TITLE:   Executive Director, for Population Council-affiliated Incorporated Trustees (to be established), Nigeria 

REPORTING TO:   Chair, Affiliated Trustees 

LOCATION: Abuja, Nigeria 

ASSIGNMENT LENGTH:  Two years, renewable by mutual consent and availability of funding

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Population Council, Inc. (PC Inc.) is supporting the establishment and registration of an affiliated non-profit Incorporated Trustees (“Trust”) in Nigeria. We are seeking a visionary leader to serve as the Executive Director (ED) for the Trust based in Abuja, Nigeria. 

The ED will be responsible for setting the strategic goals and achieving the strategic direction of the Trust’s work in Nigeria. They will lead and manage external partner and stakeholder relations with government, donors, and national and international NGOs to identify research needs, promote utilization of research results, and fundraise. The ED will provide technical support and supervision to research initiatives and ensure the generation of high-quality evidence and use for program and policy change. The ED supervises projects and ensures project goals and milestones are met in accordance with project budgets and work plans. They oversee the preparation of the annual Program Plan Budget (PPB) and provide ongoing budget oversight and management of all Trust projects and grantees in coordination with the financial teams of PC Inc. and the Trust. The ED has the responsibility to ensure that the financial and administrative management of the Trust complies with local laws, budgetary allocations, donor requirements, the Nigeria Corporate Affairs Commission, and Federal Government of Nigeria laws and regulations. They provide guidance, supervision, capacity building, and leadership to staff and consultants and oversees recruitment and hiring, and performance management. The ED also serves as a Principal Investigator for selected studies coordinated out of the Abuja, Nigeria. 

The Population Council has been working in partnership with government, ministries, and community-based organizations in Nigeria since the 1960s. The Council established a country branch office in 2006 and has since expanded its research portfolio to address HIV and AIDS among key and vulnerable populations, maternal mortality and morbidity, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, new evidence for improving access to family planning and reproductive health services, and child marriage. The establishment of the Incorporated Trustees will further advance the mission of the Council through enhancing Nigerian individual and institutional research capacities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Office Leadership and Management (25%) 

1. Provide overall leadership to the Nigeria office under the guidance of the Trust’s Board of Trustees and direction of PC Inc. 

2. Establish and regularly update the country strategy to articulate needs and priorities of the country in alignment with the Population Council Inc.’s strategic priorities framework.

3. With guidance from the Trust’s Board of Trustees and in collaboration with PC Inc. And the Trust’s senior management team, develop and implement effective office systems and procedures.  

4. Supervises the Director of Finance and Administration, providing oversight of the Trust’s finance, office management and administration, and human resources, and supports the execution of policies and procedures in the Trust.

5. Develop the Trust plan and budget and provide ongoing budget oversight and management.

6. Provide guidance, supervision and leadership to staff and consultants, including recruiting and hiring, and performance management.

7. Contribute to talent search and development for the office.

8. Conduct regular risk and mitigation reviews and ensure that the office is appropriately managing risks.

9. Ensure that the office set-up and activities foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Technical/Research (25%)

1. Lead the development of a context-relevant research strategy in consultation with office technical staff and ensuring alignment with PC Inc.’s strategic plan and research agenda.

2. Provide research leadership to ensure high quality of research from conceptualization to implementation and maintain strong research partnerships and networks.

3. Publish research through high-impact peer-reviewed publications (refereed journals/books/ proceedings that have influence in the field).

4. Ensure quality, ethics, and program relevance in the design and implementation of research and other activities in Nigeria.

5. Mobilize and increase the capacities of the next generation of research talent in the Trust.

6. Cultivate and develop collaborative Trust efforts with PC Inc. staff in the Council’s International Programs division, Social and Behavioral Science Research division, and Center for Biomedical Research.

Business Development (40%)

1. Develop and lead the Trust’s country-wide strategy for business development. 

2. Establish and maintain partnerships for collaborative grants and activities.

3. Lead on raising funds and manage Trust fundraising efforts, including proposal development, quality assurance and donor stewardship and diversification.

Representation (10%)

1. Represent the Trust in all its activities in Nigeria. This includes interacting and developing relationships with major organizations, including donors, development partners, policymakers, collaborating agencies, NGOs and government and private sector institutions.

QUALIFICATIONS:

We understand that there are many paths to acquiring expertise and experience and strong candidates may not have every qualification listed here. We encourage applications from individuals with diverse and/or nontraditional backgrounds who bring passion, skills, and experience in many or most of these areas. 

The successful candidate must be legally eligible to work in Nigeria without sponsorship. We recognize that strong candidates may not have every qualification listed here, and encourage applications from individuals who bring passion, skills, and experience in many or most of these areas.

1. Doctoral degree in social science, medicine, public health, or related health and development field.

2. Minimum of 12 years' relevant postdoctoral professional research experience.

3. Proven ability and interest to manage and administer a country-level research program. This qualification involves experience in recruiting, monitoring, evaluating, and supervising staff; managing project resources; fundraising and donor reporting; as well as the ability to work well with all levels of national and international staff within a complex research and technical assistance organization.

4. In-depth, substantive knowledge of sexual reproductive health and rights, youth issues, humanitarian issues, education, and gender equality, as well as experience in research and its use.

5. Demonstrated ability and interest in fundraising and managing a sustainable research enterprise.

6. Display a high level of diplomatic and negotiation skills.

7. Understanding of government systems and Corporate Affairs Commission requirements and systems.

8. Awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.

9. Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment.

10. Excellent written and oral English communication skills.

11. Demonstrated ability to design, implement, analyze, publish, and disseminate research in developing countries.

12. Willingness to travel both domestically and internationally as required.

 

Application Deadline: May 30, 2024

When applying through the web portal, please attach a cover letter, CV, and one-page vision statement for the Trust in Word or PDF format.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Must be legally eligible to work in Nigeria without sponsorship. Salary offered will depend on knowledge, skills and experience. Excellent benefits package includes employer paid health insurance and life insurance, generous annual and sick leave; and paid parental leave among others. We strive to provide an environment of professional growth and development. 

Pending finalization of trustee registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Trust will be a nongovernmental organization (Incorporated Trustees) in Nigeria that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance between people and resources. PC Inc. conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research and helps build research capacities in developing countries. The Trust will be governed by a Board of Trustees composed of a majority of Nigerian citizens. We are seeking an individual to fill the position described. 

The Trust will provide equal opportunity; and not discriminate against any person regarding age, color, creed, disability, political belief, veteran status, religion, marital status, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Decisions on employment are based on an individual’s qualifications as related to the position for which they are being considered. We especially encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups in Nigeria: for example, people with disabilities, refugees, youth and those from communities with the most to gain from expanded access to sexual and reproductive health services and information and quality education. The Trust will be diverse and representative in the composition of its board and its staff, as well as in the nature and deployment of its activities.