Country Director

Job Description

The Country Director (CD) will strategically lead the development and implementation of the mothers2mothers (m2m) programme in Nigeria with the support of a multi-disciplinary in-country team, ensuring alignment to the m2m strategic plan and organisational direction as well as country strategy. To ensure quality programming and organisational success, the CD will collaborate with and draw on resources from the Head Office departments of finance, human resources, programmes and technical support, communications, business development, operations, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). The CD will represent m2m in Nigeria and be responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with potential funders and key stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Health, to grow m2mâs presence in Nigeria. The position is expected to be based in Abuja, Nigeria, reporting to the Senior Portfolio Lead at m2mâs head office. 

Key Performance Areas:

Leadership and Management of m2m Nigeria:

Lead the development, implementation, and review of country strategy and operational plans, including country strategic priorities and annual workplan and budget, aligned to the organisationâs strategic plan.  Facilitate the employment, development, and performance management of in-country staff, improving organisational, team, and individual performance while promoting teamwork and the values, mission, vision and culture of m2m at all levels. Build, maintain and manage effective and efficient organisational operating systems to support programme service delivery such as finance, administration, IT, and HR. Ensure the sound development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of all country-level operating systems, policies and procedures. Ensure the effective use of financial resources at all levels (including the utilisation of budget tracking, expenditure analysis, and forecasting) to support programme service delivery, holding fiduciary responsibility for the m2m Nigeria entity. Manage m2m Nigeria senior management team, including senior individuals across programmes, finance, operations, and HR. 

Programme Delivery: 

Ensure all projects are implemented so that targets are reached and budgets are maintained. Lead and provide technical oversight to the design, implementation, monitoring, and expansion of m2m programme activities in Nigeria, including strategic innovations related to scaling up of geographical and technical scope, aligned to donor, MOH, and m2m priorities. Establish m2mâs programming in Nigeria, oversee quality implementation of existing programme services through programmatic assessment and evaluation. Ensure quality program implementation. Oversee monthly analysis of supportive supervision results and other technical assessments (internal BIO, CQI analysis); work with m2m Nigeria team to identify quality improvement priorities, capacity building and training needs, and develop capacity building and implementation plans to address gaps. Engage Head Office technical and M&E staff to provide technical oversight and guidance into project implementation. Conduct supportive supervision as required to monitor site-level service delivery; support site-level QI processes as needed.

Stakeholder Relations and Engagement:

Represent m2m with international, national, and state-level stakeholders, partners, government, and donors in promotion of the organisationâs strategic objectives.  Ensure active m2m involvement in key national processes, including technical working groups and key conferences and meetings. Conduct outreach to new donors and participate introductory calls and meetings to foster relationships, build partnerships, and generate financial commitments. Provide country intelligence and insight to Global Resource Mobilisation (GRM) team to inform planning and proposal development led by GRM on an ad hoc basis and through regular calls with fundraising teams. Manage and continually add to the Country Sustainability and Expansion Plan (CSEP). Foster close working relationships with MOH and partner organisations to ensure harmonised efforts and coordination of project activities. Manage relationships with donors and serve as the liaison to senior leaders in partner organisations.

Business Development and Resource Mobilisation: 

Participate in all business development efforts, including identifying opportunities, designing interventions, creating bid teams, reviewing narratives and budgets, and serving as key personnel. Write m2m proposal components, as needed. Represent m2m at in-person or virtual meetings on new bids and opportunities. Identify and suggest business development opportunities. Create workplans, logic models, and m2mâs internal âDesign Mattersâ template for all proposals being developed. Support Finance Business Partner, Pricing Analysis, and Country Finance Manager in budget development for all bids. Ensure harmonisation of existing awards and new awards, both programmatically and operationally.

Compliance:

Ensure the timely submission of high-quality donor reports, record-keeping, and compliance to all relevant donor requirements. Hold responsibility for corporate governance for m2m Nigeria, ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.