Assistant Country Director (ACD) at CARE

Employee Duration: Active Full-Time
Type of Post: Accompanied - Limited
Funding: Approved

Job Description

• CARE is seeking an Assistant Country Director (ACD) who will be responsible for ensuring that CARE's programs in Nigeria contribute to CARE's vision, mission, and programmatic principles.
• S/He is expected to provide strategic leadership in the areas of program development, implementation, quality programming, advocacy, and ensure that CARE's programs bring a significant contribution to reducing poverty and social injustice, and play a leading role in the formation of CARE Nigeria.
• The ACD will be responsible for leading CARE's contribution to a large-scale humanitarian response in the Northeast of Nigeria while building a program of long-term programming in Nigeria, addressing the underlying causes of poverty and social injustice, and aligned with global and regional strategies.
• He/she will build an innovative and dynamic program team capable of delivering impact at scale, providing thought leadership as well as operational excellence.  CARE's emergency response will be multi-sectoral and integrated, but with aspirations for leadership in Gender Based Violence (GBV) Protection and Sexual Reproduction and Maternal Health (SRMH).
• The ACD is fully responsible for the quality of CARE Nigeria’s programming, including compliance with established norms and standards of program excellence.
• The incumbent is expected to work in close collaboration with counterparts in financial management and administration to ensure efficient and compliant program operations.  
• In coordination with the Country Director, the ACD in Nigeria will be required to represent CARE at a wide range of sectoral and inter-organizational forums, providing proactive, consistent and principled leadership consistent with CARE's core values.
• The ACD is a key member of CARE Nigeria Country Management Team. S/He participates in developing partnerships and good relations with partners (Government of Nigeria, donors, INGOs) and will assume acting duties for the country director in his/her absence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the country office program development, develop new development and humanitarian response programs, and ensure they are well aligned with CARE's global program strategy.
• Ensure that CARE programs address the underlying causes of poverty and ensure alignment with the key strategic roles; incorporate gender, risk reduction, and environmental considerations.
• Lead and oversee CARE's proposal development and resource mobilization activities - starting with a sound go, no-go process, and duly consider appropriate partnerships.
• Coordinate program development activities closely with Program Support, Finance, and HR, ensuring CARE Nigeria has the capacity to deliver its program designs and have included an adequate budget to cover implementation, monitoring and evaluation costs.
• Oversee program implementation through regular field visits, supervision, and close coordination among program team members, participation in planning and monitoring activities.
• Working closely with the Program Quality and Learning Unit ensure that proper monitoring and evaluation systems are in place in all programs and that program lessons are being used to promote improved programming and learning.
• Ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems enhance accountability of COs vis-à-vis the communities with whom we work as well as other stakeholders (civil society, donors and government counterparts).
• Ensure donor and government reporting (narrative and financial) is done according to high-quality standards and in a timely manner.
• Working closely with the Program Quality and Learning Unit pro-actively use organizational M&E systems and processes (e.g. PIIRS, UBORA), emphasizing learning and knowledge sharing.
• Monitor projects deliverables and the changing humanitarian context in the country to ensure effective, quality projects deliverables and early response/advocacy to any changes in context.
• Oversee the regular revision and improvement of the Emergency Preparedness plan and ensure that disaster risk reduction/management is included in all programs.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree or equivalent in International Development or a relevant field;
• 8 years of progressive overseas experience in humanitarian and development programs;
• Substantial experience leading large and complex humanitarian and development programs;
• Demonstrated experience in emergency response management;
• Demonstrated experience in leading strategic and operational planning;
• Knowledge and experience of humanitarian and development policy and advocacy in complex settings;
• Track record of successful new business development;
• Extensive conceptual skills including development of program strategy;
• Demonstrated skills in program design (including proposal development), implementation and evaluation;
• Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills;
• Strong representation and negotiation skills;
• Demonstrated cross-cultural communication skills;
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English.