Our client, a public service institution, is looking for a Programme Manager (Programme Operations) who will be the operational backbone of the organization, responsible for ensuring the effective execution, tracking, and delivery of the organisation\'s entire portfolio of innovation programmes. With multiple concurrent programmes spanning ecosystem development, trade facilitation, policy implementation, and capacity building, this role serves as the \"control tower\" ensuring all initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and to the highest quality standards.
This role requires exceptional operational leadership, systems thinking, and the ability to drive execution across complex, multi-stakeholder programmes with nationwide reach. The Programme Manager establishes robust programme management frameworks, drives accountability across teams, and ensures seamless coordination that transforms the organization\'s strategic vision into measurable national impact.
This role is critical to achieving the organization\'s strategic objectives through operational excellence, proactive risk management, and systematic programme delivery that positions Nigeria as a continental innovation leader.
Responsibilities
Programme Portfolio Management
- Provide oversight over the organization\'s entire programme portfolio, overseeing all active initiatives across innovation ecosystem support, trade facilitation, policy implementation, and capacity building domains
- Establish and maintain standardised programme management frameworks, methodologies, and governance structures across all initiatives
- Ensure strategic alignment of all programmes with ministry directives, regulatory frameworks, national priorities, and the organization\'s strategic objectives
- Track programme milestones, deliverables, and critical path activities to ensure on-time delivery across all initiatives
- Conduct portfolio-level resource planning and allocation, optimising deployment across concurrent programmes
- Lead programme prioritisation exercises in line with the organization\'s strategic focus and budget constraints
- Provide real-time visibility into programme health through centralised tracking and reporting
Target: 95%+ on-time delivery rate across all programme milestones; 100% alignment with strategic priorities.
Cross-Programme Coordination & Integration
- Serve as the operational \"control tower\" for the organization, flagging early signs of delays, inactivity, bottlenecks, or team misalignment
- Coordinate dependencies and handoffs between programmes, ensuring smooth sequencing and integration of related activities
- Facilitate cross-programme knowledge sharing, resource coordination, and synergy identification
- Manage complex programme workstreams with multiple phases, components, and interdependencies
- Coordinate multi-partner programmes involving government agencies, development partners, state governments, and international stakeholders
- Ensure consistent approaches, quality standards, and operational practices across all programme delivery
Target: Significant reduction in coordination bottlenecks year-on-year; zero critical failures due to cross-programme dependencies.
Operational Excellence & Process Improvement
- Design, implement, and continuously improve operational systems, workflows, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all programme activities
- Apply and adapt relevant programme management methodologies (Agile, Lean, Waterfall, Design Thinking) to optimise programme execution
- Identify operational inefficiencies and implement solutions proactively, targeting measurable reductions in time spent on repetitive tasks
- Lead process automation and digital transformation of operational workflows using project management and collaboration tools
- Develop quality assurance frameworks, deliverable acceptance criteria, and programme checklists
- Conduct post-programme reviews, capturing lessons learned for organisational improvement
- Benchmark against best practices in programme delivery within government, development, and innovation sectors
Target: Process improvements implemented annually; reduced repetitive task time; 100% of programmes with documented SOPs.
Team Accountability & Performance Management
- Coordinate and document internal check-ins, weekly standups, and status reviews with clear action items and responsible persons
- Hold programme leads accountable for deliverables, timelines, and quality standards across all initiatives
- Establish clear accountability frameworks connecting individual contributions to the organization\'s organisational objectives and success metrics
- Manage escalation protocols and facilitate conflict resolution across programme teams
- Monitor team performance and capacity, flagging early signs of overload, inactivity, or misalignment
- Conduct regular performance reviews for programme leads, providing actionable feedback and development support
- Foster a culture of operational discipline, execution focus, and delivery excellence across the organisation
Target: High team adherence to escalation protocols; 100% of programme leads receiving regular reviews; 95%+ follow-up closure rate on action items.
Stakeholder Communication & Reporting
- Prepare regular executive status reports for leadership covering programme health, risks, and strategic recommendations
- Develop and maintain comprehensive programme dashboards, providing real-time visibility to all stakeholders
- Facilitate efficient communication across programme leads, partner organisations, and oversight bodies to minimise information silos
- Ensure consistent messaging and updates flow efficiently between all stakeholder levels
- Generate ad-hoc reports and briefings for leadership decision-making and external engagements
- Coordinate reporting to external partners, including development agencies, government ministries, and oversight bodies
Target: High stakeholder satisfaction with report usefulness; 100% on-time delivery of scheduled and partner reports.
Risk Management & Quality Assurance
- Develop and maintain risk registers for all active programmes with documented mitigation strategies
- Implement systematic early warning systems for delays, cost overruns, scope creep, and quality issues
- Log high-priority risks promptly upon identification with clear ownership and mitigation plans
- Execute mitigation plans with high success rates, tracking outcomes through regular audits
- Conduct regular quality reviews and programme audits
- Escalate risks, delays, or deviations from agreed plans to leadership with clear recommendations and options
- Lead programme contingency planning and crisis response when required
Target: 100% of high-priority risks logged promptly; high mitigation plan success rate; strong team adherence to escalation protocols.
Key Deliverables
Regular Reporting
- Regular executive status reports to leadership
- Weekly programme dashboards updated in project management tools
- Monthly operational efficiency and improvement reports
- Quarterly programme portfolio health assessments
- Regular reports to team leads and partners
- Annual operational excellence review
Programme Management Outputs
- Standardised programme management frameworks, templates, and toolkits for all programmes
- Risk registers and mitigation plans for all active programmes
- Resource allocation matrices and capacity planning documents
- Programme coordination schedules, Gantt charts, and milestone tracking systems
- Quality assurance checklists and deliverable acceptance criteria
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for core operational processes
- Cross-programme dependency maps and integration plans
Strategic Insights
- Analysis of programme delivery patterns and success factors
- Recommendations for operational capacity and capability enhancement
- Lessons learned, documentation, and organisational improvement plans
- Programme portfolio optimisation recommendations
- Benchmarking reports on operational best practices
Qualifications
- Bachelor\'s degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field; Master\'s degree or PMP/PRINCE2 certification strongly preferred
- 7–10 years of professional experience in programme management, operations, or project delivery roles
- Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programmes with multiple team members and concurrent projects
- Track record of implementing operational improvements and process optimisation at the organisational level
- Experience in fast-paced, mission-driven environments, preferably within innovation, government, international development, or consulting sectors
- Proven ability to establish programme management offices or operational excellence functions
- Experience working with development partners and government agencies is a strong advantage
- Familiarity with Nigerian government operations and reporting requirements preferred
- Expert proficiency in Monday.com, MS Project, and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint)
- Strong knowledge of programme management methodologies (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, Lean, Six Sigma)
- Advanced skills in dashboard development, data visualisation, and performance tracking
- Experience with workflow automation and process optimisation tools
- Proficiency in Slack and collaborative communication platforms
- Familiarity with managing government and development partner programme requirements
Must have skills
- Exceptional attention to detail with a systematic, structured approach to complex operations
- Outstanding organisational and time management capabilities, managing multiple concurrent programmes
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to drive accountability diplomatically across diverse teams
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for multi-stakeholder environments
- Proactive problem-solving with a focus on continuous improvement
- Ability to manage complexity and multiple priorities simultaneously without dropping balls
- High ownership mindset with a track record of delivering results independently
- Calm under pressure with effective crisis management capabilities
- Cultural sensitivity for coordinating programmes across diverse contexts and geographies
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