Director, Programmes at MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices

MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices is a result-oriented social enterprise, which uses design thinking, strategic and innovative management systems, traditional and digital marketing techniques to provide reproductive and family health care services through multiple channels of service delivery and products distribution. MSIN’s goal is to meet the needs of underserved Nigerians and significantly improve access to a range of quality reproductive health services. MSIN is part of Marie Stopes International’s Global Partnership, which has operational presence in over 37 countries.

We are proud to have a national team of about 500 made up of young, professionals, vibrant, creative, innovative, dynamic, and upwardly mobile intrapreneurs. We have broad representation across workforce generations, with increasing rate of diversity, equality, and inclusion. Our team work daily, going beyond borders, to serve women, men, and adolescents in Nigeria.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Director, Programmes

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type:Full-time

The Role

• The Director, Programme is responsible for the successful management and delivery of MSI Nigeria projects and channels commitments.
• The successful candidate will work closely with channels, project teams and other units to achieve MSIN objectives.
• S/he is responsible for supporting the delivering of channel strategies and effective project management ensuring all project deliverables are met while keeping the expected standards for all channels in MSIN.
• She/he supports the Deputy Country Director in directing the programme activities of the organisation to ensure effective strategy implementation, continual improvement, and strengthening of MSIN’s service delivery channels and projects.
• These include Outreach, Public Sector Support (PSS), and the Marie Stopes Ladies (MS-Ladies) channel. S/he will support donor project implementation, relationship management, partnership management with external partner institutions, and internal teams to ensure alignment, shared understanding of country programme commitments, and coordination for efficient and flawless delivery on all programme commitments.
• He/she will ensure that project implementation at channel levels are approved, implemented, monitored, and reported in line with MSIN and donor policies while managing and supporting project managers to ensure project targets are achieved within budget and timeline.

Key Responsibilities
Funding, Grants and Project Management:

• With guidance from the Deputy Country Director, stay up to date on trends within the donor environment in Nigeria, sub-regional, and internationally while supporting diversified local and international fundraising initiatives to strengthen programme funding and sustainability.
• Work with project managers on reliable monthly project performance and tracking that informs risks and decisions.
• Work with project and grant managers on a monthly budget variance analysis that informs risks and decisions.
• Support in the coordination of good quality funding proposals and respond to call for proposal.
• Facilitate directly donor visits, donor meetings, and round table sessions.
• Ensure visibility and raise MSIN’s profile among key stakeholders, including donors, partners, by organising and attending meetings and maintaining professional relationships with strategically placed individuals within target institutions for overall programme operations success
• Build strong relationships with key policy makers and cooperating partners in order to influence policy change and MSIN’s strategic value.
• Monitor and report relevant international health and development policy developments towards informing MSIN’s perspective on health and approaches, including project proposal.

Channel Management and Support:

• Lead on channel growth, efficiency, and productivity.
• Work with channel leads to ensure that channel strategies are in place for all channels, monitored and implemented accordingly.
• Facilitate clear on-going analysis of the situation in which the channels perform and use results to inform management discussion and to evolve the business model needed.
• Identification of opportunities and threats for intervention given Nigeria’s context for FP and PAC across all channels.
• Active networking to identify allies and partners for increased impact
• Lead in monthly channel commentary and performance analysis across l channels and relevant indicators
• Provide management support and oversight to channel leads on channel strategies and ensure that these are implemented in line with the overall strategic focus of the country programme and aligning with global channel expectations.

Improvement of MSIN’s systems:

• Lead on or contribute to thedevelopment and improvement of tools, systems, techniques, resources, and strategies for identifying, tracking, and pursuing new business opportunities, developing proposals and budgets, managing institutional knowledge, represent MSIN on specific technical working groups and facilitate cross-departmental sharing and learning, including descriptions of MSI’s technical areas of expertise, country programme and/or programme write-ups, and development of graphics and presentations.

Policy and Government Relations and Engagement:

• Work with the Head, Policy and Government Engagement to develop and implement MSI’s policies and advocacy strategy at national and regional levels.
• Produce and disseminate policy briefs, advocacy toolkits, and position papers on reproductive health priorities.
• Advocate for policy reforms and increased public funding for reproductive health and family planning.
• Coordinate efforts towards strengthening relationships with parliamentarians, civil society, community leaders, donors, and private sector actors.
• Represent MSI in coalitions, technical working groups (TWGs), and reproductive health advocacy platforms at national and state levels
• Oversee the conduct of analysis of laws, policies, and regulations affecting SRHR, family planning, maternal health, and gender equity that align with the MSI’s mission.
• Work with other MSIN units to identify policy opportunities and threats affecting MSIN’s work and develop strategic responses.

Donor Mapping and communication:

• Work with the Business Development manager to manage donor mapping and steer prepositioning for funding opportunities.
• Contribute to donor discussions and communications with existing and new/potential donors, ensuring that MSI Nigeria is visible to donors.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of MSIN’s new business development goals and strategies.

Leadership:

• As a senior member of the MSIN team, the Director, Programme must demonstrate a strong commitment to MSIN’s mission and goals and encourage a similar commitment from all team members.
• Lead team members development and directly mentor/coach direct reports while taking keen interest in their wellbeing.
• Support the regional managers in the formation of effective partnerships within the development arena to increase the status and level of recognition for MSIN’s work and to influence policy, practice and grant making decisions of donors and the NGO sector in assigned region.
• Create and support opportunities to highlight MSIN policy messages and technical expertise to a wider audience through media channels and special events, linking with communications and clinical teams as required
• Work with the communication and marketing and the Programme Design and Development teams to quarterly take stock of the external environment to inform
• From time to time represent the organisation at meetings, workshops, press conferences, or other forums.
• MSIN’s external relations plans.

Qualification, Experience & Skills

• Master Degree degree in Management, Administration, Health Science, Social Science, or International Development Management;
• Over 10 years post NYSC experience in INGO managing, programmes, operations and field support
• Fluent in both oral and written English
• Significant experience in a senior management role of a medium to large organisation, with a proven track record of leading and motivating dynamic teams in developing countries
• Significant experience in managing donor -funded, health related projects, including technical and financial 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
• Excellent leadership skills: with the ability to motivate others to exceed expectations and to up skill other managers to reflect the same behaviours
• Conflict management, negotiation and resolution skills and experience
• 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
• Track record of delivering quality results and impact in previous roles
• Adaptable during times of change and ambiguity and able to quickly gain the cooperation of other departments and external parties.

Application Closing Date
3rd December, 2025.