging high level stakeholders and driving advocacy strategy.
• Understands the dynamics of the traditional and religious landscape of Northern Nigeria.
• Post-graduate degree an advantage.
• Experience in gender and policy-related work an advantage.
• Male of Northern Nigeria origin preferred.
• Ability to speak Hausa language required.

Work Ethics

• Self-Starting
• Adaptability/Decisiveness
• Attention to Detail
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Team player
• Curious, committed to follow-through on tasks
• Teachable
• Punctual

How To Apply

Please send your CV on no more than 4 A4 pages (Minimum font size 10) AND an accompanying covering letter of no more than 2 pages (Minimum font size 10) answering the following questions to pic@nesgroup.org, with the Job Title as the Subject and the following:
• What is your motivation for wanting to join the PIC?
• What are the top three key attributes you would bring to the PIC?

Application closes on 12th of July, 2024

Job Description – Executive Director- ESC

Job Position

Executive Director

Reports to

Board of Directors

Job Classification

Management

Location

Nigeria (Lagos/Abuja/Nigeria)

Job Summary

The Ernest Shonekan Centre (ESC) is an initiative of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), focused on providing technical support and stakeholder management in parliamentary, regulatory, and judicial areas. ESC is dedicated to legislative design, development, review, communication, and management, as well as supporting the design and implementation of government reform processes. It addresses the needs of parliamentary, regulatory, and judicial stakeholders at both national and sub-national levels.

The Executive Director will ensure effective management administration to achieve the Centre's objectives. S/he will be a lawyer (more than ten years post call-to-bar) with demonstrable requisite expertise and experience in legislative reforms and administrative capacities.

The Executive Director of the Ernest Shonekan Centre will provide strong leadership, strategic direction, and effective management, ensuring the Centre's success in promoting legislative reforms, economic development, and improving Nigeria's business environment.

Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Strategic Planning—Develop and implement a strategic plan that aligns with the Centre's mission and goals. This plan will outline key objectives, priorities, and initiatives to guide the Centre's growth and impact in the long term.
2. Policy Development—Work with the NESG leadership to develop comprehensive policies and procedures for the Centre that align with its goals and objectives. These policies will guide the team in delivering high quality programs, services, and initiatives while adhering to ethical and legal standards.
3. Policy Implementation—Oversee the implementation of the Centre's policies and procedures, ensuring their effective execution across all functional areas. They will monitor progress, assess the impact, and make necessary adjustments to optimise the Centre's operations.
4. Operations Management – Oversee the overall operations of the Centre and ensuring that international standards run it. They will establish protocols and procedures to maintain organisational efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance.
5. Capacity Improvement – Ensure that the Centre's staff are continuously equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge. They will oversee training programs, mentorship initiatives, and professional development opportunities to enhance the capabilities and expertise of the team.
6. Curriculum Development—Work with the staff to develop and implement the Centre's curriculum and programs. They will ensure that the content and methodologies align with best practices, promoting innovation and excellence in the Centre's offerings.
7. Financial Management—Manage the Centre's finances prudently, efficiently, and transparently. It includes reviewing invoices and bills from vendors and suppliers, ensuring timely payments, and monitoring budgetary allocations. The manager will work closely with the finance team to maintain financial stability and accountability.
8. Stakeholder Relations—Establish and maintain effective relationships with all stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector entities, foundations, and other relevant organisations. They will engage in advocacy efforts, partnership development, and networking to advance the Centre's mission and expand its reach.

Scope of Deliverables

1. Expert-led research, advocacy and capacity development agenda-setting for ESC
2. Design, development and deployment of studies, analysis and diagnostic programmes
3. Design curriculum for capacity development of decision-maker programmes for legislative, judicial and regulatory officers
4. Technical Coordination of the Parliamentary Stakeholder Management to deliver the ESC-prescribed outcomes, outputs and impacts
5. Advisory efforts/presence at many critical meetings of the Federal Government to provide experienced, well tested and thorough on-the-stop assessments of the issues
6. Parliamentary relations that elevate the scope, scale, and quality of NESG engagement with High-Level Government Executives, providing the strategic intelligence, insight, and guidance required for deep relationships characteristic of national think tanks of the calibre of ESC
7. Deep Legal Research Capacity for Legislative, Judicial and Regulatory Studies that are domiciled within the Secretariat operations to allow ESC to accelerate critical action points deliverables to improve our Think Tank Connector and Intervener role
8. Proactive parliamentary stakeholder engagement strategy that is based on a comprehensive parliamentary risk assessment of the ESC policy operating landscape and a dedicated expert that builds the required response readiness in these times of economic recession in terms of cycle time for articulating the issues, parliamentary analytics and strategic governance diagnostics
9. The centre’s financial sustainability

