Deputy Country Director at Evidence Action

Role Overview

The Deputy Country Director will serve as a key member of the country leadership team, supporting the Country Director in delivering Evidence Action's mission across Nigeria's multi-state portfolio. This role will deputize the CD in their absence and provide hands-on program management across program operations, team management, and stakeholder engagement.

The Deputy Country Director will be a systems thinker and people-centered leader who translates strategic vision into operational excellence. They will play an integral role in sustaining and expanding Evidence Action's programs while building the organizational capacity needed to achieve scale and impact. The Deputy Country Director will be based in Abuja and report directly to the Country Director.

Direct reports
 

• Zonal Managers
• Policy and Government Relations Senior Associate
• Nutrition Program Manager
• Associate Manager MLE-D (dotted line)
• Nutrition Associates
  
   

Responsibilities

Strategy and Operations
 

• Support the Country Director in developing and executing Nigeria's country strategy, annual plans, and program priorities
• Assume full country leadership responsibilities when deputizing for the Country Director during absences or transitions
• Translate high-level strategic objectives into operational plans with clear timelines, milestones, and accountabilities
• Identify and help resolve short-term and long-term programmatic and operational risks
• Ensure decision-making is grounded in program data, stakeholder insights, and alignment with global organizational priorities
• Support compliance with all in-country legal, regulatory, and organizational requirements
   

Program Performance
 

• Provide day-to-day oversight of program implementation across all active states, ensuring high-quality service delivery and adherence to evidence-based standards
• Work with the program leads to review monitoring and evaluation data, identify performance gaps, and implement corrective actions
• Coordinate closely with national, sub-national, and community-level government stakeholders to troubleshoot implementation challenges
• Champion cost-effectiveness principles and drive continuous improvement across all program areas
• Lead regular field visits to assess program execution, maintain community relationships, and identify opportunities for optimization
• Support the integration of new program initiatives and pilot interventions in coordination with global technical teams
   

Team Leadership and Culture
 

• Foster a high-performance team culture characterized by empowerment, accountability, and celebration of results
• Provide direct line management and mentorship to a subset of the country team
• Champion Evidence Action's values and ensure they are embedded into day-to-day team practices and behaviors
• Identify workforce gaps and collaborate with the People Lead on recruitment, onboarding, and talent development
• Promote a learning culture that encourages knowledge sharing, reflection, and use of evidence to improve practice
   

Resource and Financial Management
 

• Support the Country Director and Finance team in the annual budgeting process, ensuring alignment with strategic and programmatic priorities
• Lead or contribute to monthly Budget-vs-Actual analyses for key program areas, flagging variances and recommending adjustments
• Ensure appropriate business controls and financial accountability mechanisms are in place and adhered to by program teams
• Promote a culture of cost-consciousness and stewardship of donor resources across all teams
• Provide technical input for funding proposals, due diligence requests, and donor reporting as needed
   

Government and Stakeholder Engagement
 

• Represent Evidence Action in key government forums, technical working groups, and stakeholder engagements at national and state levels, including relevant ministries of health
• Support the Country Director in cultivating and maintaining strategic partnerships with government counterparts, implementing partners, and civil society organizations
• Contribute to the development and execution of Evidence Action's in-country partnership and advocacy strategy
• Identify and assess potential strategic partners for program co-implementation, learning exchange, or scale-up
   

New Program Development
 

• Provide operational and technical support for the testing, piloting, and scaling of new program initiatives in Nigeria
• Contribute to evidence synthesis and landscape analyses to identify high-potential new interventions within Evidence Action's Accelerator framework
• Engage with prospective donors and support the development of new funding proposals in collaboration with the Country Director and global teams
   

Key Competence
 

• Strategic thinking and operational execution
• People leadership and team development
• Program performance management and monitoring
• Financial stewardship and budget management
• Stakeholder and government relations
• Donor engagement and resource mobilization
• Risk identification and problem-solving
• Cross-cultural communication and collaboration

Requirements

• The ideal candidate will bring at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in program management within international development or public health, including at least 3 years in a senior leadership role
• Advanced degree in public health, health management, social sciences, development studies, or a related field
• Proven track record of managing complex, multi-site programs in Nigeria and/or Sub-Saharan Africa
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing, cross-functional teams
• Strong analytical skills with experience using data to drive program decisions and improve performance
• Experience managing donor-funded programs, including budgeting, financial oversight, and reporting (GiveWell, USAID, FCDO, Gates Foundation, or similar donors is an advantage)
• Excellent government relations and stakeholder engagement skills, including experience working with national and state-level ministries
• Comfortable operating in ambiguous and fast-paced environments with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Self-directed, detail-oriented, and intellectually curious, with a strong commitment to evidence-based practice
• Experience with neglected tropical diseases, nutrition, malaria, or WASH programming is highly desirable
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in Hausa, Yoruba, or other Nigerian languages is an asset