Programme Manager, Just Economies at Oxfam

OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION

• The jobholder will work with the Programme team is to establish new partnerships and manage existing ones with relevant ministries and agencies of government, the private sector, regional, continental and international organizations relevant to the program objectives and to Oxfam’s Country Strategy. Also manage new and existing projects under the Just Economies Program pillar and will contribute substantially to developing and designing new initiatives including business development and fundraising activities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (Technical, Leadership, People and Resource management)

Strategic leadership:

• Develop and implement comprehensive sustainability strategies and action plans to reduce carbon footprint and promote eco-friendly practices.
• Provide strategic analysis and direction through high quality advice, analysis of food security trends, and synthesis of learning from external sources and our programs to help the organization make strategic programs, policy and campaign choices.
• Keep up to date with national and regional trends in the area of economic policies, resilient livelihoods, food security and agricultural value chain development to fully understand the context within which Oxfam operates (present and future).
• Support gathering and sharing of good practice within thematic groups that are integrating disaster risk reduction, social protection/safety nets and sustainable livelihoods approaches to work in areas of chronic poverty and inequality.
• Actively represent Oxfam in the Cadre Harmonize analysis, Food Security Cluster and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Federal Ministry of Environment policy engagement at the national level among others.
• Facilitate capacity strengthening for teams on conflict sensitivity programming.
• Facilitate learning and contribute to knowledge management across our program, Oxfam International, and with partners and external organizations.

Programme management and implementation:

• As a member of the Programme Management Team (PMT), contribute to overall development of longer-term strategy and management of the Oxfam programme in Nigeria
• Ensure all projects under the program pillar achieve their planned outcomes and provide support towards effective program implementation framework.
• Anticipate and pro-actively share information within Nigeria country program and project teams and ensure that team members are coordinating effectively over activity planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• Ensure adherence to Oxfam quality standards and integration of best practice in economic justice programme in close liaison with Oxfam technical advisers, finance, MEAL and other support staff.
• Ensure that program management information systems are integrated to relevant Oxfam platforms (database, website etc.), are maintained accurately and up to date.
• Ensure delivery of all project reports and donor reports to quality standards and within deadlines.
• Commission and supervise research or analysis to underpin programming and advocacy on every relevant thematic area under economic justice.
• Share information within region and to other Oxfam colleagues related to projects under the program pillar and contribute to advocacy activities in Nigeria and within the region.
• Facilitate the implementation of counter-fraud, anti-aid diversion and safeguarding recommendations for operational excellence.
• Ensure adequate complaint and response mechanism is in place and functioning

Partnership management and external relationships:

• Work with the Head of Programs to design Oxfam Nigeria Private Sector Engagement Strategy
• Scan the private and public sector, CSOs and INGOs for viable partnerships
• Build and manage relationships and partnerships with trade unions/associations, economic interest platforms, producer organizations, NGOs, research institutions, private sector and other key stakeholders in the real sectors of Nigeria.
• Provide and facilitate technical support, training and information to partners to enable them to effectively use Oxfam resources and best practices in project implementation
• Represent Oxfam in coordination meetings related to economic justice at the federal level and some external relationships with donors and other key stakeholders.

People management:

• Line manage project leads of projects under the Just Economies Program pillar across different locations in Nigeria.
• Develop arrangement for capacity and performance management for people working with her/him in line with Oxfam’s values, Oxfam Leadership Tool.
• Ensure that trainings on Oxfam Code of Conduct for staff and non-Oxfam staff involved in program implementation is implemented on regular basis.

Financial management:

• Ensure that budgets are drawn up for all projects, and that costs are kept within budgets, implement a monthly program budget monitoring (Budget Vs Actuals), quarterly analysis of trends and timely budget reallocation.
• Support project leads to developing supply plans and managing procurement in compliance with Oxfam’s and donor requirements

Fundraising:

• Constantly scanning the donor and private sector landscape for opportunities
• Prepare capacity statements, concept notes and project proposals ensuring they are aimed at achieving economic justice, resilient income and food security for small holder farmers especially women and youth
• Ensure that proposals developed for specific calls are in line with co-financing targets and priorities of the country program.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, mid-term and annual reports to be submitted to Oxfam and donors (existing and prospective).

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Education/Knowledge & Experience:

Education

• A master’s degree (or equivalent) in Economics, Development Studies, International Relations, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or a related field is required.
• Additional certification or training in programme management, advocacy and influencing, economic justice, or gender and development is an added advantage.  

Knowledge & Experience:

• At least five (5) years of experience providing technical advice on economic justice mainstreaming, with a proven track record in promoting economic justice across diverse thematic areas relevant to the Nigerian context. This includes urban and rural livelihoods development, employability and entrepreneurship capacity building, economic policy influencing, market systems strengthening, labour and workers’ rights advocacy, and private sector engagement.
• Experience working in a conflict or post conflict situation.
• Strong skills in economic policy, market systems development, entrepreneurship programming, and private sector engagement.
• Commitment to and knowledge of working with partner-led operational approaches, developing and supporting partner organizations to achieve direct impact and results relating to the programme objectives.
• High levels of strategic and people management skills, able to support and mentor teams in their professional and personal growth and use a variety of strategies and approaches to motivate teams.
• Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English, with high impact influencing and persuasive skills an able to represent Oxfam to donors and external institutions.
• Experience and ability to work well in, manage and lead large project teams and steer them to achieve and deliver results.
• Ability to work effectively with others persuading, influencing, negotiating and supporting, following as required in order to achieve targets.
• Ability to manage competing tasks; ability to prioritize and produce high level output consistently.
• Strong analytical skills and experience using a computerized information management system (Ms. Word, Excel etc.)
• Commitment to Oxfam’s overall aims and policies and experience of promoting women’s rights and the interests of marginalized people in all aspects of Oxfam’s work.
• Understanding of and commitment to Oxfam’s One Program Approach (linking humanitarian, development & influencing work).

Competencies:

• Influencing: To have the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders in a way that leads to increased impact for the organization, spot opportunities to influence effectively and where there are no opportunities, to have the ability to create them in a respectful and impactful manner.
• Relationship Building: To understand the importance of building relationships, within and outside the organization. To have the ability to engage with traditional and non-traditional stakeholders in ways that lead to increased impact for the organization.
• Humility: To put ‘we’ before ‘me’ and place an emphasis on the power of the collective, nurture the team and play to the strengths of each individual. To not be concerned with hierarchical power, and to engage with, trust and value the knowledge and expertise of others across all levels of the organization.