Competency and Skill Requirements

1. Excellent knowledge of the Nigerian political, economic and social environment.
2. Awareness and understanding of local policies related to private sector businesses with emphasis on implication of policies on operations.
3. Strong appreciation of key industries, trends, operators and dynamics within the local and international environment.
4. Excellent leadership and people management skills.
5. Excellent resource planning and utilisation skills.
6. Excellent communication, networking, marketing and interpersonal skills.
7. Advanced business acumen i.e., financial and commercial knowledge.
8. Excellent written, presentation and oral communication skills.
9. Strong project management skills.
10. Strong motivational and team building skills.
11. Strategic thinking ability.
12. Strong business management and decision-making skills.
13. Ability to manage multiple priorities.
14. Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office productivity tools and other related applications.

Minimum Education and Work Experience

The candidate must have:

1. At least a decade experience in Public Policy, Legislative Research and Parliamentary Management Practice
2. Led strategic initiatives in the areas of Parliamentary Management, Constitutional Reform, Legislative Reform, Economics, Economic Policy, Public Administration, Public Research, Policy Analysis and Governance Matters
3. A good understanding of the Federal Government operations and the structure of policy, legislative and regulations at national and sub-national levels
4. Made significant contribution to public policy and legislative development in Nigeria
5. Excellent Professional Writing and Communications Skills at the Level of Policy Advisor to a President of the Country or Governor of State
6. A good Understanding of Think Tank Operations and their Intricate Workings
7. A good Understanding of fund management and fund raising, especially in a Think Tank, and the interrelationship between funding and impact/influential reporting
8. A track record of institutional development and transformation in the public or private sector; experience in both sectors will be an added advantage
9. Organisational leadership competencies to manage public and private leaders in a very complex and diversified setting, with groups of varying views, perspectives and approaches
10. A good understanding of Research Craft and Practice of Governance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Policy Development, and Legislation Development within the context of the Nigerian parliamentary economy
11. The ability to lead, moderate, facilitate and deliver policy/legislative dialogues, roundtables and position papers
12. A Law Degree and a minimum of 15 years post call-to-bar experience

Remuneration

To be discussed

Tenure

A Tenure is 36 months

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR SENIOR FELLOW - LEGAL RESEARCH, PARLIAMENTARY

MANAGEMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

PREAMBLE

The Ernest Sonekan Centre (ESC) is an initiative of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), focused on providing technical support and stakeholder management in parliamentary, regulatory, and judicial areas. ESC is dedicated to legislative design, development, review, communication, and management, as well as supporting the design and implementation of government reform processes. It addresses the needs of parliamentary, regulatory, and judicial stakeholders at both national and sub-national levels.

The Senior Fellow Legal Research, Parliamentary Management and Legislative Affairs (SFPMLA) is a senior advisory role of the ESC that considers the complicated work of managing the parliamentary landscape within which successful Public-Private Dialogue platforms occur. After thirty (30) years of the NESG and seven (7) years of the ESC (which started off as the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable—NASSBER), we have identified a critical need to have technical and strategic competency at the core of our operations to manage the parliamentary stakeholders required for effective policy engagement.

SCOPE OF WORK

•Expert-led research, advocacy and capacity development agenda-setting for ESC

•Design, development and deployment of studies, analysis and diagnostic programmes

•Design curriculum for capacity development of decision-maker programmes for legislative, judicial and regulatory officers

•Technical Coordination of the Parliamentary Stakeholder Management to deliver the ESCprescribed outcomes, outputs and impacts

•Advisory efforts/presence at many critical meetings of the Federal Government to provide experienced, well tested and thorough on-the-stop assessments of the issues

•Parliamentary relations that elevate the scope, scale, and quality of NESG engagement with High-Level Government Executives, providing the strategic intelligence, insight, and guidance required for deep relationships characteristic of national think tanks of the calibre of ESC

