Head of Base at Terre des hommes (Tdh) - Nigeria

Terre des hommes (Tdh) is a Swiss-based humanitarian organization committed to improving the lives of children and youth. Operating in over 30 countries, Tdh focuses on child protection, access to justice, health, and humanitarian response, working closely with governments, communities, and local partners.
In Nigeria, Tdh works to strengthen systems in health, access to justice, and mobility through a systemic and community-centered approach. This includes strong engagement with cross-cutting themes such as gender, child protection, WASH, and digital innovation (ICT4D).
In 2025, Tdh will launch a new project in Benue State, focusing on improving access to justice and health services for women and girls who are survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). The project will be implemented in collaboration with local NGOs, community-based organizations, and government institutions such as the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and security and health authorities. The initial duration of the project is 18 months, with long-term engagement planned.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of Base

Location: Makurdi, Benue
Employment Type: Full-time

Overarching responsibilities
Main goals:
Under the Head of Delegation’s supervision and in close collaboration with support departments teams (Finance, HR, Logistics & Supply) as well as the Security & Access Manager, the Head of Base ensures the supervision of operations at the level of the area he/she is responsible for.

• He/she is responsible for staff management, finance and logistics, implementation of activities, programme development and reporting, and security.
• He/She sees to the proper implementation of operations in compliance with the Strategic Planning (SP) of the delegation’s operations in adherence to the general reference framework and the program approach.
• He/She works in direct collaboration with the Delegation personnel and interfaces directly with the Country Representative, as appropriate for programme strategy, reporting and administration.
• He/She ensures the implementation of the projects and monitors the progress according to pre-established indicators. He/She notifies the Head of Delegation if there is a need to implement corrective measures.
• He/She supervises all staff assigned to his geographical area.
• He/She feels accountable to the beneficiaries, collaborators and donors.
• In coordination with the Head of Delegation, He/she is responsible for the safety of Tdh teams under their responsibility and oversees the security rules and the area’s contingency plans.
• He/She ensures that their teams and partners have been instructed in the security policies and the general code of conduct and always conform to them.
• Through delegation from the Head of Delegation, He/she contributes to managing and assuming ultimate responsibility for all the mission’s risks and aspects of access.

Specific Responsibilities/Context of “tasks”:
More specifically, He/she has the following responsibilities:
Management:

• Supervises and supports Project Managers, Admin/Finance, and Logistics staff in Benue.
• Promotes sound management practices aligned with Tdh values.
• Ensures coordination and collaboration with key coordination team members.
• Maintains team cohesion and performance and resolves any management issues.
• Ensure a regular Operational strategy.
• Supervises and coordinates all projects implemented in Benue State in line with Tdh and donors’ standards.
• Follows the evolution of the humanitarian and political context of the area of operations and shares this information with the senior leadership
• Actively participates in identifying the needs and proposes adapted responses as part of the implementation of the country strategy in concert with the program team
• In concert with the program coordinators and experts and the project leaders, in collaboration with the support department and under the supervision of the Head of Delegation, recommends strategic and operational adjustments as needed.
• Programs implementation
• Ensures implementation of action plans and project coordination mechanisms, facilitates exchange and troubleshooting; follows up on Country Representative orientations.
• Ensures supervision and corrective measures as required to ensure quality and timely implementation.
• Participates in the development of relevant activities, including for monitoring and assessment, especially those involving government stakeholders or high-level participants.
• Leads and facilitates the risk analysis and management strategy for project implementation.
• Facilitates internal coordination and cross-departmental planning.
• Network with other NGOs and entities in the interest of information sharing and best practices and participate in national coordination structures as relevant to Benue.
• Supports proposal development and donor reporting when requested.
• Together with the Project Managers, ensures compliance with Tdh partnership standards, approaches and good practices, and contributes to the management of relationships with partners.

Human Resources:

• Supervises and oversees a diversified team, guaranteeing cohesion and good coordination between them for the successful execution of projects
• Supervises team structure and performance evaluations, supports staff development plans.
• Promotes and oversees compliance with local labor law and Tdh’s HR policies, in close collaboration with HR Coordinator and team.
• Contributes to recruitment and staff training planning.
• Fosters team motivation, cohesion, and conflict resolution when required, defines activity priorities and scheduling.
• Ensures the proper management of volunteers by the team under his/her responsibility.
• Ensures continuous monitoring and provides regular reporting on HR activities, costs, performance indicators

Logistics and Supply:

• Oversees the overall logistics operations of the base, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and donor requirements, in close collaboration with the Logistics Coordinator and team.
• Ensures proper planning and monitoring of transport, fleet management, and movement of goods and personnel.
• Supervises the maintenance, security, and optimal use of equipment, facilities, and premises. And monitor stock levels and distribution to project sites.
• Oversees stock management, including accurate tracking of inventory levels, proper storage conditions, and timely distribution to projects.
• Maintains an updated procurement plan in coordination with Project Managers and the Logistics/Supply team.
• Validates suppliers and service providers, ensuring quality and compliance with standards.
• Ensures continuous monitoring and provides regular reporting on logistics activities, costs, and performance indicators.

General Administration of Base:

• Ensures smooth day-to-day base operations and administrative systems.
• Supervises administrative staff and ensures proper document and records management.
• Ensures adherence to donor compliance and Tdh internal controls.
• Coordinates closely with finance and HR teams to align operational priorities.

