Associate Director at Results for Development (R4D)

Opportunity:

• R4D is seeking an Associate Director (AD) based in Abuja, Nigeria to support the execution of high-quality analytical and strategic work and management of the R4D Nigeria-based team and local partnerships.
• The AD will work with colleagues across a number of projects in the Nigeria country office, providing leadership, program management and technical input. In addition, the AD will contribute to the development and execution of the Nigeria country strategy, including office operations. The AD will have direct line management responsibility for three or more members of the country office team and interact with a diverse set of local, national and global stakeholders.
• This position will report to the Nigeria Country Director.

Responsibilities include:

Country Practice Strategy & Management (40%)

• Participates fully as a member of R4D by contributing, assisting, and participating in projects, activities, and initiatives as requested by management
• Lead elements of the Nigeria country strategy including periodic reviews and updates to ensure alignment with organizational priorities
• Effective management of office operations, coordination of team meetings and implementation of R4D’s organizational strategy
• Oversee a team of 8+ team members, and directly line manage / supervise some of these roles, providing coaching and direction to set goals, develop their skills, prioritize their work, deliver quality products and complete performance reviews.
• Contribute to the development of the Nigeria country portfolio, e.g. through production of thought leadership, development/improvement of Practice methods and tools, operational improvement initiatives and recruitment as required.
• Provide strategic leadership on the execution and continuous improvement of country office operations and finances, including ensuring compliance with Nigerian laws and R4D policies and procedures, managing program budget and ensuring sound fiscal management
• Manage the recruitment and onboarding of new staff upholding R4D’s diversity and equity values. Contribute to the continued evolution of a positive and collaborative team culture that affirms diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Identify and build relationships and business development opportunities to engage with funders and key stakeholders.
• Coordinate program creation and lead the development of funding proposals for business development opportunities.
• Represent the Nigeria country office and R4D at other meetings, conferences and events as required.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other R4D teams (principally in Health, Nutrition, Education, Innovation and Market Shaping) to ensure the integration and alignment of activities under R4D’s evolving strategy for the Nigeria country portfolio.
• Design, organize and participate in Nigeria country team events (e.g. Team Retreats) as required.
• Participate fully as a member of R4D by contributing, assisting and participating in projects, activities, and initiatives as requested by R4D management.

Project / program management (30%)

• Facilitate and support annual team planning and progress monitoring in line with R4D’s organizational and strategic priorities
• Independently lead significant components of large, complex programs and/or projects
• Establish clear strategic direction, governance structures and other supporting mechanisms for programs.
• Oversee the development of project work plans and ensure timely execution of activities, monitor and track results including proactively identifying programmatic risks and creatively managing problems that arise and anticipating ways to avoid them.
• Oversee process streamlining and efficiency improvement initiatives within the team and across workstreams and practice areas in line with organizational priorities and operational needs of the country office.
• Provide people and talent management by providing direction, input, and coaching to R4D Nigeria team members.
• Manage the development of funder reporting and effective coordination and tracking of outputs and deliverables across different workstreams.
• Oversee operational processes such as procurement, budgeting, resourcing and strategic communication.
• Oversee relevant budgets in close collaboration with Grants Management, Finance and Operations staff and ensure sound financial management.
• Lead internal evaluation of how work is progressing on programs / projects. Find appropriate ways to measure, demonstrate and communicate results. Identify programs that have not achieved intended results and seek lessons learned.

Technical input (20%)

• Serve as a technical resource on health systems, health financing, and health policy and other R4D practice areas.
• Contribute knowledge and expertise to all components of projects, especially when drawing insights from analyses and developing high quality and actionable government, donor, and partner-facing documents.
• Identify creative ways to expand R4D’s current work in Nigeria, in close coordination with relevant practice leads and R4D leadership
• Independently lead the production of technical / analytical products such as articles, reports, tools and frameworks including effectively structuring complex analytical problems and high-quality qualitative and quantitative analytics.
• Manage small teams to produce technical deliverables and provide direction on the content, structure, etc.
• Provide technical and quality review of project deliverables as required.
• Significantly contribute to the development of new knowledge and approaches within given project areas, and/or begin work in some new areas.

Partner engagement (10%)

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with a diverse range of project partners including funders and implementing partners at country and global levels.
• Create and deliver crisp, impactful content and effectively adapt it for presentation to relevant audiences.
• Present at external events as required.
• Plan and lead engaging and productive meetings and workshops with funders and partners

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Significant program leadership and management experience, expertise in global health and/or nutrition, strong communication, presentation and facilitation skills, and an ability to think strategically and entrepreneurially about R4D programs and portfolio development are required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an approachable management style are essential to the success of the individual in this role along with the ability to work collaboratively, build-relationships, understand the perspectives of all stakeholders, problem solve, and create/foster relationships and forge compromises.
• Experience working closely with the Nigerian government (federal and state level) and major international and local development partners is essential, and experience working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Service( FMOHSC) and its parastatal agencies (e.g. National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) or National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is particularly relevant.
• Relevant experience leading or directly supporting large-scale government-led reform, including designing operations and successfully implementing complex programs with multiple partners and work streams
• Relevant experience collaborating with local partners and facilitating organizational design and institutional capacity development
• Strong strategic thinking skills and an entrepreneurial approach
• Demonstrated track record of successfully creating and fostering partnerships and generating new business and thought leadership opportunities
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience leading the development of analytical products and ensuring high quality of all deliverables
• Exceptional facilitation, written and verbal communication skills; ability to prepare compelling presentations, written reports, and effectively present work/findings in international and country-level forums
• Ability to effectively set priorities and handle competing time and resource demands for self and others, with an ability to adapt and manage change processes

You’re a great fit if you are:

• A highly motivated individual with demonstrated people and project leadership abilities, experience in implementing complex public policy reforms in health and other development areas..
• A strong communicator with highly effective presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
• Able to demonstrate effectiveness in a highly collaborative environment, complementing strong leadership with the ability to build relationships, understanding the perspectives of all stakeholders, and solve problems in a structured and creative manner.
• Enthusiastic about working within a culturally diverse team.
• Collaborative, approachable, and invested in enabling a positive working environment

Ideal candidates will also possess:

• Undergraduate or Postgraduate degree in international development, public health, business administration, or related fields.
• A minimum of 9 years of experience with an emphasis on health systems strengthening (HSS), including health financing and health policy; experience in nutrition, governance and accountability and/or other relevant human development areas also highly desired.
• Demonstrated leadership showing strategic and structured thinking in designing and overseeing the execution of highly analytical projects across technical and operational aspects, leveraging findings to support action by decision-makers for ultimate impact.
• Track record of building trust, forging partnerships, and conducting advocacy across a wide variety of stakeholders in multicultural environments and across public and private sector actors.
• Strong writer and oral communicator who can lead the production of highly professional work products with demonstrated ability to develop and deliver compelling presentations.
• Experience managing teams across multiple work streams and with ambitious, yet sometimes ambiguous, mandates.
• Enthusiastic about supporting team members’ professional growth.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, open-structure, multicultural environment and effectively handle competing time and resource demands for self and others.
• Fluency in oral and written English, and able to communicate in indigenous any of the major Nigerian local languages.