Nigeria Country Program Manager

Job Description

Primary Location

Abuja/Nigeria

Reporting Line

The Country Program Manager (CPM) directly reports to the Area Director (AD).

Duration:

12 months with the possibility of extension depending on performance and availability of funds.

Primary Responsibilities

• To implement RET’s strategy and programme with the local implementing partner in a timely, effective and efficient manner;
• To monitor programme progress and quality, and ensure adherence to organisational and internationally recognised standards of humanitarian and development programme implementation.
• To ensure the monitoring and evaluation of the programme including the identification of challenges, needs and gaps; supervising the M&E manager and ensuring quality assurance of all programmatic data that is being reported to RET HQ and the donor;
• To ensure the coherence and effective coordination of the programme; coordinating, harmonising and linking the work of the implementing partner with other development actors in the area.
• To produce high-quality narrative and financial donor reports in coordination with the local partner organization, the local administration and program team, and the Area Director;
• To represent the RET to donors, Embassy and development actors (UN, NGOs, government) in Nigeria; to liaise with these actors and align RET’s strategy in Nigeria with the national and international humanitarian and development strategies;
• To write project proposals (narrative and financial) to secure additional funding for programs based on needs and priorities identified in the field;
• To be responsible for recruitment, performance management and staff development. This will include ensuring that all staff members have performance objectives and are managed according to performance;
• In coordination with the Area Director, the PM develops effective and efficient Work-Plans, detailing each required steps to achieve RET’s objectives, in compliance with contract(s) signed with the donor(s);
• Closely follow up on the implementation of the Work-Plan, and, if necessary, take any corrective measure to ensure timely implementation of the activities and/or revision of the Work-Plan;
• Guide the staff in their day-to-day work, ensuring that the activities are planned efficiently and implemented in compliance with contract(s) signed with the donor(s);
• Undertake frequent field missions, ensuring that the project activities are effectively implemented in line with work plan requirements, and as described in the progress reports, in compliance with contract(s) signed with the donor(s);
• Report to the Area Director, in a timely manner, any discrepancy, challenge, or difficulty met during the planning and implementation of the activities, especially when it could affect the achievement of RET’s objectives.
• To coordinate activities of the administration and finance staff with the activities of the program staff / field staff, to ensure program implementation and administrative procedures are harmonized;
• To ensure strict adherence to effective and transparent use of financial resources in line with internal RET and donor policies and procedures;
• To monitor budget expenditures and disbursements, and review financial data before submission to HQ in Berlin, as well as provide quarterly projected expenditures;
• To gather and disseminate security information and implement appropriate security responses to crises, in collaboration with the established security systems;
• To perform other duties as assigned by the AD.
• Manage her/his subordinates, ensuring that a proper team spirit prevails

Secondary responsibilities

• To prepare a monthly SitRep and ensure the effective flow of information between operations in Niger and RET headquarters’ offices in Berlin;
• To enhance the visibility of the organisation;
• To organise field visits of RET Senior Management, donor visits, and occasional other visitors.

Key qualifications

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in agriculture or rural development, agribusiness management, international development or similar is required.
• 7+ years experience in designing, planning, implementing, supervising and reporting on food security and agricultural livelihoods in an NGO and/or development sector;
• Experience in managing consortium and/ or regional projects
• Proven experience in teaching farming/harvesting, food processing and post-harvest techniques on site .
• Experience in vocational technical training;
• Experience in integrated social cohesion programming ;
• Proven contextual understanding of best practices and principles related to livelihoods and food security.
• Proven experience in leading teams, particularly multicultural teams;
• Good understanding of the flexibility required to operate in fragile states and/or crisis situations;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Professional command of spoken and written English. French and German an asset

Employment Checks

• The employee is obliged to follow the rules and responsibilities of the Code of Conduct and PSEA Policy to create and maintain an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of the related arrangements.
• Where the employee develops concerns or suspicions regarding sexual abuse or exploitation by a fellow worker, whether in the same agency or not, he or she must report such concerns via established reporting mechanisms