Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University has been at the forefront of building the capacity of SMEs and providing them with a wide range of support services in Nigeria since 2003. Key programs are Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management (CEM) and Social Sector Management. More recently we have started sector focused programs (School Leadership Program-SLD and Health Management Program-HMP). EDC is responsible for building enterprise culture across Pan-Atlantic University where all 200-Level students start and operate an enterprise on Campus for one year.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Project Director
Location: Enterprise Development Centre, Lagos (with travel to field locations as required)
Contract Type: Fixed-term contract (5 years), renewable annually subject to satisfactory performance and continued project funding
Reporting To: EDC Director / Project Lead
Grade / Level: Senior Leadership
Project: NiWEMA Scale-Up Programme
Role Overview
The Project Director provides overall strategic and operational leadership for the NiWEMA Scale-Up Programme, bearing full accountability for the successful delivery of its commitment to reach 750,000 female-led micro and small enterprise participants and create 975,000 jobs over five years.
The programme operates across two delivery modalities, an LMS-based online cohort model (40% of participants) and physical training delivered by EDC and implementing partners (60% of participants) and engages participants both as individuals and through sector-based clusters in fashion, food, agriculture, and other industries.
The Project Director provides strategic leadership across all workstreams, manages funder and stakeholder relationships, and ensures programme quality, financial integrity, and impact at scale.
Key ResponsibilitiesProvide strategic direction and operational oversight for the full NiWEMA programme across both online and physical delivery modalities, ensuring workstreams are aligned and outcomes are being achieved.
Serve as the primary liaison with the funder, managing the relationship with professionalism, accountability, and transparency including all required reporting, budget conversations, and programme updates.
Lead and develop the NiWEMA project team including the Finance Director and all Lead roles, fostering a high-performing, gender-responsive, and values-driven team culture.
Oversee the development and execution of annual workplans, budgets, and monitoring frameworks across both delivery streams and both participation models (individual and cluster-based).
Manage the implementing partner network responsible for physical training delivery, ensuring partner performance, quality compliance, and contractual obligations are met.
Lead the development of a cluster engagement strategy that enables sector-based clusters in fashion, food, agriculture, and other sectors to participate effectively in the programme.
Oversee risk management across the programme, with particular attention to the risks inherent in large-scale field operations, implementing partner management, and community-based engagement.
Ensure full compliance with funder requirements, EDC policies, safeguarding standards, and all applicable Nigerian regulatory frameworks.
Champion gender equality, inclusion, and safeguarding principles throughout all aspects of programme design and delivery across both online and physical channels.
Represent NiWEMA at high-level external engagements, conferences, government forums, and sector events.
Lead programme learning and adaptation using data from both delivery streams to continuously improve the programme model over its five-year life.
Any other related task on the engagement.
Qualifications & Experience
Master’s Degree in Development Studies, Business Administration, Project Management, Social Sciences, or a related field.
Minimum of 15 years' progressive experience in programme or project leadership, with at least 5 years at senior management level.
Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, donor-funded programmes with both digital and field delivery components, preferably with a women's economic empowerment or enterprise development focus.
Proven experience managing implementing partner networks in a multi-state or national programme context.
Strong track record of funder relationship management and results-based reporting at scale.
Deep understanding of sector-based enterprise clusters and value chain dynamics in the Nigerian context.
PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification is an advantage.
Key Competencies:
Strategic leadership across complex, multi-modal programmes
Implementing partner and stakeholder management
Dual delivery model (online and physical) oversight
Results orientation and accountability at scale
Team leadership and people development
Gender-responsive leadership.
Application Closing Date28th August, 2026.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their CV and Cover Letter to [Email hidden - Login to reveal] using "Project Director" as the subject of the email.
