Resident Program Director, Nigeria

Job Description

Job Summary

Every employee of IRI is responsible for carrying out the mission of IRI and demonstrating the Core Values in their day-to-day operations. The Core Values, which are IRI’s foundational building blocks include:

Excellence- We believe in quality results delivered by investing in people. Freedom- We believe in exploration and experimentation to be agile and responsive. Respect- We believe in trust, empathy and empowering people. Teamwork- We believe in diversity, inclusion and the power of global collaboration. Transparency- We believe in open communication and clear decision-making. Accountability- We believe in personal responsibility as the foundation of success.

The Resident Program Director (RPD) is responsible for all programmatic, personnel, outreach and accounting matters in Nigeria. In consultation with IRI/Washington, the RPD designs and implements a long-range strategy for IRI programs in Nigeria, manages budgets and is responsible for compliance with local laws and regulations governing current funding.

Position Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in political science, international relations, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of professional experience working in democracy and governance, working directly with election authorities, political parties, civil society organizations/NGOs, and marginalized groups, including youth, women, and PWDs.
• Record of political party capacity strengthening programming, including improving party structure, organization, platform and policy development, candidate training, campaign financing, constituency outreach, and inter-party dialogue and conflict resolution.
• Background in conflict mitigation programs, including civilian led security initiatives focused on women and youth inclusion.
• Experience implementing activities, including stakeholder dialogue between civil society, political parties, and government actors, that encourage competitive, representative, inclusive, and transparent political and electoral processes.
• Record of technical assistance and support to civil society through sub-grant management.
• Demonstrated experience working with civil society, assessing and enhancing organizational and advocacy capacity, mentoring, and coaching.
• Progressive experience managing complex donor-funded assistance projects, and familiarity with USG regulations and processes.
• Ability to establish strong working relationships with senior government officials, media, civil society, private sector leaders, international donors, and other stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of the politics, economics, history, and culture of Nigeria specifically and of West Africa more broadly.
• Strong written and oral communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated management experience including ability to motivate and manage staff.
• Financial management experience in developing and administering program budgets.
• Ability to prepare, present and negotiate complex and sensitive agreements and/or project proposals with bilateral/multi-lateral agencies and other donor communities.
• Ability to communicate skills and experience to others as a trainer, advisor, or technical consultant; sensitivity to working in advisory role with local organizations and governments.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team to coordinate and lead the efforts of other professionals to effectively meet program goals.
• Willingness to travel within Nigeria throughout the year.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

• Monitors, analyzes, and reports on political and related developments in Nigeria to provide regional and country analysis.
• Serves as the official senior IRI representative in Nigeria, developing credibility with and maintaining good relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including U.S. and foreign diplomats and donor agencies, host-country government representatives, and program partners.
• Participates in the substantive design of programs and contributes to the development of new program ideas.
• Oversees the implementation of all program activities ensuring consistency with grant work plans and objectives.
• Establishes, maintains, and develops productive working relationships with relevant stakeholders, consultants, field, and DC staff.
• Oversees all operations related to the IRI field presence and ensures IRI complies with local laws regarding IRI’s legal status in the country and employment of field staff.
• Supervises field staff, including participating in the hiring, professional development, and evaluation process for these staff. Sets specific goals and provides ongoing performance feedback.
• Mentors field staff in program development, finance, work plan development and presentation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, business development, and knowledge management.
• Maintains an understanding of donor and IRI policies and procedures related to grant compliance and oversight.
• Understands a grant’s substantive, financial and compliance requirements.
• Oversees the implementation of all program activities in Nigeria ensuring consistency with grant work plans and objectives, reporting weekly to DC.
• Monitors and approves field office budgets and expenses, in collaboration with DC program staff and the Regional Project Accountant, to ensure that expenditures remain within budget allocations.
• Monitors, analyzes, and reports to DC staff on political and economic developments, and media responses.
• Ensures adherence to monitoring and evaluation plans, including the monitoring of programs and evaluation/analysis of program results.
• Provides information and contributes to sections of quarterly, semi-annual, final, and other relevant reports for funders.
• Anticipates potential problems and trouble shoots project challenges and offers solutions and actively takes part to lead resolution of them with creative and immediate solutions.
• Leads business development efforts, including identifying and seeking out potential new or additional sources of funding with real-time costs estimates for proposal budgets, and/or the development of new program ideas, coordinating with DC staff.
• Actively supports IRI’s communication strategy including IRI’s branding and outreach plans on projects assigned, including drafts and updates program summaries and other outreach materials, drafts web stories, tweets, etc.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

About the Organization

IRI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to advancing freedom and democracy worldwide by helping political parties to become more issue-based and responsive, assisting citizens to participate in government planning, and working to increase the role of marginalized groups in the political process – including women and youth.