Programme Manager at International Alert

International Alert is one of the world's leading peacebuilding  organisations, with over 30 years of experience supporting communities,  advising governments, organisations and companies on how to build  peace. Alert works with people in conflict-affected and threatened areas  to make a positive difference for peace; to improve the substance and  implementation of international policies relevant to peacebuilding; and to  strengthen the peacebuilding sector.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Manager

Location: Abuja

Job Purpose

• The Programme Manager is responsible for leading, coordinating, and supervising all activities under the Nigeria Country Programme.
• The role ensures that programmes are effectively implemented, meet organisational standards, are conflict-sensitive and inclusive, and contribute to International Alert’s mission in Nigeria.
• The Program Manager will provide leadership to project teams, strengthen partnerships, oversee monitoring and learning, and ensure compliance with organisational policies and donor requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities
Programme Oversight and Strategic Leadership:

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the Nigeria Country Programme, ensuring coherence across multiple projects and alignment with country strategy.
• Lead programme planning, ensuring objectives, outcomes, and activities are clearly defined, measurable, and achievable.
• Ensure integration of conflict sensitivity, Do No Harm, gender equality, social inclusion, and safeguarding into all programme interventions.
• Promote innovation and identify opportunities to strengthen programme impact and reach.
• Support adaptive management, ensuring the programme remains responsive to evolving conflict dynamics and community needs.

Staff Leadership and Capacity Management:

• Lead, mentor, and supervise programme staff, including Project Managers and field teams.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, provide coaching, and support professional development.
• Promote a positive, inclusive, and collaborative team culture.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL):

• Ensure the implementation of a robust MEAL framework across the Country Programme.
• Monitor progress against programme goals, indicators, and milestones, ensuring evidence-based decision-making.
• Support reflection, learning, and adaptive management processes.
• Oversee accountability to communities, ensuring feedback mechanisms are functional and used to inform programme adjustments.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with government authorities, civil society, community leaders, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Represent International Alert in coordination platforms, technical forums, and policy discussions.
• Ensure partnerships and collaborations enhance programme quality, sustainability, and local ownership.

Risk Management and Compliance:

• Identify and manage programme and operational risks, including security risks, reputational risks, and compliance issues.
• Ensure all programme activities comply with International Alert policies, safeguarding standards, and donor requirements.
• Oversee timely reporting and documentation of incidents, and develop mitigation measures as needed.

Financial Oversight:

• Oversee programme budgets and resource allocation, ensuring transparency and value for money.
• Support accurate forecasting, expenditure monitoring, and timely reporting.
• Collaborate with Finance teams to ensure compliance with organisational and donor financial standards.

Person Specification

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social or Management Sciences, International Development, or a related field; a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is an added advantage.
• Minimum of six (6) years’ progressive experience in Project/programme management, preferably in peacebuilding, governance, or development contexts  preferably in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
• Proven experience providing overall strategic leadership of a country or multi project programme, ensuring coherence across thematic areas and geographic locations.
• Demonstrated ability to translate organizational strategy into country programme priorities, annual plans and measurable results.
• Experience overseeing programme quality assurance, ensuring technical rigor, alignment with organisational approaches and adherence to international best practices.
• Strong track record of leading complex stakeholder coordination processes, including engagement with senior government officials, legislators, security actors, donors, UN agencies and civil society networks.
• Proven experience managing diverse budgets, overseeing financial performance, cost efficiency and value for money in collaboration with finance teams.
• Demonstrated experience in contract and partnership management, including oversight of sub grants, memoranda of understanding and consortium arrangements.
• Proven ability to ensure compliance with donor contractual obligations, organisational policies and statutory requirements, including audits and external reviews.
• Demonstrated experience in mainstreaming cross cutting priorities such as conflict sensitivity, Do No Harm, gender equality, disability inclusion, safeguarding and environmental sustainability.
• Experience in organisational representation and thought leadership, including participation in policy dialogues, coordination platforms and advocacy processes at state and national levels.
• Strong experience contributing to business development and resource mobilisation, including proposal development, donor engagement, partnership building and pipeline development.
• Experience leading learning agendas, commissioning research, and using evidence to inform adaptive programming and policy influence.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of Hausa or other relevant local languages is a strong advantage.

Essential Requirements (Skills):

• Strong strategic and systems thinking, with the ability to manage complexity, uncertainty and competing priorities.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, including coaching, mentoring, conflict management and team motivation.
• Advanced analytical and decision making skills, with the ability to interpret data, assess risk and guide strategic choices.
• High level of written, verbal and presentation skills, including communicating complex issues clearly to diverse audiences.
• Strong negotiation, diplomacy and influencing skills, particularly in sensitive political and conflict contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to lead adaptive management and change processes, responding effectively to shifting contexts and emerging risks.
• Strong planning, organisation and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple work streams simultaneously.
• High level of emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity, enabling effective work with diverse teams and communities.
• Commitment to accountability, transparency and ethical leadership, including safeguarding and duty of care responsibilities.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while maintaining strong collaboration across teams and functions.

Travel requirements:

• The role is based in Abuja, with regular field travel Nigeria and occasional International travel.

Application Closing Date
12th January 2026; 5:00pm.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Cover Letter outlining suitability for the role and current CV to: nigeria@international-alert.org using the job title as the subject of the mail.

Note: International Alert is committed to diversity, equality and inclusion and encourages applications from qualified women and candidates from diverse backgrounds.