Senior Associate, Innovations, Business Models & PPPs at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. In particular, we aim to make healthier food choices more desirable, more available, and more affordable. GAIN’s mission is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially the most vulnerable to malnutrition.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Associate, Innovations, Business Models & PPPs

Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Grade 4
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Duration: 36 Months

Overall Purpose

The post holder will play a critical role in driving innovations across the fortification value chain; – enabling environment, ingredients, products, technology, systems, markets, value propositions, and development of new business models GAIN seeks to leverage new, and scale up existing, innovations to address the unfinished agenda for fortification.
The Senior Associate will work closely with the Cluster Lead, Food Fortification, colleagues within Food Fortification Cluster, Nutrition Enterprise Unit and the Program Services Team generally, Country Programmes, Knowledge Leadership team, and the broader organization — as well as external partners and stakeholders — to manage the successful delivery of projects with a priority focus on supporting new programmes and innovations in fortification globally.
The role will primarily be focused on LSFF but will be expected to work across the cluster supporting work on commercialization of biofortified crops.

Tasks and Responsibilities
Strategy development and execution:

Develop an innovations agenda / strategy covering- ingredients, products, technology, systems (public / private, civil society), digital solutions, markets, value propositions, business models and delivery mechanisms: retail markets, social safety net programs, institutional procurement et
Prioritise innovations agenda and lead execution of strategy
Lead cross functional teams of country and global programme staff on development and scaling up innovations in food fortification
Partner with colleagues working on innovations and business models on commercialization of biofortified crops, GAIN’s Nutrition Enterprise Unit, social protection programs and other parts of GAIN
Develop tools, resources on business incentives and business support services to fortified foods processors.
Develop and drive public, private partnerships (PPPs) on fortification focusing on capacity building, policy, incentives, compliance to fortification mandates and other areas of interest
Build external partnerships focusing on new solutions and innovations in food fortification beyond the usual suspects
Maintain an up-to-date understanding of current and emerging topics within the food fortification innovation landscape including grant funding models and sectoral discussions

Project Management and Delivery

Provide technical inputs in the design and implementation of GAIN’s LSFF programmes in Bangladesh, India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Benin, Mozambique, Pakistan, and Indonesia, as well as regional and global initiatives.
Support integration of digital approaches and digital data collection tools and agile project management approaches in GAIN’s LSFF and biofortification programming.
Supports the Cluster Lead, to identify opportunities for building pipeline and resource mobilization.
Support efforts to disseminate findings by writing blogs, articles and other publications on GAIN’s innovations and business models work specifically and food fortification generally.
Support preparation and presentation of high-quality analysis and research, as required, to support
LSFF team in determining future strategic priorities and setting operational plans.Tasks and Responsibilities
Strategy development and execution
Develop an innovations agenda / strategy covering- ingredients, products, technology, systems (public / private, civil society), digital solutions, markets, value propositions, business models and delivery mechanisms: retail markets, social safety net programs, institutional procurement et
Prioritise innovations agenda and lead execution of strategy
Lead cross functional teams of country and global programme staff on development and scaling up innovations in food fortification
Partner with colleagues working on innovations and business models on commercialization of biofortified crops, GAIN’s Nutrition Enterprise Unit, social protection programs and other parts of GAIN
Develop tools, resources on business incentives and business support services to fortified foods processors.
Develop and drive public, private partnerships (PPPs) on fortification focusing on capacity building, policy, incentives, compliance to fortification mandates and other areas of interest
Build external partnerships focusing on new solutions and innovations in food fortification beyond the usual suspects
Maintain an up-to-date understanding of current and emerging topics within the food fortification innovation landscape including grant funding models and sectoral discussions
Project management and delivery
Provide technical inputs in the design and implementation of GAIN’s LSFF programmes in Bangladesh,
India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Benin, Mozambique, Pakistan, and Indonesia, as well as regional and global initiatives.
Support integration of digital approaches and digital data collection tools and agile project management approaches in GAIN’s LSFF and biofortification programming.
Supports the Cluster Lead, to identify opportunities for building pipeline and resource mobilization.
Support efforts to disseminate findings by writing blogs, articles and other publications on GAIN’s innovations and business models work specifically and food fortification generally.
Support preparation and presentation of high-quality analysis and research, as required, to support
LSFF team in determining future strategic priorities and setting operational plans.
With Knowledge Leadership team, actively monitor LSFF programs; ensures timely data collection and analyzes their performance, interprets program evaluations to identify implications and implements policy and program actions
Support building out of better integration between food safety, commercialization of biofortified crops and LSFF programming.

Key Organisational Relationships:

Cluster Lead, Food Fortification
Country Directors and Food Fortification Project Managers
Senior Technical Specialist, Knowledge Leadership
Programme Services Team colleagues
Knowledge Leadership colleagues working on fortification assessment, knowledge mobilization
Development Office, Corporate communications and Policy & External Relations
Liaises with local and global partners to ensure optimal project implementation.
Liaises with network of consultants and experts, who provide technical assistance to the Initiative

Job Requirements
Education:

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Marketing, Public Health, Nutrition, Business Administration, Food Science, Public Policy, Innovations Management, IT or related field.

Other Requirements:

Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in English essential
Other languages such as French desirable.

Competencies:

Good project management skills
Proven ability to use initiative, prioritize, multi-task, and work well under pressure to meet deadlines
Strong communication skills in multicultural, multi-lingual environments, written and verbal. Media savviness is a plus
Flexible, goal oriented and willingness and ability to travel
IT literate with excellent MS Office skills including advanced Excel and PowerPoint
Self-management (independence and initiative)
Team working and partnerships
Communication and strategic influencing

Experience:

We are seeking someone who is intellectually curious but prepared to get their hands dirty and be able to build unusual partnerships. Key attributes include:
Private sector experience is a must. A blend of experience from public and private sectors preferred.
Experience of both B2B and B2C markets is an added advantage
Track record of out of the box thinking; whether systems design or innovations, technology, markets.
Specific experience from the food processing/agribusiness sector
Strong background in brand management, innovations, market analysis, market shaping strategies, supply chain management or digital programs to improve services in agriculture, food industry or public health
Experience driving digital projects and knowledge of agile project management approaches, an added advantage
Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work in an international team, comfortable with multi-tasking and operating in a fast paced, multi-faceted, and multi-cultural environment
Experience working at both at global and country levels and on PPPs preferred
Savviness across various media platforms a distinct advantage
Knowledge or experience in food fortification will be an added advantage
Experience in business consultancy an added advantage