•Deep Legal Research Capacity for Legislative, Judicial and Regulatory Studies that are domiciled within the Secretariat operations to allow ESC to accelerate critical action points deliverables to improve our Think Tank Connector and Intervener role

•Proactive parliamentary stakeholder engagement strategy that is based on a comprehensive parliamentary risk assessment of the ESC policy operating landscape and a dedicated expert that builds the required response readiness in these times of economic recession in terms of cycle time for articulating the issues, parliamentary analytics and strategic governance diagnostics

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Noting the preceding, the Senior Fellow Legal Research, parliamentary Management and Legislative Affairs will have overall responsibility for the engagement of parliamentary elected Federal and State Government Executives and Officers cutting across the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Senior Fellow - Legal Research, Parliamentary Management and Legislative Affairs will therefore be responsible for:

1. Working with the ESC Board to set up the organisation leading up to the appointment of an Executive Director of the Centre.

2. Supporting the Executive Director, upon the appointment, as a Fellow/Advisor for the duration and agreed tenure of this engagement

3. Designing and developing the ESC Research agenda in collaboration with critical stakeholders for the approval of the Board

4. Designing and developing the ESC advocacy and capacity-building programmes for engaging legislature, judiciary and regulators.

5. Managing and Deepening Parliamentary Stakeholder Engagement, which is a precursor to the deeper engagement of the actors within the Policy Cycle of Government and ensuring the proper placement and participation of these actors with the ESC Summit and Policy Commission Processes;

6. Developing the ESC Research Agenda and provide ongoing Parliamentary Risk Assessment of the ESC PPD Platform and Processes, thus providing the ESC Chairman and the ED advisory on the most effective parliamentary and policy path to a robust engagement of critical actors in the policy or legislative space:

7. Implementing start-up and foundational legal research for legislative, regulatory and judicial change that sets the ESC evidence-based agenda for economic development

8. Expanding ESC evidence-based capabilities for Senior Government Level Interaction that are needed to lay the groundwork for policy reforms and interventions, including playing the strategic negotiator, facilitator and mediator of High-Level Inter-Governmental Engagements that are prerequisites for Policy Implementation Success;

9. Developing an ESC Parliamentary, Regulatory and Judicial Stakeholder Framework engaging and improving relations with the Legislative Arm of the Federal Government and giving impetus to sustainability and increasing credibility to the National Assembly Enabling Business Roundtable;

10. Exploring strategic opportunities for Sub-National Engagements with Governors, Regional and

National Governors' Forums, Regional Integration and Development Mechanisms/ Platforms;

11. Holding high-level meetings with key parliamentary stakeholders and ensure effective and vital communications channels are open to all parties that are crucial to ESC PPD Success;

12. Developing and managing a coordination framework for ensuring that the parliamentary, regulatory, and judicial management component of the NESG strategic priorities is well articulated to reduce parliamentary risk and increase parliamentary support for the key policy reforms that the ESC is driving.

QUALIFICATIONS

The candidate for this role must have:

1. At least a decade experience in Public Policy, Legislative Research and Parliamentary Management Practice

2. Led strategic initiatives in the areas of Parliamentary Management, Constitutional Reform, Legislative Reform, Economics, Economic Policy, Public Administration, Public Research, Policy Analysis and Governance Matters

3. A good understanding of the Federal Government operations and the structure of policy, legislative and regulations at national and sub-national levels

4. Made significant contribution to public policy and legislative development in Nigeria

5. Excellent Professional Writing and Communications Skills at the Level of Policy Advisor to a President of the Country or Governor of State

6. A good Understanding of Think Tank Operations and their Intricate Workings

7. A good Understanding of fund management and fund raising, especially in a Think Tank, and the interrelationship between funding and impact/influential reporting

8. A track record of institutional development and transformation in the public or private sector; experience in both sectors will be an added advantage

9. Organisational leadership competencies to manage public and private leaders in a very complex and diversified setting, with groups of varying views, perspectives and approaches

10. A good understanding of Research Craft and Practice of Governance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Policy Development, and Legislation Development within the context of the Nigerian parliamentary economy

11. The ability to lead, moderate, facilitate and deliver policy/ legislative dialogues, roundtables and position papers;

12. The competence to effectively represent the Chairman and the Chief Executive of the ESC at events and forums locally and internationally.

REMUNERATION: To be discussed

TENURE:12 Months, subject to renewal