Country Director at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Deployment Scope and Responsibilities:
* The Nigeria Country Director (CD) will manage the team and will oversee the set up and implementation of the program in North East Nigeria - ECHO, OFDA and Gates Foundation.
* The CD is responsible for all programmatic and administrative activities in the IRC Nigeria office with the main focus on new business development, program design and support, partner development and representation. The CD will take a lead in mapping prospective programming and partnership opportunities, undertaking assessments, and proposal development.
* The CD will collaborate with internal IRC actors, donors, humanitarian (international and national) and state actors to prepare for IRC’s ex pansion in Nigeria.
* The CD will closely monitor the floods in Nigeria and keep DNCP informed of situation. When appropriate the CD will follow up with donors on funding opportunities for the flood and implement the flood contingency plan.
* The Nigeria CD will also oversee all operations, donor, registration and coordination functions associated with the IRC strengthening its operational presence in Nigeria.
The Nigeria CD will report to the Director of New Country Programs whilst deployed in Nigeria.

Specific Responsibilities:
* New Business Development
* Evaluate, pursue and develop funding opportunities with OFDA, EU, DFID, USAID, Gates and others.
* Identify potential consortium where IRC can contribute technical expertise;
* Oversee development of strategy and work plan for agreed priority sectors/projects, including (where appropriate) preparation for and response to specific funding o pportunities;
* Program Design and Support
* Ensure that current program implementation is qualitatively and timely achieving all indicators;
* Lead information and intelligence gathering, needs assessments, and network building with potential partners including alliances with contractors and private-public partnerships;
* Lead program design work in conjunction with program staff and Technical Unit input including budgeting, monitoring and evaluation;
* Ensure adequate capacity building of program staff as well as partner agencies in strengthening the quality of programming;
* Conduct monitoring visits to field locations;
* Provide support and direction to the development of the flood preparedness and response plan for a potential IRC program in flood affected states. Pursue funding opportunities and if necessary coordinate an emergency response team (potential team coming from EPRU) within Nigeria in collaborati on with the NCP Director;
* Operational
* Prepare and lead the expansion in Northern Nigeria.
* Oversee the establishment of the new office in Adamawa State and the implementation of IRC’s nutrition program.
* Assess safety and security implications for the IRC in working in the locations identified as part of the overall technical assessment, through collaboration with the West Africa Safety and Security Advisor. This is to be included in the above operational assessment report;
* Partner Development & Support
* Lead the selection of partners, assessment of their capacities and development of partner institutional capacity-building systems and tools through mentoring and providing structural sector-specific recommendations to the relevant program focal points;
* Strengthen program and support staff’s understanding of partnership principles, partner relationship management and mentoring;
* Communication & Reporting
* Ensure country office sectorial coordination by leading meetings among program and support staff as needed;
* Work with the partner to ensure that program activities are reported upon in a timely, accurate and well-presented manner, in compliance with IRC and/or donor requirements;
* Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders in Nigeria - including community leaders, NGOs, government ministries/authorities, UN agencies, to enhance cooperation and coordination;
* Represent IRC Nigeria in external coordination and policymaking forums and networks, including liaison with donors;
* Office Management
* Ensure that all IRC Nigeria policies, procedures and practices are in compliance with IRC, donor and national requirements;
* Ensure that finance and administration tasks are completed properly and are up-to-date;

Requirements
* University degree in related field or equivalent program management and development experience at senior level;
* Minimum 6 years of relevant experience;
* Ability to work highly independently;
* Proven abilities in all aspects of project design and implementation;
* Familiarity with US and European donors and their rules, requirements and guidelines;
* Proven experience in new business development;
* Experience of working with local stakeholders - demonstrated ability to collaborate with peer agencies, local government and community leaders to work effectively towards a common and agreed upon results;
* Demonstrable experience in capacity building of partners (civil society, public and/or private sectors);
* Experience living in a post-conflict and conflict environment;
* Excellent verbal and written English skills.

Other details:
* The position will be based in Abuja. This is an accompanied post.