Director of Programs at TechnoServe

Job Summary:

• The Director of Programs is a senior leadership role responsible for the overall performance and quality of TechnoServe’s program portfolio in Nigeria. Reporting to the Country Director, the Director of Programs will oversee all Project Leads and drive effective project implementation, strong operational and financial performance, and continuous capacity building of project teams.
• The Director of Programs will oversee a diverse portfolio spanning food fortification, plastics recycling, entrepreneurship, dairy development, and regenerative agriculture, with projects funded by partners including Nestlé, UNICEF, WFP, the Coca-Cola Foundation, and others.
• The Director of Programs will work with Project Leads to ensure that all projects are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and in line with donor requirements, organizational standards, and country strategy. The role works closely with technical, operations, finance, HR, MEL, gender and safeguarding, communications, and business development teams to ensure high-quality, compliant, and impactful programming.
• The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on program oversight and people development, ensuring that projects achieve intended impact, comply with donor and organizational requirements, and contribute meaningfully to TechnoServe’s mission of creating sustainable economic opportunity.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:
Program Leadership & Management

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across all projects in Nigeria, ensuring alignment with the country strategy and TechnoServe’s global priorities.
• Oversee project implementation from start-up to closeout, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to high technical standards.
• Monitor program performance against targets, proactively identifying risks or underperformance, supporting Project Leads to implement corrective actions.
• Support Project Leads to develop and maintain high-quality workplans, budgets, procurement plans, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) plans.
• Ensure compliance with donor requirements, contractual obligations, and TechnoServe policies and procedures.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of timely, accurate, and high-quality donor reports, in collaboration with Project Leads.
• Promote the integration of best practices across projects to maximize impact.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and synergies across projects and proactively manage portfolio-level performance.
• Establish governance, reporting, and coordination mechanisms
• Support sustainability planning, handover to partners, or transition to follow-on phases where applicable.

People Management

• Directly manage and mentor Project Leads, providing regular coaching, performance feedback, and professional development support.
• Build the leadership and managerial capacity of Project Leads.
• Support the recruitment and onboarding of Project Leads and other key project staff, in collaboration with HR teams.

Financial & Operational Management

• Support Project Leads to manage budgets proactively and address variances in a timely manner.
• Assist with annual and mid-year corporate budgeting processes.
• Develop and implement practical solutions to address operational bottlenecks and improve project delivery.
• Strengthen planning and coordination across projects.

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in international development, or a related field, with a minimum of 8 years of experience managing complex donor-funded programs. Or, a relevant bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 12 years of experience.
• At least 4 years of experience leading large scale implementations or program portfolio
• Experience managing and coaching director-level staff
• Significant operations experience, including budget development and management, and compliance.

Required Languages: Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills, including fluency in English.

Travel: Travel up to 50%

Direct reports: A mid-sized team of project leads

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in improving operational systems and processes.
• Experience successfully implementing gender-integrated programs is a plus.
• Experience in the private sector desirable

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong communications and interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to lead diverse teams and achieve results, as well as interacting effectively and collaboratively with a broad range of public and private sector counterparts and other key stakeholders.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines while managing multiple tasks and activities
• Ability to develop well written, cohesive analyses and reports
• Ability to use adaptive management principles to make strategic, data-driven decisions in the face of uncertainty and complexity.