Career Opportunities at Creative Associates International

Job Description

Creative seeks a Behavior Change Advisor to collaborate with the project team to design a behavior change strategy and capacity strengthening plan with counterparts within the Government of Ghana to improve accountability in the education sector. Activities will take place at the MOE/GES and parastatal levels, and at the Regional, District and community/school (SMC, Head Teacher, Teacher, SISO, student, and community) levels. S/he will be responsible for providing overall strategic direction to these activities, developing inputs for the annual work plan, staffing activities with qualified people, providing guidance and oversight to project staff and consultants and embedded staff working on specific assignments, and monitoring and evaluating organizational culture change.  

The Behavior Change Advisor will also be responsible for ensuring that SAGES approaches for cultural and behavioral change and gender sensitivity are used where appropriate in designing and implementing activities, and that local languages are used as and when appropriate. This involves providing consultation to the project team to ensure modeling cultural and behavioral change and gender sensitivity practices.  

The position will report to the  Chief of Party and will work closely with the team members. 

Responsibilities

• Provide on-the-ground technical and operational oversight to project activities related to behavior change. 
• Lead design, implementation and quality assurance of SBC activities. 
• Develop tools for the design and implementation of specific SBC technical components; ensure project implementation adheres to the appropriate global strategies and remains technically sound. 
• Review, analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of SBC activities and make recommendations for improvement. 
• Ensure that SBC strategies and implementation align with technical standards and best practices. 
• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) team to establish indicators for SBC and monitor/assess implementation performance according to those indicators. 
• Design and implement individual capacity assessments to determine strengths and weaknesses in  knowledge, attitudes and practices that must be addressed to support successful implementation of SBC interventions. 
• Develop and implement plans for addressing the gaps in organizational and individual SBC capacity and integrate these into the overall program.  
• Design and facilitate SBC leadership development programs, retreats, team-building programs, and strategic planning initiatives when appropriate. 
• Ensure that interventions include a behavior change component and are relevant to the Ghanian context.  
• Select and prepare staff and consultants for specific assignments.  
• Assist subject matter specialists in the SBC capacity building aspects of work plan activities. 
• Use a training-of-trainers approach with the Ministries to ensure sustainability. 
• Supervise SAGES staff and consultants in SBC implementation.  
• Monitor and evaluate SBC capacity development efforts and use the results to make adaptations to the approach, as necessary.  

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or bachelor’s degree with equivalent education/work experience in a related field (i.e., behavior change management, organizational development, professional development, education, international development, international or multi-cultural communication, international business, or management).  
• Five years’ experience in Behavior Change Management in developing countries, preferably USAID-funded; experience in Ghana preferred. 
• Experience supervising and mentoring a cohesive, integrated team.  
• Project management experience including development of work plans and monitoring and evaluation.  
• Demonstrated skills providing behavior change management support to public entities, preferably in the education sphere.  
• Ability to build strong relationships with clients and colleagues.    
• Familiarity with the education and youth sectors and key issues 
• Written and verbal fluency in English is required, and local Ghanian languages skills are preferred. 

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Job Description

Creative is seeking a Human Resources (HR) & Office Manager for an anticipated USAID-funded project that seeks to strengthen civil society oversight and feedback to performance in public service delivery and to support government and public service providers to be more responsive to citizen demand in delivering quality essential services. 

The HR & Office Manager will be responsible for human resources and office management out of Tamale, Ghana. S/he will organize and coordinate office operations management to optimize program effectiveness and efficiency. S/he will lead HR practices and objectives that will foster a high-performance team culture that emphasizes employee engagement, performance management, and the recruitment and ongoing professional development of project staff.  The Office Manager will be responsible for intra-office communication, streamlining administrative and operational procedures, supporting the Director of Finance & Operations in inventory control management, and staff supervision. The Office Manager is also responsible for the maintenance of processes and metrics that support the achievement of the project’s goals which includes ensuring compliance with Creative and donor/client human resources policies, procedures, and regulations.   

The Office Manager will report to the Director of Finance & Operations, located in Tamale, Ghana.  

