Our client, a public service institution, is looking for a Programme Manager (Trade) who will be responsible for driving digital trade facilitation, export promotion, and international market access initiatives that position Nigerian digital businesses for global competitiveness. This role leads transformative programmes designed to attract foreign investments, accelerate digital trade, facilitate cross-border commerce, and position Nigeria as a global technology leader contributing to national economic growth objectives.
This role leads initiatives including international trade missions, cross-border startup collaboration programmes, market access platforms, and trade agreement utilisation efforts. The Programme Manager ensures that Nigeria\'s digital innovators can successfully scale across borders, access international investment, and compete globally.
This role is critical to achieving the organization\'s objectives of increasing digital export revenue, facilitating significant startup funding, and helping Nigerian tech firms secure international contracts and market presence.
Responsibilities
Digital Trade Programme Design, Planning & Delivery
- Lead the end-to-end design, planning, and delivery of digital trade and export promotion programmes from conception through implementation and evaluation
- Develop programme frameworks covering key pillars of digital trade: policy and regulatory alignment, market access and global expansion, investment facilitation, capacity building, infrastructure support, and compliance readiness
- Design and implement operational systems that connect Nigerian digital businesses with trade facilitation resources, market intelligence, and export support services
- Coordinate with regulatory bodies, trade agencies, and government ministries to create structured support frameworks for technology exporters
- Manage programme communications, stakeholder enquiries, and beneficiary relationships
- Produce regular programme performance reports for leadership and partner organisations
- Ensure supported companies achieve international compliance standards and export readiness benchmarks
Target: 95%+ on-time programme delivery; significant tech firm engagement; high compliance readiness rates among beneficiaries.
International Market Access & Trade Mission Coordination
- Plan and execute international trade missions to priority markets across regions including North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa
- Coordinate Nigerian participation in major global technology and trade events, exhibitions, and conferences
- Develop and manage international market presence initiatives that provide Nigerian startups access to global funding, expertise, partnerships, and customers
- Lead cross-border collaboration programmes connecting Nigerian startups with counterparts in strategic partner countries for sectoral cooperation
- Develop market entry strategies and provide hands-on support for Nigerian tech companies pursuing international expansion
- Facilitate buyer-seller meetings, investor matchmaking, B2B networking, and deal-making at international events
- Build relationships with international tech hubs, accelerators, trade promotion agencies, and market access platforms
Target: Multiple trade missions executed annually; Nigerian tech firms supported in securing international contracts; strong presence at global tech events.
Digital Trade Strategy & Policy Advocacy
- Develop and implement comprehensive digital trade strategies aligned with national export promotion objectives and economic growth targets
- Provide evidence-based policy recommendations on digital trade facilitation, e-commerce regulations, data governance, and cross-border digital commerce
- Analyse and leverage regional and bilateral trade agreements to maximise digital trade opportunities for Nigerian businesses
- Design and deliver trade agreement sensitisation programmes, helping startups and digital enterprises understand and utilise available provisions
- Advocate for policies that reduce barriers to cross-border digital commerce including visa facilitation, foreign exchange access, and regulatory streamlining
- Coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies on trade facilitation initiatives benefiting technology exporters
- Represent the organization at national and international digital trade policy forums, working groups, and negotiations
- Monitor global digital trade trends, regulations, emerging market opportunities, and competitive positioning
Target: Contributions to trade policy initiatives annually; sensitisation programmes delivered; measurable increase in Nigerian digital exports.
Capacity Building & Export Readiness
- Design and deliver trade readiness training programmes, equipping entrepreneurs with essential knowledge for cross-border expansion
- Develop curricula covering international market entry, export compliance, legal considerations, cross-border payments, logistics, and international business development
- Create market intelligence resources including country guides, sector analyses, regulatory summaries, and opportunity assessments for priority markets
- Build internal and external capacity on digital trade regulations, trade agreement provisions, and international compliance requirements
- Coordinate learning exchanges, masterclasses, and peer learning with successful digital export companies and international trade experts
- Produce trade readiness toolkits, export guides, compliance checklists, and self-assessment resources
- Scale capacity building programmes nationwide through partnerships with training providers and development partners
Target: Hundreds of entrepreneurs trained annually; programmes scaled nationally; high participant satisfaction and export readiness improvement.
