Director of Programs at Mercy Corps

The Position

The Director of Programs (DoP)role is an exciting opportunity to shape and lead our programs in-country. The DoP is a proven leader who is directly responsible for overseeing the programs’ portfolio in Nigeria. The role will ensure that adequate leadership is applied to the implementation of relevant, innovative, and adaptive programs. S/he will work closely with the Country Director (CD) to ensure effective donor engagement, new initiatives management, program coordination and technical support, as well as program quality and accountability in close collaboration with the operations, finance, and internal control teams. The position will be based in Abuja with frequent travel to field locations where Mercy Corps Nigeria works. The DoP should be able to lead program start-up, quality implementation, and program close-out in a complex and insecure environment.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

STRATEGY AND PLANNING

• Demonstrate visible leadership and adherence to Mercy Corps' core values, principles, and strategy.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to the country strategy.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcome.
• Provide leadership for the revision of a countrywide Annual Implementation Plan (AIP), annual Fiscal Year Plans, and development of sector strategies, working in close cooperation with the Country Director and Program Leads
• Maintain and lead operationalization of the donor engagement plan, ensuring that is up to date with donors' strategies for Nigeria, leverages on Mercy Corps' key competencies, and seeks synergies between donors' priorities and MC experience.
• Lead cross-portfolio strategic alignment, ensuring coherence between humanitarian, resilience, and market systems interventions, and drive long-term positioning with donors and government stakeholders.
• Ensure integration and linkages between field offices and programs/sectors.
• Ensure cross-program communication and learning; organize and facilitate country-level senior management meetings to create a platform for nationwide strategy, learning, and integration of programs
• Sit and actively engage in country-level SMT/IMT.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Ensure program implementation is on time, on target, and on budget, using effective M&E systems to demonstrate the desired
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities, authorities, and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps' program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards, and vision.
• Provide leadership and direction to the Nigeria program staff and support the Country Director to strengthen program strategies, program quality, partnerships, and accountability in accordance with Mercy Corps and donor policies.
• Manage and maintain ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations, focusing on the integration of programs.
• Ensure that regular monitoring of project activities and project impact is undertaken, in accordance with existing Mercy Corps Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation guidelines.
• Oversee program quality frameworks, ensuring MEL, accountability, safeguarding, and learning systems are fully embedded across all programs.
• Oversee program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting, distribution processes, and capacity building of partners as
• Maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources and timely, accurate, and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures
• Support onboarding structures that include Adaptive Management, PM@MC, Community Mobilization and gender and protection sensitive programming.
• Promote adherence to Mercy Corps' standards, including the use of standardized indicators, M&E, and adaptive management approaches, and country-level learning and strategic objectives. Contribute to a culture of curiosity, high-quality program performance, and learning.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Build a cohesive team spirit and culture among staff and delegate functions and responsibilities to them while ensuring achievement of program objectives.
• Supervise, provide leadership, mentor, and build the capacity of senior program staff in program/project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and management that creates a working atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellence at all levels.
• Maintain effective and positive internal communication with Mercy Corps staff in all field This includes ensuring open and harmonious communication among all departments, offices, and programs.
• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles, and assist with career development.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making
• Foster cross-team collaboration, ensuring consistent communication across Abuja, Maiduguri, Katsina, and other field offices.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one-on-ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGY

• Lead the development and execution of the organization’s new business strategy.
• Identify, track, and prioritize new funding opportunities across donors, partners, and stakeholder networks.
• Conduct market and competitor assessments to position the organization for new programmatic areas and models.
• Maintain and manage a strong new business pipeline, forecasting upcoming opportunities.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with donors, government agencies, NGOs, and private-sector partners.
• Represent the organization in meetings, conferences, and donor forums to position programmatic strengths.
• Work closely with Programs, Finance, M&E, and Operations teams to strengthen internal readiness for new business opportunities.
• Oversee end-to-end proposal development, including concept notes, technical narratives, budgets, and log frames.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting on new business performance, pipeline updates, and proposal outcomes.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• With guidance from the Country Director, develop and maintain both internal and external relationships to ensure optimum program success, including Mercy Corps headquarters and regional offices and teams, international and local NGOs, government officials, donor community officials, diplomatic corps and embassies, private sector partners, vendors, media, and the public.
• Support the communications team to develop and maintain up-to-date MCN communication materials that will showcase our work, experience, and competencies

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Ensure compliance and transparent use of resources in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Monitor adherence to grant agreements, Mercy Corps' policies and procedures, and relevant external rules and regulations, including those of the Government of Nigeria.
• Effectively stay abreast of donor policies, procedures, rules, and regulations; compile and update applicable local policies; and train Mercy Corps program and partner staff in these
• As part of the senior management team, the DoP will work within operations systems for program impact, including finance, logistics, security, and
• Work with Program Heads on proper budget management, including forecasting and procurement planning.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION & TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

• Master’s degree in Management, International Development, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• 7-12+ years of progressively responsible experience with a minimum of 5 years in a senior management or coordination role within the development sector
• Experience managing development and humanitarian programs as well as transitional programs in insecure areas affected by conflict.
• Proven track record in successful proposal writing, program design, and budget.
• Experience managing programs in relevant technical area(s), including food security, economic development, gender, livelihoods, climate change, and financial services.
• Strong understanding of conflict-sensitive program mainstreaming, protection mainstreaming would be an advantage.
• Strong M&E skills with extensive field experience in developing practical, useful, timely monitoring systems, both at the program and country levels, that promote the use of data for adaptive management and learning.
• Knowledge of major donor requirements and compliance
• Strong management skills with a good understanding of relevant cross-cultural
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Solid knowledge of security protocols and the ability to work effectively in an insecure environment. Relevant work experience in Nigeria, and particularly prior experience with Mercy Corps, would be considered an asset.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and strategic-thinking skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and lead cross-functional teams under tight deadli