Nigeria: Chief of Party

Company Profile

About Futures Group Futures Group, the global consulting firm, helps to protect and promote people’s well-being around the world. For 40 years, Futures Group has created lasting solutions to some of the most pressing public health challenges facing nations. We predict future health and development trends, uncover barriers to well-being, and forge on-the-ground partnerships to ensure lasting change.

About GRM International GRM International is a leading international development management company specializing in the provision of project design, management expertise and technical assistance to development projects for bilateral and multilateral funding agencies, governments and corporations. For more than 45 years, GRM has been bringing expertise in managing large-scale projects, and sourcing and managing high quality experts covering all disciplinary skills required to implement development projects.

About our Group of Companies GRM International, Futures Group, and the Effective Development Group are a group of companies with a joint focus on reaching people in need and creating better futures for our clients, communities and colleagues around the world. With more than 90 current projects operating in more than 85 countries, and $225 million in revenue, our combined group has a multisectoral focus, diverse technical offerings and a wide geographic reach. For more information, please visit www.futuresgroup.com, www.grminternational.com, and www.edgroup.com.au.

Position Summary

We are recruiting for a Chief of Party (COP) for an anticipated USAID funded civil society strengthening program in Nigeria. The program will strengthen civil society’s ability to influence the development and implementation of key democratic reforms at the national, state, and local levels and will work with the Government of Nigeria, USAID, civil society organizations (CSOs) and other local organizations and other donor agencies. The Chief of Party will have overall strategic, programmatic, financial, and management responsibility for the project. Working closely with and managing a core staff of technical and administrative program professionals, s/he will ensure that project objectives, outcomes, and deliverables are met and that financial, operational, and reporting requirements of the donor are adhered to. The COP will be the primary liaison with the client as well as with other donors, partners, and stakeholders, including the Nigerian Government.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure high-quality technical programming to support the project’s objectives while adhering to all quality and reporting requirements. • Participate in the technical and programmatic design of award and partner programs; represent GRM in negotiating with other donors and partners. • Manage all project planning responsibilities, including oversight of the production of required work plans, budgets, and regular reports. • Ensure compliance with home office and client requirements, policies and regulations; • Act as liaison to other relevant donors, local government, and local organizations. • Manage all local grant making mechanisms, ensuring compliance with USAID regulations and GRM policy; coordinate and/or conduct monitoring visits to grantee programs. • Provide training and mentoring to local partners to strengthen capacity for technical service delivery and compliance with USAID rules and regulations. • Directly supervise recruitment of local project staff in line with GRM HR policies and USAID regulations; Oversee the management and development of project office human resources.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field i.e. social sciences, law, development studies, etc. • Ten years demonstrated experience in the successful implementation of international development activities, with preference given to democracy and governance activities under a USG contract instrument—five years of which shall have been in senior program management including direct supervision of professional and support staff. • In-depth understanding of the role of civil society in development and experience in building capacity for civil society organizations and networks/coalition strengthening. • Prior experience in awarding and managing grants to local organizations to promote democracy and governance goals. • Must be tolerant, respectful and sensitive to Nigeria’s culture. • Specialized Knowledge/Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication • Proven experience navigating complex and high pressure operating environments; • Experience developing and managing multi-sectorial, multi-donor funded program portfolios preferred. • Nigeria experience highly desirable, Africa experience essential. • Demonstrated ability to establish and sustain interpersonal and professional relationships with different donors, civil society organizations and host country government counterparts. • Previous USAID project management experience strongly preferred • Nigerian nationals strongly encouraged to apply.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand or sit, and move about the facility

Work Environment

• Usual office working conditions free of disagreeable elements.

All applications for this position should be submitted online at www.futuresgroup.com via the Careers page. Futures Group provides equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status.