Deputy Country Director / Head of Programs at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) supports citizens’ rights to participate in free and fair elections. Our independent expertise strengthens electoral systems and builds local capacity to deliver sustainable solutions. Since 1987, IFES has worked in over 145 countries – from developing democracies, to mature democracies.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Deputy Country Director / Head of Programs

Location: Abuja

Primary Function / Purpose

• The DCD/HOP will serve as the Head of Programs, act as alter ego to the COP and serves as the principal point of contact in Nigeria for procedural and substantive matters in the absence of the COP.
• The DCOP will be responsible for the day-to-day technical activities and implementation of the activity.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance to election institutions in all aspects of the electoral process as identified and included in the program description.
• Develop and maintain constructive relationships with key interlocutors, including but not limited to the electoral commission, civil society, donors, as well as democracy and governance implementers.
• Oversee project operations, including work planning and implementation logistics, ensuring coordination among operations and program staff.
• Liaise with other election assistance implementers, and the donor and diplomatic community to coordinate activities and maximize the impact of collective technical assistance efforts.
• Produce high-level analyses and outputs, such as articles, briefings, programmatic reports on key electoral and policy issues in Nigeria.
• Ensure high-quality programmatic reporting, including quarterly and annual programmatic reports to the donor.
• Strategize and contribute to IFES Nigeria technical and programmatic assessments.
• Lead annual workplan development. Evaluate strategies and activities on an ongoing basis to ensure maximum impact, proactively identifying appropriate next steps.
• When called upon by Country Director, represent IFES at meetings and events, including conferences with stakeholders.
• In conjunction with IFES Nigeria staff, support the organization of workshops, trainings and meetings related to the electoral process in line with the overall framework of the SEAT project.
• Oversee human resources. Together with the Country Director, provide general supervision and mentoring of local field staff, including ensuring completion of annual performance appraisals, supporting staff development and other management issues.
• In coordination with IFES/HQ and Country Director, assist in the identification, recruitment, and hiring of in-country office staff, as well as local and international technical consultants.
• Collaborate closely with IFES staff and consultants to ensure IFES work is carried out in a timely, coordinated, and professional manner; and
• Other relevant tasks as requested by Country.

Position Scope:

• Manage and perform highly technical work requiring ingenuity and capacity to evaluate and respond to new and changing issues.?
• Support the Country Director in the technical implementation of IFES programming as it related to electoral technical assistance.
• Oversee varied activities and processes to support effective project implementation, reporting and compliance.

Decision Making / Problem Solving:

• Identify risk factors with potential to disrupt achievement of program/project goals. Analyze issues, problems or opportunities and propose appropriate courses of action, based on knowledge of professional principles and best practices.
• Participate in the development and implementation of strategies to track and mitigate risk and its potential impact.

Relationship:

• Maintain collaborative working relationship with senior-level stakeholders within and outside IFES to ensure timely and successful achievement of project goals and objectives.
• Represent IFES with external contacts at professional and government levels in the absence of the Country Director.

Supervision Exercised:

• Oversee program staff in country office as well as international and national electoral consultants and field experts in order to complete the project’s work plan and project monitoring and evaluation. 

Educational Qualification and Experience

• Master's Degree in relevant fields such as Social Sciences, Law, Development Studies,
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the successful implementation of international development activities in the democracy and elections sector.

Skills and Specifications:

• Extensive knowledge of all technical aspects of the electoral process.
• Demonstrated experience and exceptional training and facilitation skills; BRIDGE accreditation preferred.
• Exceptional communication skills with strong ability to deliberate complex political issues and build consensus.
• Extensive knowledge of the political environment and players in Nigeria.
• Ability to remain highly organized while handling multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
• Ability to initiate, conceptualize and complete complex tasks with limited supervision.
• Strong project management skills.
• Excellent writing and reporting skills.
• Willingness to adhere to all principles of confidentiality and impartiality.
• Previous experience working in international organizations and in a politically sensitive and challenging environment.
• Ability to show initiative and good judgment.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.