Head of Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) at British High Commission

Location: Abuja
Grade: D6 (L)
Type of Position: Fixed Term
Duration of Post: 6 months

Main Purpose of Job

• The job holder will oversee the delivery of a portfolio of Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) programmes contributing to the delivery of   the UK’s National Security Council’s Strategy for Nigeria which seeks a more stable, secure, prosperous and resilient Nigeria. The CSSF in Nigeria is worth about £20mn in FY 17/18, covering a range of security and stabilisation programmes; this budget is likely to rise in subsequent years. It is a very exciting and fast-paced role in an ever-changing context, and the UK has high ambitions for what we want to achieve through our CSSF programming to support Nigeria. Abuja is a large UK mission, with representation from a range of UK Ministries, and also has one of the Department for International Development’s (DFID) largest offices and programmes worldwide.
• The jobholder will operate with a high degree of autonomy, setting out complex programme decisions for senior management, including the High Commissioner.
• They will work very closely with the Nigeria Security and Justice Adviser, as well as with the rest of the Nigeria CSSF team and wider West Africa CSSF team, and will report to the Head of CSSF West Africa (also based in Abuja).
• They will need to actively manage significant networks of cross government stakeholders, both at post and in London,   including at senior levels, to ensure the Nigeria CSSF is delivering some great results, and fulfilling its obligations such as high quality reporting, good financial management and wider compliance.
• The role will oversee a range of CSSF programmes, including those being implemented by Ministry of Defence (MoD) and National Crime Agency (NCA), in collaboration with the Security and Justice Adviser, strengthening the strategic links between CSSF and other programming in Nigeria (most notably DFID which has one of its largest programmes in the world in Nigeria). They will also need to build strong and trusted relationships with Nigerian stakeholders, and other multilateral and bilateral partners, to ensure maximum coordination and effect from our programmes.
• They are responsible for ensuring that programme delivery is of the highest quality and able to stand up to internal and external enquiry including UK parliamentary committees, the Independent Commission on Aid Impact and media scrutiny.
• They will lead on programme monitoring and evaluation and ensure that the results and impact of programmes are well-communicated to various audiences.
• The jobholder will act as the official Secretariat of the Nigeria CSSF programme board, responsible for overseeing delivery of the CSSF in support of the Nigeria NSC Strategy. The Secretariat will set the agenda, develop briefing for members, work closely with the Chair of the board  (the High Commissioner) and Programme Senior Responsible Officers (SROs) to advise and report on and, where appropriate, challenge programmes that may not be performing as intended.

Roles and Responsibilities
The post-holder will be responsible for:

• Ensuring that programmes designed fully reflect NSC strategy objectives and shifting context in Nigeria, including leading the development of our high quality, politically-astute   and agile programming for the new financial year (starting 1 April 2018).
• Robust oversight of programme design, impact reporting and risk mitigation of the Nigeria CSSF, in a manner that is compliant with CSSF programme guidelines in terms of impact and Value for Money.
• Acting as the Secretariat to the programme board, working closely with the High Commissioner as Chair, developing regular briefing for members, and advising and reporting on programmes, in close collaboration with the Security and Justice Adviser. Also chairing the programme board working group to prepare for board   meetings.
• Playing a representational role outside of the High Commission, building strong relationships (in coordination with the Security and Justice   Adviser, DFID etc) with external partners to enable coherent programme delivery; including to unblock delivery issues, maintain a high level of buy-in for programmes and leveraging money from other donors into UK programmes.
• Overseeing robust monitoring and evaluation and communicating widely and regularly the achievements of the Nigeria CSSF back to London, as well as to Nigerian interlocutors and the donor community; clear and strategic reporting and advice to senior management including the Head of CSSF West Africa, programme board and ultimately the Director-level Whitehall Africa Group (WAG) in London.
• Building relationships with implementing partners, in partnership with programme SROs, and also building a strong network with FCO, DFID, NCA and MoD at post and in London.
• Working closely with the Security and Justice Adviser for Nigeria, ensure that analysis and policy advice on conflict, security and peace building issues in the region is fed into CSSF programme design/delivery, working with political and security teams at posts and other Ministries across the region and in London.
• Strengthening the strategic links between CSSF and other programming in Nigeria (most notably DFID which has one of its largest programmes in the world in Nigeria).
• Oversee programme compliance with best practice in programme, project, and financial management from within UK government and beyond, delivering through programme manager(s) and SROs.
• The job requires the post-holder to have substantial experience of programme management (preferably CSSF), monitoring and evaluation, and ideally experience of working on conflict and security issues.
• Given the content of the job and the fact that the post is only for 6 months, we would require the jobholder to have security clearance (at Official Sensitive level) from UK government already in order to take up the post. Knowledge of working with the MOD and   NCA would be advantageous.
• They need to have a keen eye for impact and risk.
• They will need to develop and maintain a wide range of contacts, including   Head of Mission, Defence Attachés, Policy leads in London and other senior officials across HMG, government interlocutors, key donors and implementers.
• They will need to be a confident and consultative manager, able to supervise  and motivate focal points across several government departments.

Essential Qualifications and Experience 

• UK official sensitive security clearance (given the content of the job and the fact that the post is only for 6 months, we would require the jobholder to have security clearance (at official sensitive level) from UK government already to be eligible to take up the post
• Programme management (preferably CSSF) experience
• Development experience.
• Programme and project management / delivery skills

Desirable Qualifications and Experience: 

• Conflict and gender sensitivity for CSSF; working with UK government; SAFE training (can be obtained prior to taking up post)

Required Competencies:

• Seeing the Big Picture, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering Value for Money, Delivering at Pace

Other benefits and conditions of Employment 
Learning and development opportunities:

• There is a lot of on-the-job support from the Joint Programme Hub and Stabilisation Unit, as well as plenty of CSSF-related training opportunities, including CSSF Project and Programme Management; M&E; PRINCE II; HMG Security and Justice training; Working with the military (MoD). There are also many wider FCO personal development opportunities including through the Diplomatic Academy.