Responsibilities

• Manage HR and office operations to ensure compliance with Creative and client rules and regulations; 
• Lead the full-cycle HR recruitment process including finalization of job descriptions, advertisement of vacancies, review of applicants, scheduling and conducting interviews alongside project senior management, checking candidate references, and collecting new hire documents; 
• Onboard new project hires; 
• Manage employee benefits enrollment and ensure all inquiries and challenges faced by employees regarding their insurances are handled; 
• Coordinate the performance evaluation process; 
• Provide information and advice to project staff regarding HR policies and procedures; 
• Coordinate staff training and establish staff development plans based on staff appraisals and evaluations; 
• Receive and log grievances or complaints from employees;  
• Consult with HQ HR Operations Manager and legal counsel regarding difficult cases and provide recommended solutions prior to forwarding complaints to management for review; 
• Provide oversight related to the updating of personnel files and other related HR documents including employment agreements, amendments, time sheets, calendar holidays and leave; 
• Develop office management policies and procedures, to include visitor protocols, and mail/correspondence management;  
• Work with relevant vendors to ensure office is properly equipped with water, electricity, internet, cleaning services, fuel, functional appliances/supplies, etc. as required;  
• Support the Director of Finance & Operations in inventory/fleet management, establishing and maintaining the IT infrastructure, and overseeing office furniture and supply procurement/budgeting;  
• Provide information as required by Compliance Officers/Auditors during audits;  
• Provide administrative support as necessary, including scheduling group meetings/supporting events, maintaining calendars, conducting research, and preparing memos and reports; and 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field; 
• Minimum of (5+) years HR and office management experience and 8 years of general work experience. 
• Experience working on USAID or similar internationally funded programs; 
• Strong knowledge of USG procurement rules and regulations; 
• Strong ability to use and develop management and tracking systems; 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.  
• Excellent record keeping and documentation skills; 
• Demonstrated knowledge of Ghanaian local labor law; 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; and 
• Fluency in English is required

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Job Description

Creative seeks an Accountability Enabling Environment (AEE) Advisor for an anticipated USAID-funded project that seeks to strengthen accountability policies, systems and responsiveness of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ghana Education Services (GES) and schools (School Management Committees and head teachers) for improved primary education service delivery and learning outcomes.  This project will work with the MOE and its agencies at the central, sub-national and local levels throughout the country, and may include the following focal areas: institutional systems strengthening, education budget planning and monitoring, national assessments, school inspection, education management information system (EMIS), and community and parent engagement.   

The AEE Advisor will be responsible for directing, managing, and overseeing all activities related to creating an enabling environment for accountability in the education sector in Ghana. This includes: working closely with educational agencies in Ghana to establish the foundation needed for accountability in the primary education system, with a focus on financial resources, rules, and roles and relationships. 

The AEE Advisor will report directly to the Deputy Chief of Party and will supervise various project staff.  

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and manage all major tasks related to the accountability enabling environment component of the project, including strengthening education actors’ capacity to better budget, plan and manage financial resources; supporting Ministry of Education to develop a system of accountability; and establish clearly define roles, responsibilities and relationships of each system actor under Education Accountability Framework (EAF).  
• Identify and maintain partnerships with local organizations and actors, and engage counterpart organizations in developing and implementing policies and mechanisms to strengthen the enabling environment for accountability in the education system. 
• Contribute to designing and managing grant mechanisms to strengthen capacity to support accountability initiatives and provide technical oversight of the grant projects. 
• Lead a team of staff and/or consultants to implement program initiatives. 
• Contribute to project planning, reporting and performance monitoring. 

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in education preferred, or in related social sciences.  
• Minimum seven (7) years of experience in a relevant role. 
• Demonstrated experience in monitoring results and indicators of education quality, learning outcomes, access, retention and community engagement is preferred; 
• At least five years of experience in the education or governance sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa, preferably in Ghana;   
• Demonstrated expertise in local governance supporting education service delivery, budgeting and accountability in education. 
• Knowledge of USAID and understanding of the USAID Education Policy, implementation guidance and education related goals under the Ghana Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) is desirable;  
• The candidate must be professionally proficient and fluent in written and spoken English. Fluency in local Ghanian languages is desirable

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Position Summary

The Finance Assistant will be working under the Finance Manager to help manage project expenditures and accounts. He/she will assist in applying accounting principles and procedures to analyze financial information, prepare accurate and timely financial reports and statements, and ensure appropriate accounting control procedures. The Finance Assistant will also be responsible for maintaining personnel electronic leave files that inform payroll.  

