Programme and Development Manager

About You

You are deeply committed to development and believe in the power of individuals to transform society. As an experienced change leader, you approach challenges with thoughtful reflection and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom in pursuit of solutions to Africa's development issues. Your tenacity allows you to remain motivated even when faced with clients who may not be incentivized to drive necessary changes. You possess the qualities of an adaptive leader, capable of conceptualizing and implementing solutions to enhance development outcomes.

Role Overview

This position involves managing multiple projects concurrently, ensuring all deadlines are met from inception to completion. The role also requires seamless coordination among various stakeholders, ranging from clients to field teams.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning and Design

Spearhead the design of programs addressing conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and community resilience.
Outline project scope, objectives, deliverables, and resource requirements with a conflict-sensitive approach.
Ensure project design aligns with donor priorities and broader peace and security goals.
Identify potential risks, particularly those related to political instability or community tensions, and develop mitigation strategies.

Project Management

Oversee the implementation of peace and development projects across multiple regions.
Monitor timelines, deliverables, and team outputs to maintain program quality.
Manage financial aspects of projects, ensuring transparency and compliance with regulations.
Foster productive relationships with partners, government entities, civil society organizations, traditional authorities, and international donors working in peace and security.
Provide operational and strategic guidance to cross-functional teams delivering projects in sensitive contexts.

Business Development

Seek out new business and partnership opportunities, especially in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and security sector reform.
Guide proposal development and contribute to expanding Nextier's conflict and development portfolio. Represent the firm at donor meetings, roundtables, and conferences on peace and security.
Collaborate with leadership to shape strategic priorities and position the firm as a trusted development partner.

Project Implementation

Ensure timely and conflict-sensitive execution of all program activities.
Supervise technical assistance, fieldwork coordination, and local partnerships to maximize impact in target regions.
Promote community-based peacebuilding initiatives, dialogue processes, and institutional strengthening.
Provide training and mentoring to project partners and staff on conflict sensitivity and adaptive management.
Guarantee that all implementation activities adhere to principles of "do no harm," inclusivity, and accountability to affected populations.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

Work with MEL teams to establish frameworks that capture both tangible and intangible peace outcomes.
Utilize real-time data to guide program adaptation in volatile or evolving political-security environments.
Assist in documenting lessons learned, particularly from innovative peacebuilding or violence prevention pilots.
Lead or contribute to internal and external reporting, including donor reports and policy briefs.

Role Requirements

Bachelor's degree in International Development, Peace and Conflict Studies, Public Policy, or a related field (Master's degree preferred)
Minimum of five years' experience managing donor-funded development or peacebuilding programs, preferably in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent certification.
In-depth understanding of Nigeria's security, conflict, and governance landscape.
Familiarity with adaptive program management and politically informed approaches.
Knowledge of donor requirements, particularly UK-FCDO, EU, or UN agencies.
Demonstrated track record in team leadership, partnership management, and risk mitigation in high-pressure environments.
Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and cross-cultural skills.
Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Trello, Asana, MS Project).