CSSF Nigeria Stability Programme Lead, SEO at the British High Commission (BHC) Nigeria

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: CSSF Nigeria Stability Programme Lead, SEO (10/22 ABJ)

Location: Abuja
Job Category: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Job Subcategory: CSSF (Conflict, Stability and Security Fund)
Grade: Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Type of Position: Fixed Term
Duration of Post: 24 months
Start Date: 27 June 2022

Main Purpose of Job

• The Conflict, Security and Stability Fund (CSSF) Nigeria Team, British High Commission Abuja, is looking for a Programme Lead to guide delivery of a new CSSF Nigeria Stability Programme.  The CSSF is an FCDO managed global cross-HMG fund which brings together the UK’s contribution to stability, security and defence activities in countries at risk of instability.
• The CSSF Nigeria Stability Programme is a new two-year programme, totalling £2m split between ODA and non-ODA, supporting increased defence, police and security capacities, access to justice and advocacy through civil society organisations, and women’s meaningful participation in advocacy and decision making.
• The job holder will be responsible for oversight and delivery of the CSSF Nigeria Stability Programme, shaping the programme as it seeks to respond to deteriorating security, increasing violence in northwest Nigeria, and political, economic and social grievances which combine to put massive pressure on the Nigerian security forces and are resulting in a deterioration in the lives of millions of people living in affected areas.
• This is an challenging opportunity to shape and deliver a new programme in a rapidly changing context. The job holder will report to the Head of CSSF Nigeria, ensuring the programme is more than the sum of its parts. The successful applicant will be experienced in delivering programmes in fragile contexts and able to support in a challenging operating environment to ensure the CSSF is delivering impact and evolving in line with a shifting security context. The programme sits within a nine person core programme team based in BHC Abuja.

Roles and Responsibilities / What will the Jobholder be expected to Achieve?
The post-holder will be responsible and accountable for:

• Overseeing the delivery of the £2m CSSF Nigeria Stability Programme and acting as project SRO for one or more projects. Ensuring the programme fully reflects NSC strategic objectives and adapts to the rapidly changing conflict context on the ground, setting strategic direction for the programme and developing new projects;
• Reporting to the country board, supporting agenda setting and ensuring timely decision-making to enable programme delivery;
• Building CSSF relationships across WH targeting all departments (MOD, FCDO and NCA) to ensure the programme ties integrally into HMG thinking on Nigeria. Working closely with delivery partners (MOD, OCSM and external implementers) to ensure coherent, compliant and strategic programme delivery;
• Overseeing robust monitoring and evaluation of the programme, including coordinating quarterly reporting and the relevant annual review and contributing to risk management through a regular production of context analysis and support with monthly review and update of risk registers, in compliance with CSSF guidelines;
• Line management of HEO CSSF Programme Manager;
• Supporting wider HMG objectives in Nigeria including crisis management planning, relevant political reporting and senior/ministerial visits.  
• The postholder will need to build strong relationships with security and stabilisation institutions across Nigeria to understand the rapidly changing context and ensure our programming adapts to the situation and feeds into policy development. The postholder will be required to operate in an agile and innovative way with a strong emphasis on collaborating and partnering both within HMG and across the international community.  
• The postholder will be responsible for the compliancy and good governance of the programme, working to improve its conflict and gender sensitivity – including compliance with the International Development Gender Equality Act (2014), and supporting CSSF ambitions to achieve the UK’s Women, Peace and Security objectives".

Resources Managed (staff and expenditure):

• Staff – line management of HEO Programme Manager, Expenditure – oversight of £2m programme

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience  

• Qualification: A Bachelor’s Degree
• Experience developing, managing, and adapting programmes in fragile contexts
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and spotting new opportunities, with an appetite to work with others to simplify and improve processes
• Strong stakeholder management including across multiple locations, and experience working with governments, multilaterals, other development partners and civil society organisations.
• Experience in programme compliance including M&E and results frameworks, due diligence assessments, and risk management.

Desirable Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Conflict advisory experience / experience working on conflict and security
• Experience working in Central/West African countries.
• Ability to apply political and institutional analysis and use this to influence strategic planning and programming decisions.

Required Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving, Delivering at Pace, Working Together.

Other Benefits and Conditions of Eemployment  
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

There are a wealth of L&D opportunities available, including:

• Programme and financial management e.g. PRINCE II;
• Additional conflict, security, CSSF and stabilisation training; (i.e. gender sensitivity, conflict sensitivity, adaptive programming, security and justice programming);
• Additional formal development opportunities, including the Global Leadership Development programme and the Diplomatic Academy, as well as attending CSSF development conferences both in the region & globally.

Salary
NGN 1,266,591.88 monthly.

Application Closing Date
20th May, 2022.