Partnership Development & Stakeholder Engagement
- Establish and maintain partnerships with international trade organisations, investment promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, and development partners
- Coordinate with Nigerian diplomatic missions globally to leverage trade promotion networks and commercial diplomacy channels
- Build relationships with counterpart agencies, trade desks, and innovation bodies in priority target markets
- Develop and advance bilateral and multilateral digital trade cooperation frameworks with strategic partner countries
- Coordinate with development partners on trade facilitation programme design, co-funding, and implementation
- Facilitate e-commerce ecosystem partnerships, strengthening Nigeria\'s digital commerce infrastructure, including logistics, payments, and platforms
- Represent the organization in trade partnership discussions, MOU negotiations, and joint initiative development
Target: Active trade partnerships established annually; bilateral cooperation frameworks formalised; strong partner satisfaction scores.
Investment Facilitation & Funding Access
- Facilitate startup access to international and domestic capital sources, including venture capital, angel investors, strategic investors, and institutional funders
- Design and implement programmes connecting startups with onshore and offshore funding opportunities
- Coordinate investor engagement activities, including pitch sessions, demo days, investor roadshows, and matchmaking events
- Build relationships with development finance institutions, export credit agencies, trade finance providers, and investment funds
- Track and report on investment facilitation outcomes and funding mobilised for Nigerian digital companies
- Convert investor interest generated through trade missions and international events into concrete investment deals
- Develop pipelines identifying and preparing high-potential startups for international investment readiness
Target: Significant startup funding facilitated; hundreds of startups connected with investors annually; investment outcomes tracked and reported.
Key Deliverables
Regular Reporting
- Weekly trade programme activity reports
- Monthly programme performance and market analysis
- Quarterly digital trade impact assessment
- Bi-annual trade mission outcome reports
- Annual digital trade and export report
- Partner and stakeholder engagement reports
Programme Outputs
- Trade programme operational plans and stakeholder engagement strategies
- Trade mission plans, execution reports, and follow-up tracking
- Export readiness programme curricula and training materials
- Market entry guides for priority target markets and regions
- Investor engagement strategies and matchmaking protocols
- Trade agreement sensitisation workshop materials
- Compliance readiness toolkits and assessment frameworks
Strategic Products
- Digital trade strategy and policy recommendations
- Market opportunity assessments for priority sectors and regions
- Trade agreement analysis and utilisation guides
- Competitive positioning analysis of Nigeria\'s digital trade landscape
- Trade barrier analysis and facilitation recommendations
- Bilateral and multilateral cooperation framework documents
- Investment facilitation pipeline reports
Qualifications
- Bachelor\'s degree in International Trade, Economics, Business, International Relations, or related field; Master\'s degree strongly preferred
- 7–10 years of professional experience in trade promotion, export development, investment facilitation, or international business roles
- Demonstrated experience supporting companies in international market access and expansion
- Track record of building trade partnerships, investment relationships, and stakeholder networks
- Experience executing trade missions, international exhibitions, and investor engagement programmes
- Experience working with trade agencies, investment promotion agencies, diplomatic missions, or development organisations
- Strong network within Nigeria\'s business community, investment circles, and international trade ecosystem
- Experience in digital economy, technology sector, fintech, or e-commerce strongly preferred
- Languages: English required; French advantageous for African markets; Arabic beneficial for Middle East engagement
- Deep understanding of international trade, export promotion, trade facilitation, and investment attraction
- Knowledge of the digital economy, e-commerce, fintech, and cross-border digital commerce
- Familiarity with trade agreements, particularly AfCFTA, and WTO digital trade frameworks
- Proficiency in Monday.com, Slack, and Microsoft Office Suite
- Experience with trade databases, market research tools, and investor management platforms
- Understanding of trade finance, cross-border payments, logistics, and customs procedures
- Knowledge of the Nigerian Startup Act and incentive provisions relevant to trade
Must have skills
- Strategic thinking with the ability to identify and pursue international market opportunities
- Exceptional relationship-building and diplomatic engagement skills across cultures
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills for high-level stakeholder engagement
- Strong analytical skills for market assessment, trade analysis, and investment tracking
- Cross-cultural competency for international stakeholder engagement (US, Europe, Middle East, Africa)
- Commercial acumen with an understanding of business development and deal facilitation
- Network builder with the ability to connect startups, investors, and market opportunities
- Event management skills for trade missions, exhibitions, and investor engagements
- Proactive problem-solver with entrepreneurial orientation
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