Program Manager, Elections at Yiaga Africa

Yiaga Africa is a non-profit civic hub of change-makers committed to promoting democratic governance, human rights, and civic engagement. Based in Abuja, Nigeria, Yiaga Africa conducts in-depth research, analyzes democratic and governance issues, develops practical solutions, and empowers citizens to drive change in their communities. The organization has a presence in all 36 states and 774 LGAs of Nigeria and implements innovative programs to promote active citizenship, protect human rights, and deepen democracy.

Yiaga Africa fosters a diverse, vibrant, and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from young women and persons with disabilities. All applications are treated with strict confidentiality. We do not tolerate any form of sexual exploitation, harassment, abuse, or discrimination. Selected candidates will undergo thorough background checks and training.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Manager, Elections

Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time

Description

• We are seeking a highly experienced and visionary Program Manager, Elections to lead its strategic initiatives and projects focused on electoral integrity, election observation, electoral reform, voter education, and democratic participation.
• This position offers an exciting opportunity to work on the frontlines of electoral strengthening and democratic development in Nigeria and across Africa.
• The successful candidate will possess deep knowledge of governance and political systems, exceptional program management skills, and the ability to drive impactful engagement with citizens, institutions, and policymakers.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and technical oversight for all election-related programs, including election observation, electoral reform advocacy, voter education, and election integrity initiatives.
• Lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of election projects to ensure alignment with organizational priorities, electoral timelines, and donor requirements.
• Design, manage, and oversee election observation methodologies, including the deployment and implementation of Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) to support credible, data-driven election assessments.
• Develop and manage project workplans, budgets, risk frameworks, and performance indicators for election programs.
• Supervise and mentor program staff and election field teams to ensure high-quality, timely, and compliant delivery of activities.
• Coordinate partnerships with electoral management bodies, government agencies, civil society organizations, observer groups, and development partners.
• Represent the organization in election stakeholder meetings, technical working groups, media engagements, and public forums.
• Oversee the production and dissemination of election-related research, observation reports, policy briefs, and technical publications.
• Support fundraising and sustainability efforts by contributing to proposal writing, donor engagement, and concept development for election-focused initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, donor regulations, and electoral observation standards in all program activities and reporting.
• Identify emerging electoral risks, trends, and innovations, and design adaptive program strategies to strengthen electoral integrity and democratic participation.

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced Degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Law, International Relations, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience working on democracy and governance issues, with at least 5 years in a managerial role.
• Experience managing multi-donor funded projects with demonstrated impact.
• Strong understanding of elections, legislative engagement, civic innovation, and/or digital democracy.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing teams and building partnerships.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and project management tools.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity and models the values of Yiaga Africa.
• Promotes the vision and mission of the organization.
• Embraces diversity and inclusion.

Functional Competencies:

• Strong understanding of Nigeria’s political and governance context.
• Excellent knowledge of global and regional democracy and governance trends.
• Ability to influence policy and facilitate multi-stakeholder engagements.

Managerial Competencies:

• Proven track record in managing people, budgets, and donor-funded projects.
• Strong analytical and strategic planning skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English. Proficiency in French and/or another Nigerian language is an advantage.

Application Closing Date
10th March, 2026.