Job Description
Background to the role
NIRAS is preparing to tender for the role of Fund Management Supplier for the Blue Planet Fund (BPF) competitive fund. Blue Planet Fund is made up of a portfolio of Defra and FCDO programmes representing a £500m fund delivered over 5-years. The Competitive Fund is a Defra-run fund delivering across BPF priority outcomes to build capacity and capability in national organisations. The Fund will focus on:
- marine protected areas (MPAs) and other effective conservation measures (OECMs)
- illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU)
- (inter)national fisheries
- marine pollution
The fund will also provide secondary benefits towards the other three outcomes (critical marine habitats, small-scale fisheries, and sustainable aquaculture) which are led by the FCDO. It is anticipated that the Fund (subject to approval) will deliver £65m over a 5-7 year timespan. A small grants window will offer up to £250k grants to non-traditional partners including community based organisations. A large grants windows will offer grants of up to £3m to consortia of larger organisations. The BPF will work across five priority regions - West and Central Africa, East and Southern Africa, South Asia and SE Asia, Pacific SIDS, Caribbean SIDS and Eastern Pacific.
The Fund Management Supplier will:
- manage the administration of the grant application and award processes;
- Provide support to the expert committee, the Defra competitive fund team and directly to projects;
- Provide effective management and monitoring and reporting of all projects;
- Evaluate projects and deliver improvements to the fund’s processes based on evidence, best practice and outreach;
- Liaise with the independent MEL evaluator on the evaluation of the fund;
- Provide ad hoc technical advice or briefing on issues arising from new or proposed developments to the grant schemes or specific one-off tasks.
The tender is expected to go live in Q4 of 2022 with work starting in 2023.
The MEL Lead will work closely with the Fund Manager to design and implement an overall strategy for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning for the Blue Planet Fund Competitive Fund, drawing on Niras’ established tools and processes from other Defra funds.
About the role
The postholder will provide high quality technical and project management inputs to support our existing portfolio of projects as well as our efforts to win new business.
You will have specific responsibility for:
- Developing an overall Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Strategy for the Competitive Fund
- Developing a Results Framework - mapping project logframe indicators to Defra’s standardised indicator-set and supporting projects to report against the overall results framework
- Assess MEL approaches proposed in grantee applications
- Develop MEL tools and training and communicating MEL best practices to grantees
- Develop and synthesise project and portfolio-level learning linked to theories of change
- Support annual reporting of aggregated indicator data
- Conduct field-based reviews of funded-projects
- Provide technical guidance to projects and the fund administrators as required
- Liaise with the independent evaluation provider as required
About you
Our ideal candidate will be passionate about Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, with experience of winning and delivering MEL assignments across a range of sectors and geographies. You will be able to effectively deliver a range of evaluation methods to respond to client requirements. You will possess proven experience in project and team management and in producing tenders to win public procurements. The successful candidate will need strong team and management skills and be a confident and effective communicator with the ability to work in a dynamic, fast paced environment.
- Qualifications and experience Relevant Master’s degree. At least 8 years of experience working on Monitoring Evaluation and Learning in international development, ideally in a consulting environment
- Methods knowledge: Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation methods and key donor MEL tools. This should include experience in theory of change, logical framework approaches, indicator development and formulation of evaluation frameworks. Experience of training non-specialists in project-level MEL and of extracting and synthesising portfolio level learning are desirable
- Sector knowledge: Experience in MEL for marine conservation and sustainable fisheries, climate change, and poverty reduction is essential
- Analytical and commercial skills. Ability to quickly and effectively analyse large volumes of information. Demonstrated competency in analysing financial information and developing/managing project budgets
- Programme management: Ability to manage human and financial resources, coordinating teams to deliver against workplans is essential
- Communications. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and an ability and willingness to work effectively with colleagues with different skill sets and from different cultural backgrounds. Ability to negotiate effectively. Fluency in Spanish or French is desirable
- Team player. Willingness to support other areas of the business when required, and to support less experienced team members where appropriate
- Time management. Ability to think and work proactively, creatively and strategically under pressure or when faced with competing demands
- Information Technology. Competent user of Microsoft 365 applications, with high level Excel skills essential. Experience with grant management software is desirable
- Time management: Ability to think and work proactively, creatively and strategically under pressure or when faced with competing demands
- Information technology: Competent user of Microsoft 365 applications, with high level Excel skills essential
What we offer you
This is a full-time position (35 hours per week). If you would like to interact face-to-face with our dynamic and highly skilled team, we would love for you to be based in our Edinburgh office, but the location is flexible. You can also work from our co-working space in London (London weighting applies) or from other NIRAS offices in Ascot or Cambridge. International travel is required.
Given the procurement has not yet been launched and this may impact on the scope of the role and level of seniority expected, we would like to consider applications from candidates with skills and experience commensurate with a Senior Consultant (£38,916-£48,645) or a Principal Consultant (£46,285-£57,857). Candidates based in London may be eligible for a London weighting.
Our Learning & Development strategy supports a fantastic range of development opportunities to support you in your role and future aspirations.
Our employee benefits include:
- 35 days paid annual leave entitlement (inclusive of public and bank holidays)
- Flexible working
- A tax-free relocation allowance of up to £2,000 if you relocate to Edinburgh
- Formal pay structure designed to be fair and transparent
- 10% employer pension contributions, and optional salary sacrifice pension arrangements
- 24/7 access to our Employee Assistance Programme, including perks & savings
- Income Protection Scheme for critical illness or injury
- Company sick pay
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Paid time off for volunteering activities
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free parking
Contact
If the role sounds of interest, then please apply today as applications will be reviewed continuously before the closing date. Please do not hesitate to email Evan Wilcock (Talent Acquisition Partner UK) at ewil@niras.com should you have any questions.
NIRAS is an equal opportunity employer with a focus on Sustainable Development Goals. We value diversity in all its forms and welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Deadline: Sunday, October 9, 2022