Responsibilities

• Assist the Finance Manager in managing day to day finance operations, including implementing Creative and USAID policies, procedures, and systems, reviewing accounts payable documents for proper accuracy and completeness, and liaising with bank on all banking issues.
• Assist Finance Manager with banking activities and writing of cheques.
• Assist Finance Manager with tracking and reconciling of bank statements to cash book.
• Assist Finance Manager with statutory payments (SSNIT, Tier 2, GRA, etc.).
• Assist Finance Manager in issuing and reconciling advances to staff and consultants.
• Assist Finance Manager to prepare and submit monthly cash requests.
• Scan and upload Finance documents to SharePoint.
• Manage the process of clearing bills, payments, and vouchers; and assist in the transfer of project funds from the regional account to field accounts.
• Ensure financial records are maintained in compliance with accepted policies and procedures.
• Ensure all financial reporting deadlines are met.
• Track and file personnel leave records both manually and electronically and maintain their tracking spreadsheets accurately and verify staff’s monthly timesheets.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

• Must have a Degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND) - Accounting option.  A professional qualification is an added advantage.
• Must have at least (2) two years of work experience in bookkeeping, accounting, or finance assistance.
• Knowledge of USAID Rules and Regulations and previous experience working on USAID-funded projects preferred.
• Excellent Spoken and Written English highly desired.
• Good computer skills in programs including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to work under pressure in challenging working conditions.
• Ability to take initiatives and be a team player.

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Job Description

Creative seeks a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for an anticipated USAID-funded project that seeks to strengthen accountability policies, systems and responsiveness of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ghana Education Services (GES) and schools (School Management Committees and head teachers) for improved primary education service delivery and learning outcomes.

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) works in tandem with the Chief of Party (COP), to provide technical and administrative leadership in the implementation of project activities, to provide quality control for the program’s technical outputs, and to support the COP in representing the program on high-level District, Region and national level working groups, in donor and Ministry meetings (at the national and sub-national levels), and in other fora where the program’s goals, aims, and investments must be explained.  The DCOP contributes to the timely submission of all required deliverables and reports and dedicates his/her efforts to ensuring that the project is implemented according to the technical stipulations in this statement of work and in conformity with the agreed-upon, finalized work plan.

The DCOP will report directly to the COP and will serve as Acting COP in the COP’s absence. The DCOP will also supervise several technical leads.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities:

• The DCOP will oversee aspects of project implementation through direct supervision of its project components. S/he will lead the project’s program team, comprising of technical specialists.
• The DCOP will provide support to the Chief of Party (COP) in representational programmatic, strategic development and quality control duties; and liaise with USAID and government stakeholders to respond to their informational, data and monitoring requirements.
• Support the management and supervision of staff.
• Assist in the formulation of annual work plans, in cooperation with the Chief of Party, project staff, USAID, and the Ministry of Education (MOE).
• Develop and deliver reports and written documentation related to technical activities to be reported to USAID, including weekly, quarterly and annual reports.
• Represent the project in local, national, and international meetings and events in the absence of the COP.

Qualifications

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• An advanced degree in education, business administration, economics, international development, social sciences, or a related field;
• At least eight (8) years of experience in areas of education policy formation and operationalization, social accountability and/or public administration, with at least 4 years in a managerial or team leader capacity;
• At least four (4) years of experience in the education or governance sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa, preferably in Ghana;
• Past management and administrative experience, technical knowledge of the education sector, and experience interacting with and implementing education programming as one member of a complex, interrelated system of Ministry and donor representatives;
• Demonstrated ability to organize program work teams, to collaborate with a wide range of education stakeholders, and to liaise as needed with USAID and home office personnel to ensure the smooth implementation of the project;
• Demonstrated experience in management and oversight of programs that are of a similar scope, size, and complexity to this activity;
• Knowledge of USAID and understanding of the USAID Education Policy, implementation guidance and education related goals under the Ghana Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) is desirable;
• Professionally proficient and fluent in written and spoken English.

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Job Description

Creative Associates seeks a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and Adapting (MERLA) Director for an anticipated USAID-funded project that seeks to strengthen accountability policies, systems and responsiveness of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ghana Education Services (GES) and schools (School Management Committees and head teachers) for improved primary education service delivery and learning outcomes.  This project will work with the MOE and its agencies at the central, sub-national and local levels throughout the country, and may include the following focal areas: monitoring and supervision, national assessments, school inspection, education management information system (EMIS), and community engagement. 

The MERLA Director will be responsible for directing, managing and overseeing all monitoring, evaluation, research and measurement activities, focusing on monitoring activities, tracking of program results, creating systems of evaluation and operationalizing training, and changes, where necessary. In this capacity, the MERLA Director will design data collection procedures, tools, and process as well as oversee data collection efforts.

