Grants Officer, Nigeria Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) (Abuja, Nigeria)

Grants Officer – Nigeria Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) (Abuja, Nigeria)  

Project Overview and Role:

Nigeria SCALE project is a USAID-funded 5-year project (Oct 08, 2020 – Oct 07, 2025), implemented by Palladium in collaboration with the local resource partners. The goal of the Nigeria SCALE project is to strengthen the financial, management and advocacy capacity of local civil society organizations (CSOs) and Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) in Nigeria to create a more accountable, transparent, peaceful, and democratic Nigeria with more effective and efficient public service delivery.  

The SCALE project supports civil society organizations (CSOs) and business membership organizations (BMOs) across all of USAID/Nigeria’s programmatic sectors with a basket of managerial, business strengthening, and advocacy capacity-building interventions aimed at advancing Nigerian CSO sustainability combined with targeted grants to advance mutually agreed upon priorities. The project is designed to enhance local civil society organizations’ ability to be positive and responsible change agents in Nigeria.  

The project has five main components: 1) Component One – Improve CSO organizational capacity, 2) Component Two – Enhance capacity for CSO advocacy, collaboration and management, 3) Component Three – Improve the policy and regulatory environment for civil society, 4) Component Four – Countering Trafficking in Persons (CTIP), and 5) Component Five – Sector strengthening and advocacy. 

Purpose of Position  

The Grants Officer will manage grant portfolios, in accordance with Palladium’s and USAID policies and procedures. The Grants Officer maintains project systems for promoting, screening, approving, and managing grants. The position reports to Grants Manager. 

Duration:   1 year, with possibility of extension for additional two years.  
Location:    Abuja
Number of Positions:  2 

Roles and Responsibilities

• Collaborates with the technical team in identifying qualified resource partners and civil society organizations eligible for grants.
• Prepares grant documents and follow the required administrative processes as per the grants manual for identifying eligible organizations
• Prepares and processes grant applications and oversees grant management and implementation for all project opportunities.
• Implements grant activities at the state level under the various project components.
• Ensures all sub-awards comply with the rules and regulations of governments and other multilateral donors
• Strengthens and maintains the necessary administrative structures and interdepartmental processes to ensure grant transparency, smooth implementation, reporting, requisite controls, and monitoring
• Serves as primary point of contact for post-award grants implementation and ensures that all grant files are complete, accurate, and up-to-date.
• Reviews internal documents and processes for compliance from time to time.
• Any other tasks as assigned by the manager.

Required Qualifications:

•  Master’s degree in business, finance, economics, or any other relevant field. Bachelor’s degree with at least 6 years of experience in grant, business, finance, accounting, or any other relevant field can be substituted for an advanced degree. 
•  Minimum of five years of experience managing grants for donor organizations. Experience with USAID grants management system highly preferred.
•  Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills, including the ability to manage large budgets and client expectations.
• Able to communicate effectively and have excellent interpersonal skills to form effective working relationships at all levels;
•  Good computer skills (Microsoft Office, email, internet)
•  Ability to deal appropriately with sensitive issues and maintain a high level of confidentiality at all times.

Please note that we cannot offer sponsorship for this position. To be considered for this role, all applicants must have the right to work and live in Nigeria permanently. Applications from individuals without the current right to work in Nigeria will not be considered. This position will be based in our Abuja office only. Applicants from outside Abuja are welcome but will need to relocate at their own expense as no relocation package is available.

Company Overview:

About Palladium – Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people’s lives.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.