Programme Director at Marie Stopes Nigeria (MSN)

Marie Stopes Nigeria (MSN) is a results-orientated non-profit Social Enterprise, which uses modern management and marketing techniques to meet the needs of the underserved and dramatically improve access to high quality family planning and other reproductive health services in Nigeria. MSN is a member of Marie Stapes International's Global Partnership, which operates in over 42 countries worldwide. MSN is funded by a mix of donors which includes Department for International Development (DFID). UNEPA, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Marie Stopes International (MSI), Association of Spouses of Heads of Mission (ASOHOM) amongst other donors.

MSN is currently engaged in creating and expanding access to reproductive health services to low income women and couples in Nigeria. Outlets for MSN services include an MSN owned static clinic, Social Franchised facilities and Outreach programs including training, coaching and mentoring of public sector providers in 8 States. With new funding, MSN is expanding it's programme and now establishing integrated regional hubs to support and serve field operations, coordination and management of teams to achieve improved efficiency and effectiveness.

The core responsibility of these positions is to use your: Initiative; energy persistence results orientation; drives integrity; enthusiasm; commitment to personal development. To further MSI's partnership mission of: empowering individuals to have children by choice not chance.

Marie Stopes Nigeria (MSN) is seeking to recruit:

Job Title: Programme Director

Location: Abuja - Nigeria
Reporting to: Deputy Country Director
Duration of contract: 2 years
Probationary period: 6 months

Job Description
As a result of rapid growth over the last two years, MSN is restructuring its senior management team. The Programme Director role is a new senior management role that will enhance MSN’s success in fundraising, project management, and engagement with local and international external partners and stakeholders, The Programme Director will lead MSN’s project management, and monitoring and evaluation teams and will work closely with MSN’s clinical, operational and financial teams, as well as external stakeholders, to ensure that MSN continues to expand its delivery of high quality reproductive health services to under-served communities throughout Nigeria. He/she may serve as Chief of Party or Team Leader for specific projects.

Responsibilities

Leadership and External Relations

• Create and pursue opportunities to advance the mission and goals of MSN by developing productive mutually beneficial relationships with donors, development partners, the government and other stakeholders working in the area of Family Planning and Sexual, Reproductive Health (SRH).
• Develop opportunities for strategic alliances with the government, and other development partners to create an enabling environment for MSN to expand its reach and advance its mission.
• Support the Country Director and Deputy Country Director in fundraising for the expansion of the country programme including co-ordinating MSN’s fundraising strategy and annual plan, identifying new fundraising opportunities, and developing concept notes and proposals
• Lead the Programme Team by providing strategic guidance, building capacity, managing growth, and ensuring effective communication. As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) actively participate in SMT strategies to provide leadership, guidance and support to the organisation in pursuit of MSN’s mission and strategic objectives.

Technical Programme Design and Quality Assurance

• Ensure that projects are approved, implemented, monitored, evaluated and reported on in line with MSN and donor policies end systems. Manage and support programme managers to ensure project targets achieved within budget and timeline. Ensure effective project management and implementation - including project performance tracking against defined indicators, budget tracking and timely financial and narrative reporting
• Lead the co-ordination with operational/implementation teams by leading the development and monitoring of mutually agreed costed, timebound workplans; regularly monitoring project performance in relation to donor agreements. Determine technical support needs for projects and participate in recruitment of consultants and project staff to ensure timely completion of all donor deliverables
• Ensure clear, timely communication between all departments on all aspects project design, implementation and management Ensure clear timely communication with all relevant project related external stakeholders including donors, and implanting partners
• Ensure that all relevant team members are trained in all aspects of compliance with donor rules and regulations and related MSN standards and policies

Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Support

• Oversee the M&E team, providing leadership and guidance to ensure that MSN team members have timely access to high quality data, Ensure regular tracking of operations to allow MSN to meet all internal and external reporting requirements. Ensure that all data is shared in a timely manner
• Provide leadership in the technical design and development of all research and monitoring and evaluation activities to support project design and reporting
• Ensure the impact of marketing and other communications activities on service uptake and client satisfaction is consistently and effectively assessed and shared to inform return – on - investment and other strategic decision making
• Ensure all appropriate ethical considerations and approvals are secured wherever required. Ensure that all data that is considered sensitive or confidential (such as client data) is properly secured and released in line with MSN policy on such data
• Lead the development and upgrade of MSN’s management information system (MIS) and M&E systems improve the quality and efficiency of data collection and analyses

Qualifications

• Post graduate degree in a related field
• Fluent in both oral and written English

Experience

• At least 5 years experience in a senior management role of a medium to large organization, with a proven track record of leading and motivating dynamic teams in developing countries
• At least 5 years experience in managing donor funded, health related projects, including technical and finance management and compliance (USAID, EC and DFID experience valued)
• Thorough understanding of health interventions and approaches in developing country setting
• Proven track record in external relations, fundraising and communication
• Sound knowledge of family planning, reproductive and maternal health an advantage

Skills and attitude

• Excellent leadership skills; with the ability to motivate others to exceed expectations and to up skill other manage to reflect the same behaviours
• Strong management skills; able to manage performance effectively and support others during times of change
• Ability to influence and communicate with stakeholders, both internal and external
• Strong analytical skills - the ability to accurately interpret data both financial and statistical and take relevant actions
• Adaptable during times of change and ambiguity and able to quickly gain the cooperation of other departments and external parties
• Demonstrates commitment to MSN’s mission, vision and values and ways of working

Application Closing Date
24th January, 2014

Method Of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their suitability statement and CV as a single document to: [email protected], quoting the position applied for as subject of the email, applications that do follow this format will not be considered