The MERLA Director will report directly to the Chief of Party and will supervise various monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) project staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all major MEL tasks related to the project, including designing, monitoring and evaluation processes, strategies and tools, setting learning agendas, designing research studies and training staff and counterparts on data capture, collection and evaluation;
• Create and roll-out a comprehensive MEL plan, including collection, evaluation and reporting against project deliverables, outcomes and targets;
• Ensure quality and accurate compilation of data and database management;
• Manage and oversee MEL program staff, building technical and operational capacity to manage and implement critical and detailed processes; and
• Promote knowledge generation, capture, and sharing through the company's operational business processes and systems by integrating knowledge and information systems.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in education preferred, or in related social sciences.
• Minimum seven (7) years of experience in monitoring and evaluating education programs;
• Demonstrated experience in monitoring results and indicators of education quality, learning outcomes, access, retention and community engagement is preferred;
• Experience collecting and converting data and information into knowledge;
• Experience and comfort developing and delivering trainings with diverse participants; and
• Previous experience working with USAID desired;
• Excellent written and spoken English;
• Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa.
   

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Job Description

Creative seeks a Director of Finance and Administration for an anticipated USAID-funded project that seeks to strengthen accountability policies, systems and responsiveness of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ghana Education Services (GES) and schools (School Management Committees and Head Teachers) for improved primary education service delivery and learning outcomes.  This project will work with the MOE and its agencies at the central, sub-national and local levels throughout the country, and may include the following focal areas: monitoring and supervision, national assessments, school inspection, education management information system (EMIS), and community engagement.   

The Director of Finance and Administration will manage administrative, financial, and procurement processes in compliance with donor rules and regulations. S/he will design, implement, and supervise adherence to financial policy, budgets, and internal control measures. S/he will develop and implement financial and personnel procedures in compliance with Creative and donor policies; oversee the compliant management of the grants fund; manage payroll; draft periodic and annual reports on financial status of project expenses and budget information; support the development of documentation and written materials relating to the project; and respond to inquiries on the status of financial information. The Director of Finance and Administration will track the transfer of funds between headquarters and the field offices and manage accounting and finance records of in-country expenses. S/he will ensure funds’ availability and verify that all procurement and grants- under-contract actions are compliant with Creative’s financial management guidelines prior to payments. 

This position reports to the Chief of Party (COP).

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain financial management and accounting control systems for program expenditures;  
• Ensure that the project meets all donor contractual requirements and complies with donor policies and regulations;  
• Liaise between Creative Associates' field and headquarters offices; 
• Oversee all operations staff/departments, including office administration, human resources, procurement, logistics, and IT 
• Supervise procurement processes and inventory management; oversee assignment of inventory to staff and assign spot checks and physical verifications;  
• Supervise travel and logistics for staff, including facilitating flight/hotel arrangements as needed; 
• Supervise personnel recruitment, onboarding, payroll, capacity building, UltiPro HR database updates, visa paperwork (as required) and termination (as required); 
• Supervise all project hard and soft copy filing systems in accordance with HQ protocols; 
• Mentor staff and field-based partners as appropriate  
• Provide financial and operational management and systems training/capacity building for project staff and field-based partners as required;  
• Participate in ongoing analysis, forecasting and review of project expenses.  
• Participate in budget planning and realignments as required; 
• Track the transfer of funds between headquarters and the field office, and manage accounting and finance records of in-country expenses, including developing spreadsheet programs for tracking and monitoring all financial project activities, and maintaining spreadsheets with current project expense data; 
• Work closely with field-based partners to ensure budgets, projections, and invoices are completed according to Creative/USAID policies and procedures; 
• Maintain project financial and contractual files; 
• Develop financial procedures manual; 
• Provide financial management and systems training for project staff and partners; 
• Prepare the requisite financial documents and vouchers; 
• Draft quarterly and annual financial reports on financial status of project expenses and budget information; and  
• Ensure monthly field expense reports. 

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or relevant field, or equivalent experience and certifications;  
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in administrative and financial management of complex, international development assistance programs, developing and managing budgets, and managing grant funds;  
• At least four (4) years of experience working on education, youth, and/or systems strengthening programming within Ghana is highly desired; 
• Demonstrated expertise and excellent track record in management, finance, grants, accounting and office operations;  
• Proven ability to coach, mentor, and build capacity of local staff and partners in the area of finance;  
• Experience effectively managing teams with culturally diverse teams and working with counterparts from other cultures;  
• Strong written and oral communication skills; and  
• Professionally proficient and fluency in written and spoken English.