Head of Delegation – Abuja & Maiduguri, Nigeria

Position Start Date : 01.09.2023

Duration : 12 months

Location : Abuja & Maiduguri, Nigeria

Status : non-accompanied

Terre des hommes does not set closing dates for this position; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled

Tdh :

Terre des hommes Foundation (Tdh), with headquarters in Lausanne and an office in Zurich, is the leading Swiss organisation for children’s aid. In 2021, we supported two million children and members of their communities around the world. We trained people who in turn supported a further 3.1 million children and members of their communities.

Context :

Terre des hommes is active in Nigeria since 2017 through development activities in the South-West of the country (via a “migration” multi countries project closed in 2020) and through humanitarian assistance in Borno’s state (health, nutrition, child protection (CP), education in emergency (EiE), WASH and psychosocial support (PSS)).

Since 2022, Tdh has reduced its footprint in the Borno’s state and focus its intervention in Maiduguri metropole city through an integrated project (CP / EiE / PSS / WASH) focusing on IDPs and host communities.

Based on the strengths of the delegation (a committed and skilled team, a well-known and recognized expertise in CP and EiE, etc.), Tdh would like to reinforce its presence in Nigeria in deploying its programmatic approach (3 programs (Health (including nutrition), Migration and Access to Justice) and 2 expertise (CP and WASH)) through humanitarian activities and development approach.

The position of Head of Delegation is key to better position Tdh in the complex and competitive context of Nigeria, and she/he will have in a short timing be able to define and implement a short-term strategy, negotiate partnerships with both local and international NGO and secure fundings. The position will be based in Maiduguri (2 to 3 weeks per month) and Abuja (the rest of the time).

Responsibilities :

• Under the supervision of the Deputy to the Operations Manager, he/she ensures the proper functioning of operations at the national level; as such he/she represents the Foundation in Nigeria.
• He/She directs and supervises all activities connected to the Tdh projects in Nigeria in line with the SP (Strategic Plan), roadmap and strategic orientations.
• He/She represents Tdh (including legally) and promotes the entirety of its remit in Nigeria.
• He/She demonstrates ethical and exemplary leadership in order to maintain the Foundation’s good reputation and leads all the delegation’s collaborators in a shared vision in compliance with the Foundation’s strategic orientations.
• In collaboration with the programs and expertise, he/she develops the Strategic Plan of the Delegation’s operations in compliance with the general reference framework.
• He/She develops and guarantees the implementation of the Delegation’s Annual Operational Plans (AOPs) in compliance with the Strategic Plan and internal processes (budgetary management, HR and logistics management, quality and accountability).
• He/She guarantees the implementation of an operational risk-management system for the Delegation.
• He/She supervises and supports all staff attached to the Delegation.
• He/She ensures the Delegation’s internal and external communications.
• He/She feels accountable to the beneficiaries, collaborators and donors.
• He/She makes sure that his/her teams and partners have learned the security policies and the general code of conduct and comply with them at all times.
• He/She is responsible for the security of the Tdh teams under his/her responsibility and is in charge of the security rules and the contingency plans of Nigeria mission.
• He/She manages and assumes ultimate responsibility for the risks and access aspects of the mission.

Profile :

Training & Qualifications :

Master in relevant field or training / experience considered as equivalent

Experience & Competencies :

• At least 5 years previous experience of seniority in an NGO at a management position in the field (expatriation) and in a similar context.
• Successful track record of developing strategies in humanitarian context (if also in development context will be a plus).
• Successful track record of securing high levels of funding from institutional donors (USAID including BHA, DFID, AFD, CDCS, ECHO, DEVCO/INTPA, UN, etc.).
• Extensive project management experience (management, budgeting, grants management, planning, staff development and training skills) in emergency and or development context.
• Successful track record in drafting project proposals.
• Management experience (including management of expatriate teams) and strong team leadership qualities.
• Knowledge on Child protection.
• Ability to work well and punctually under pressure.
• A commitment to excellence, attention to detail.

Languages :

• Excellent proficiency in English.
• Proficiency in French will be a plus.

IT know-how ;

• Mastery of the usual Microsoft tools

Salary :

Expatriate contract under Swiss regulations between CHF 5’500.- and CHF 6’000.- Gross/month according to experience x 13 times, Vacancy: 25 days annual leaves local accommodation and transportation, Health insurance, accident and medical repatriation insurance, return flight.

Tdh Global Code of Conduct and Risk Management Policies :

• Fully complies with Tdh’s Global Code of Conduct and systematically reports any breach to the Code through the whistleblowing procedure: raises awareness within the Foundation on abuse and violence and the rights deriving therefrom, respecting the rights and dignity of children, members of the communities and our own Staff
• Commits to respecting Risk Management Policies including: Safeguarding Policies (Child Safeguarding Policy, Policy on the Protection against Sexual Exploitation and the Directive on Staff Misconduct at the Workplace), Safety and Security Policy and Anti-Fraud/Corruption and Prevention of the Financing of Criminal Activities Policies
• Commits to reducing the risk of abuse and harm by developing a culture of open and informed leadership within the organization and in our work with children and the communities in which we intervene in.

We offer an exciting and varied work, useful and meaningful, in a team that wants to make a difference for vulnerable children.

Are you interested? Do you want to face this challenge?