Our client, a public service institution, is looking for a Programme Manager (Strategy, Research and Analytics) who is responsible for driving evidence-based decision-making across the organization through rigorous research, comprehensive data analytics, and strategic intelligence. This role leads the development of the organization\'s ecosystem database, programme performance tracking systems, and research initiatives that inform programme design, policy advocacy, and strategic planning—directly supporting the vision of making Nigeria the foremost technology and innovation ecosystem in Africa.
This role ensures that the organization\'s interventions are grounded in robust evidence and aligned with national digital transformation priorities. The Programme Manager provides the analytical backbone that tracks progress toward the organization\'s strategic objectives, measures programme impact, and informs continuous improvement.
This role is critical to ensuring that the organization\'s agenda is shaped by world-class research, compelling evidence, and data-driven strategic foresight.
Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Policy Intelligence
- Lead the development and continuous refinement of the organization\'s strategic plan, ensuring alignment with national digital transformation priorities, ministry directives, and regulatory frameworks
- Conduct strategic analyses, including environmental scanning, competitive benchmarking against peer ecosystems, scenario planning, and strategic options development
- Develop policy briefs, position papers, and strategic recommendations on digital innovation, startup ecosystem development, indigenous technology promotion, and related policy areas
- Monitor implementation of relevant legislation, tracking incentive uptake, policy effectiveness, and regulatory impact across the innovation ecosystem
- Provide strategic intelligence on global digital innovation trends and translate insights into actionable recommendations for leadership
- Support the formulation and advocacy of innovation-friendly policies through evidence-based analysis and stakeholder engagement
- Coordinate annual strategy reviews, facilitate strategic planning sessions, and ensure organisational alignment with evolving priorities
Target: Annual strategic plan delivered with quarterly performance reviews; contributions to policy advocacy initiatives; strategic recommendations adopted by leadership.
Data Infrastructure & Digital Dashboard Management
- Design, develop, and maintain the organization\'s comprehensive database tracking ecosystem actors including startups, innovation hubs, investors, partners, and programme beneficiaries
- Build and maintain real-time digital dashboards tracking programme performance, ecosystem health indicators, and policy impact metrics
- Ensure data quality, integrity, and governance across all organisational data assets
- Develop automated data collection systems that reduce manual reporting burden and improve data accuracy
- Create visualisations and dashboards accessible to leadership, programme teams, partners, and external stakeholders
- Track key ecosystem metrics, including startup formation rates, funding flows, job creation, export growth, innovation outputs, and sector performance
- Support programme teams with analytics capabilities and reporting infrastructure
Target: Comprehensive ecosystem database maintained with high data accuracy; real-time dashboards operational; weekly leadership intelligence delivered.
Research Design & Implementation
- Develop and execute the organization\'s annual research agenda aligned with strategic priorities, programme needs, and knowledge gaps
- Design and implement primary research initiatives including ecosystem surveys, startup sentiment studies, policy impact assessments, sectoral analyses, and case studies
- Coordinate flagship research events and convenings bringing together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and ecosystem stakeholders
- Commission and manage research partnerships with Nigerian and international academic institutions, think tanks, and research organisations
- Produce research publications, working papers, and thought leadership content positioning the organization as a knowledge leader in innovation ecosystem development
- Ensure research quality through rigorous methodology design, ethics compliance, peer review, and quality assurance processes
- Translate research findings into accessible formats for diverse audiences, including policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and development partners
Target: Multiple research studies completed annually; knowledge products published; research events convened; research quality standards maintained.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)
- Design and implement comprehensive M&E frameworks for all the organization programmes, ensuring consistent outcome tracking and impact measurement
- Develop programme-specific indicators, data collection tools, and evaluation methodologies aligned with theories of change and logical frameworks
- Conduct programme evaluations including baseline studies, mid-term reviews, endline assessments, and impact evaluations
- Track organisational KPIs and success metrics, providing regular performance reporting to leadership
- Facilitate learning reviews and reflection sessions, ensuring organisational learning from programme implementation
- Create feedback loops, integrating evaluation findings into programme design, iteration, and improvement
- Report on organisational outcomes and impact on internal leadership, oversight bodies, and development partners
Target: 100% of programmes with M&E frameworks; regular performance reporting delivered; programme evaluations completed for flagship initiatives.
