Country Lead at the People Practice

The People Practice - Our client is a Knowledge Transfer Network that aims to strengthen a shared innovation ecosystem spanning South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and the UK. This is in line with the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) objectives by forging strategic partnerships amongst innovation stakeholders to enable more effective knowledge transfer and collaboration for stronger local innovation and business environments, helping to achieve long-term ambitions in job creation, inclusive growth and poverty reduction.

They are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Country Lead

Location: Lagos

Job Description

• Our client is looking to hire a Nigeria Country Lead who will lead the country team to ensure the successful and timely delivery of the company's activities in Nigeria to achieve their objectives and impacts.
• The Country Lead will also be responsible for country-level project KPIs, reporting and financial expenditure.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead the country team effectively in managing country-level delivery plan targeting new opportunities and high impact for the organisation in Nigeria.
• Work actively as part of the organisation's Management Team to develop a coherent project strategy and objectives, and taking the delivery responsibility in Nigeria against defined workplans, intervention mechanisms and outcomes.
• Identify and lead the high integrity and effective country-level stakeholder engagement and relationships, including with UK Government teams, Nigeria public sector agencies, businesses, funders, investors and other innovation stakeholders.
• Ensure efficient forward planning and budgeting of all activities to be undertaken in Nigeria and the timely identification of issues that are delaying or could delay project implementation, and develop solutions to address bottlenecks.
• Provide timely country-level quarterly and annual workplans and budgets to the organisation's Management Team.
• Co-develop and implement effective communication and growth plans for the company in Nigeria and across Africa.
• Travel regularly to engage with key stakeholders and partners in Nigeria, across the continent and in the UK as required.
• Track implementation of the organisation's Africa project logical framework outputs related to activities in Nigeria to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation.

Experience and Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Engineering, Science, Business or Policy, with a strong ability in written and verbal communication skills in English and local languages.
• Demonstrable experience in leading a team in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder programme environment across different sectors and international cultures.
• In-depth understanding of the Nigerian and international innovation landscape, ideally cross sectorial, with direct experience in innovation commercialisation, policy implementation, business growth and/or international development.
• Experience and aptitude in building effective engagements and maintaining trusted partnerships with business and public sector stakeholder at all levels, with a good professional profile and network.
• Ideally a Project Management qualification, with direct experience in the delivery major national or international programmes.
• Experience leading international donor funded programmes desired.

Skills and Competencies:

• A highly motivated, self-starting and results oriented individual with a strong desire to deliver socioeconomic impacts through equitable partnerships, innovation collaboration and social inclusion.
• Strong leadership capability with the ability to effectively lead and motivate a team working in a complex and challenging environment including the need to effectively balance short and long-term priorities.
• An effective communicator comfortable to engage at all levels in English and local languages.
• Ability to work autonomously and effectively as a team leader and equally as contributing team member when required.
• Highly numerate and analytical, with the ability to think strategically.
• Able to manage a team and external relationships effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness and ability to undertake regular domestic and international travel.
• High level of IT literacy and organisational skills.

Application Closing Date
15th May, 2022.