Chief Operating Officer (COO) at TA Connect

• TAConnect seeks to strengthen its executive leadership structure by engaging a Chief Operating Officer (COO). The COO will serve as the Executive Director’s deputy, ensuring alignment of finance, operations, technical delivery, learning, and business development toward organizational excellence and donor compliance. The COO will provide strategic and operational leadership across core functions of the organization, ensure strong coordination and accountability across finance, administration, programs, research, and business development, drive organizational growth, sustainability, and efficiency in alignment with donor requirements, and serve as a bridge between executive leadership and operational teams to ensure smooth delivery of results.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Serve as deputy to the ED, providing high-level decision-making support.
• Translate organizational strategy into annual operational plans across all units.
• Ensure alignment of finance, technical, MERL, and BD strategies with overall organizational goals.
• Support Board reporting and governance functions.

Supervision & Cross-Departmental Integration

• Oversee DFAO: Ensure sound financial management, HR, procurement, contracts, and administration in line with donor and statutory requirements.
• Oversee TD: Provide direction for technical program design and delivery, ensuring innovation and quality.
• Oversee MERL: Guarantee high-quality evidence generation, data systems, and reporting for accountability and learning.
• Oversee BD: Drive resource mobilization, donor engagement, and proposal development.
• Oversee Subaward Team: Ensure partner selection, contracting, monitoring, and close-out are compliant with donor regulations and organizational policies.
• Facilitate coordination across teams to avoid silos and enhance efficiency.

Program, Operations & Subaward Management

• Ensure program implementation is well-supported by finance, admin, and logistics systems.
• Oversee the subaward management cycle (design, partner selection, contracting, monitoring, reporting, and close-out).
• Ensure subawardees receive adequate technical assistance and capacity strengthening.
• Strengthen subaward monitoring systems to ensure accountability and timely delivery of partner results.
• Lead organizational risk management and compliance efforts, including those related to subawards.
• Ensure timely and high-quality donor reporting, incorporating subawardee contributions.

Resource Mobilization & Growth

• Provide leadership in diversifying funding sources and strengthening sustainability.
• Align BD strategies with organizational strengths, technical capacity, and donor priorities.
• Leverage MERL evidence and subaward performance data to strengthen proposals and donor relations.

People & Culture

• Provide strategic direction on HR and organizational development, in collaboration with DFAO.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, inclusion, and staff well-being.
• Mentor senior managers and support succession planning.

Performance Management

• Management of the Integrated annual workplan and budget consolidating DFAO, TD, MERL, BD, and Subaward Team plans.
• Prepare Quarterly performance dashboards covering finance, programs, MERL, BD pipeline, and subawardee performance.
• Ensure the update and implementation of organizational policies and risk management framework, including the subaward management manual.
• Strengthened systems for cross-team collaboration and operational efficiency.
• Champion initiatives for increased funding opportunities, strong subaward performance, and improved donor satisfaction.

Job Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Business Administration, Management, Public Health, Finance, or related field.
• Minimum 12 years progressive leadership experience, with at least 5 years in senior management in NGOs, donor-funded programs, or international development.
• Strong knowledge of donor regulations (USAID/DoS, Gates Foundation, FCDO, etc.) and Nigerian regulatory environment.
• Proven expertise in organizational leadership across finance, programs, MERL, subawards, and business development.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams and drive institutional growth.
• Fluent in English, Hausa, (written and oral communication) and any other local language.
• Willingness to travel throughout Nigeria as necessary.