Finance:

• Oversees the financial management of the base and project budgets.
• Ensures compliance with donor regulations and internal control systems.
• Monitors expenditures and financial risks; recommends corrective actions.
• Supports budget planning and financial analysis with project teams.
• Ensures accurate cash flow forecast for his/her area of intervention

Representation:

• Represents Tdh in coordination meetings with authorities, donors, and partners in Benue.
• Ensures information flow between the field and the coordination office.
• Supports visibility and positioning of Tdh in relevant state-level forums.
• Act as an ambassador for Tdh Nigeria, through conduct strictly adhering to Tdh’s values and highest ethical standards.

Safety, security and Access:

• Monitors security context and assesses risks across the area of operation (monthly drafting of sitrep).
• Leads risk preparedness (contingency planning, SOPs, training).
• Acts as the security focal point and ensures staff awareness and compliance.
• Reports incidents promptly and contributes to incident follow-up and documentation.
• Ensures all staff know and comply with security standards and procedures
• Ensures and leads the design and implementation of risk management strategies and risk mitigation measures.

Job Requirements/Required Conditions
Training /Qualifications

• A relevant bachelor's degree in fields such as Project Management, International Development, Humanitarian Assistance, or a related field.
• Professional certifications in project management, logistics, or humanitarian operations are an asset
• Strong knowledge of humanitarian principles, donor regulations, and compliance standards.

Professional Experience

• A minimum of 5 years in similar positions or in senior management experience in an NGO environment
• Experience directing and implementing protection programs, especially for GBV survivors and children
• Robust experience in program cycle management, including in emergencies
• Substantial experience and knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control and managing grants from major institutional donors
• Experience working with government agencies
• Strong experience in managing volatile security contexts
• Familiarity with supply chain management and administrative procedures in INGO setting in an NGO environment
• Experience directing and implementing protection programs, especially for GBV survivors and children
• Robust experience in program cycle management including in emergencies
• Substantial experience and knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control and managing grants from major institutional donors
• Experience working with government agencies
• Strong experience in managing volatile security contexts
• Familiarity with supply chain management and administrative procedures in INGO setting At least 3 years relevant experience as a legal assistant within organizations promoting and protecting children’s rights, women’s and girls’ rights, and protection against violence.

Skills:

• This function requires possession of fundamental personal, social and leadership skills (CPSLs), technical and methodological skills (CTMs) and Managerial and strategic skills (CMSs)
• In particular the following:
• Manages potentially volatile intervention areas
• Represents and explains the Tdh mission and projects
• Ethical and exemplary leadership (secure base), managerial excellence; inspires and motivates collaborators
• High-level team spirit, a strong ability to create cohesiveness
• Shows the way for their colleagues/collaborators
• Knows and applies policies for managing operational risks with the ability to explain them
• Fosters and supports the development of the skills of their team(s)
• Manages conflicts in his/her team
• Makes decisions that he/she is responsible for and owns them
• Develops and endorses the strategic plan, the guidelines and governance tools
• Defines policies, establishes budgets and sets the quality standards
• Analyzes program and context in a connected way
• A strong capacity to work under pressure
• Able to make decisions in the uncertainty of potentially high stakes
• Able to schedule and organize in a stressful environment
• Able to analyze, rank and summarize

As well as the following specific “trade” skills:

• Significant experience in designing and managing projects and implementing multi-sectorial operations
• Knowledge of humanitarian, practical and standard principles (Sphere)
• Experience in representation (donors, authorities, partners)
• Experience in supervising multicultural teams
• Similar experience in emergency contexts
• Strong organizational capacities, a capacity to operate autonomously, proactively and the strength of initiative, meets deadlines
• An analytical mind
• A results-driven mindset
• Good resistance to stress and an ability to work under pressure

Professional Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal communication and high emotional intelligence (active listening and diplomacy).
• Ability to operate in complex, politically sensitive, and insecure environments.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with government partners and CSOs.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.

Languages

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is mandatory.
• Knowledge of local languages in Benue (e.g., Tiv, Idoma, Igede, Hausa) is a strong asset.

IT know-how:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Others

• Fully comply with Tdh Code of Conduct and ensure Child Safeguarding Policy, PSEA are always upheld.
• Ensure adherence to Tdh standards and quality requirements in all the project activities.
• Adhere to and ensure the team under her/his responsibility follows Tdh administrative and logistical regulations and procedures.

Security:

• Comply with Tdh Security Regulations
• General Code of of Conduct and Tdh’s Risk Management Policies
• Commits to complying with the General Code of Conduct and systematically reports any breach of the Code through the Tdh warning procedure raises the awareness within the Foundation on violence and abuse and the rights that derive from them regarding children, community members and our own employees.
• Commits to complying with the Risk Management Policies, including Safeguard policies (the policy of Safeguarding Children, the Policy of Protecting against Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, the Guideline on Abusive Behavior at Work), the Safety/Security Policy and Anti-Fraud/Corruption Policies and the Prevention of Funding Criminal Activities.
• Commits to reducing the risk of abuse by developing an open and informed culture of management within the organization and in our work with children and the communities where we work.
• The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are not exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project's needs.

Application Closing Date
4th November, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note
Equal Opportunity Clause:

• Terre Des Hommes- Nigeria is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and celebrate the differences that make us unique. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Hiring Conditions:
Applications will be processed on a rolling basis.