Performance Tracking & Benchmarking
- Track Nigeria\'s position on global innovation indices, economic complexity rankings, and regional digital economy benchmarks
- Monitor progress toward the organization\'s strategic targets and national digital transformation objectives
- Benchmark the organization programmes against international best practices and peer ecosystem interventions
- Track the digital industry\'s contribution to economic indicators, including GDP, employment, exports, and investment
- Assess innovation-driven enterprise growth rates, startup survival metrics, and ecosystem health indicators
- Produce benchmarking reports, competitive analyses, and positioning assessments, informing strategic decision-making
Target: Regular benchmarking reports delivered; global index tracking maintained; competitive positioning assessments produced.
Knowledge Management & Dissemination
- Develop and manage the organization\'s knowledge management system, institutional memory, and organisational learning infrastructure
- Organise knowledge sharing events, including research seminars, policy dialogues, ecosystem insights sessions, and stakeholder convenings
- Build partnerships with research institutions, think tanks, universities, and thought leadership platforms
- Ensure research and data insights inform programme design, policy advocacy, communications, and external engagement
- Produce annual reports, impact narratives, evidence briefs, and content for external stakeholder communications
- Support the organization communications and visibility efforts with data-driven content, success metrics, and evidence-based narratives
Target: Knowledge products published annually; knowledge events convened; research cited in external policy discussions and publications.
Key Deliverables
Regular Reporting
- Weekly leadership intelligence briefs on key metrics and ecosystem developments
- Monthly programme performance dashboards
- Quarterly strategic performance reviews and benchmarking updates
- Annual research and impact report
- Annual ecosystem state report
- Partner and stakeholder data reports
Data & Analytics Outputs
- Comprehensive ecosystem database (startups, hubs, investors, partners, beneficiaries)
- Real-time programme performance dashboards
- Policy implementation tracking reports
- Global innovation index and competitive positioning analysis
- Startup funding, job creation, and ecosystem health tracking
Research Products
- Annual research agenda and implementation plan
- Primary research studies (ecosystem surveys, policy assessments, sectoral analyses, case studies)
- Policy briefs and position papers
- Working papers and thought leadership publications
- Programme evaluation reports (baseline, mid-term, endline, impact)
Strategic Products
- Organisational strategic plan and updates
- Environmental scan and trend analysis reports
- Competitive benchmarking studies
- Theory of change and logical framework documentation
- M&E frameworks and indicator guides
Qualifications
- Master\'s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Data Science, Statistics, Development Studies, Innovation Studies, or related field; PhD preferred
- 7–10 years of professional experience in research, strategy, policy analysis, or analytics roles
- Demonstrated experience designing and implementing research studies with published outputs
- Track record of developing M&E frameworks and conducting programme evaluations
- Experience with strategic planning and organisational performance management
- Background in innovation ecosystems, technology policy, startup support, or digital economy preferred
- Experience working with government, international development organisations, or research institutions
- Familiarity with the Nigerian policy environment and digital economy landscape
- Advanced proficiency in data analysis and visualisation tools (Excel, Power BI, Tableau)
- Experience with statistical software (SPSS, Stata, R, or Python)
- Strong research methodology skills (qualitative and quantitative)
- Proficiency in Monday.com, Slack, and Microsoft Office Suite
- Knowledge of M&E frameworks, theories of change, and impact evaluation methodologies
- Familiarity with innovation indices, ecosystem metrics, and startup performance indicators
- Understanding of database management and data governance principles
Must have skills
- Strong written communication with the ability to translate complex data into clear narratives for diverse audiences
- Strategic mindset connecting research to organisational objectives and policy outcomes
- Intellectual curiosity and commitment to evidence-based practice
- Rigorous attention to detail and data quality
- Ability to manage multiple research streams and meet deadlines
- Collaborative approach to knowledge sharing and capacity building
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