Vacature Operational Project Associate, CFYE Netherlands

Project Overview and Role:

The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) is a 6-year and €114 million programme funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that aims to create a prosperous future for 200,000 young women and men in the Middle East, North Africa, Sahel & West Africa and Horn of Africa regions. The Fund will be supporting initiatives in 23 focus countries that will offer youth, in particular young women, opportunities for work that is demand-driven and productive, offering a stable income and safe working conditions, and that is contributing to their personal development and social protection.
Private sector, civil society and knowledge institutions will be invited to submit proposals geared to scalable solutions for creating more and better jobs and income generating opportunities for youth. Solutions will in particular focus on an integrated approach that addresses the shortcomings on the demand side (jobs) and supply side (skills) and bridging the mismatch between these two in the labour market.

The Operational Project Associate will be part of the Project Operations team of the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment, the team that is responsible for the operational management of the project. The specific purpose of the position is to support the management and implementation of effective and efficient operational, financial and compliance activities to deliver the project in accordance with contractual obligations, company policies, group standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines and client rules and regulations. The position periodically contributes to the development of policies, processes and procedures that align with best practices in project management.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

A) Project and Operations Management

- Contribute to the preparation and maintenance of project specific components of the project operations manual;
- Contribute to periodic review on operational processes, compliance checks on processes and internal controls;
- Support training of project staff on company policies, standard operating procedures, guidelines and client rules and regulations (covering risk management, planning, human resource management, monitoring, reporting, finance, procurement, logistics, IT, audit support and all other operations matters);
- Support in managing and maintaining various Palladium's systems. Support of the roll out of new systems when appropriate; and
- Assist with ad-hoc project management tasks as required.

B) Financial Management

- In collaboration with Finance, monitor expenditure against budgets and forecasts, including staff costs, operating expenses and procurements;
- Ensure company policies, standard operating procedures and guidelines for financial management are implemented and are compliant with the client’s rules and regulations;
- Ensure the project financial calendar is adhered to;
- Review transactions / invoices and ensure supporting documentation is complete;
- Serve as a coordinator for various suppliers and/or consultants and process work orders and invoices;
- Process contract action requests (for example travel, personnel additions/changes, partner, grant, budget realignment, etc.);
- Support the external audit process and ensure retention of project records is compliant with company policy; and
- Assist in internal audit procedures of Implementing Partners of the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment by performing visits to the projects and performing spot checks.

C) Human Resource Management and Recruitment

- Take a role of Safety and Security Focal Point for the project team, under the Palladium corporate framework and guidance;
- Coordinate input and support from HR for recruitment and contracting;
- Maintain project data on relevant HR systems for short-term and long-term staff and consultants; and
- Support the mobilisation and demobilisation of all international staff (short-term and long-term) including contracting, travel management, payments and induction.

D) Procurement and Relationship Management

- Support the contracting process of implementing partners and consultants;
- Review and ensure quality of procurement; ensuring compliance with company anti-corruption and due diligence processes;
- Serve as a coordinator of service providers and address contractual matters as required; and
- Support in monitoring and ensuring the Companies compliance requirements are maintained.

E) Business Development / Other

- Participate in capture planning, providing inputs on operational requirements;
- Provide input and support business development of the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment as required;
- Participate in ensuring and monitoring the data-driven approach of the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment; and
- Other duties as assigned.

Reporting Requirements:

The role will directly report to the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment Operations Manager and will work closely with other members of the Challenge Fund team in Utrecht.

Minimum Requirements:

- Relevant qualifications in the area of administration, operations and/or financial management or a related field.
- Demonstrated relevant work experience, preferably in an administrative or project management related position.
- Available for at least 32 hours per week.
- EU citizen or eligible to work in the Netherlands (visa sponsorship is unfortunately not available for this position).
- Based in the Netherlands, or willingness to move to the Netherlands.

Core Competencies:

- Understanding of / expertise in project management and administration.
- Financial acumen and the ability to interpret and analyse financial reports.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and preferably in Dutch and French.
- High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
- Good organisational and planning skills.
- Sound problem solving and decision-making skills.
- Comfortable to work with Excel and other data-tools.
- Ability to work successfully as part of a team.
- Good cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills and able to interact professionally with culturally and linguistically diverse staff, clients and consultants.

How to Apply:

Interested and qualified candidates are kindly invited to submit a cover letter and resume (both in English) no later than 23 April 2023. In your cover letter please reflect on your motivation for wanting to work on the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment. Please be aware that applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to close this recruitment process before the confirmed closing date.  Should you wish to apply you are kindly advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
All staff are required to adhere to the Palladium Code of Conduct. Recruitment is subject to successful completion of all applicable background checks, including references and criminal records checks.

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.