Country Lead, Nigeria - Women's Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Dividend, Policy & Systems Programme at Palladium Group

Position Details


The Nigeria Country Lead (CL) will serve as the primary representative of the programme in-country and the principal relationship manager for engagement with FCDO Post and government. S/he will oversee the development and implementation of consecutive annual country workplans in alignment with FCDO in-country and government partners. Through their oversight of workplan TA activities and direct delivery, they will be responsible for the timely and high-quality achievement of deliverables, logframe targets, and institutionalisation and sustainability principles. They will likewise hold responsibility for financial management, including through the provision of high-quality inputs into forecasting, spend monitoring, and cost control measures. They will report directly to the Team Leader and work in close collaboration with other country CLs, P&S partners, and broader MEL, programme, and financial management colleagues. In this way, they form part of a unified, collaborative team that upholds the one-team approach across all WISH P&S countries.orm part of a unified, collaborative team that upholds the one-team approach across all WISH P&S countries.



Primary Roles And Responsibilities


In close consultation with government partners and FCDO in-country, design consecutive annual workplans (AWPs) based on problem-driven iterative adaptation principles; negotiate, revise, and finalise inputs to costed workplan activities/TAs following consultations.
Facilitate effective collaboration between FCDO, government stakeholders and technical partners, ensuring that TA remains government-aligned while also responding to FCDO strategic priorities and evidence needs. Ensure that each TA contributes to sustainable change beyond the life of individual assignments.
Provide technical and strategic leadership to translate AWPs into practice through the development of TA TORs, including articulating consultant requirements and institutionalisation and sustainability strategies. Ensure full review of TORs with FCDO post and government counterparts.
Provide end-to-end technical oversight of all agreed AWP TAs, including ensuring progress towards all deliverables and logframe milestones. This includes maintaining a technical and financial tracker for all country activities (to be shared with FCDO), overseeing/managing short-term consultants, quality assuring all deliverables, and generally maintaining the highest standard of technical delivery from TA start to finish.
Serve as the key liaison with FCDO post and national stakeholders, engaging each in the TA design, delivery, and closure process. This includes providing bi-weekly updates on AWP progress to FCDO and generally anticipating client needs, as well as carrying all government partners along the implementation process.
Proactively collaborate with the other CLs, the Operations Team, and consortium partners to ensure synergy, learning, and adaptation across the programme.
Represent WISH Dividend P&S at senior-level policy dialogues, donor coordination platforms and strategic forums, building trusted relationships with government officials, development partners and other key influencers.
Track and mitigate all risks with the potential to affect TA delivery; adapt plans based on contextual changes and escalate to Team Leader as needed.
Support the MEL, Knowledge Management, and Operations teams in any requisite data/information collection, technical and financial reporting, and identification of success stories.
Be responsible for financial management, including forecasting, spend monitoring, and cost control measures, and hold direct accountability for country-level budget development, forecasting, expenditure management, and delivery of value for money in line with FCDO requirements.


Required Experience & Skills


Significant demonstrated experience in the leadership and management of large, complex donor-funded programmes in Nigeria, with a preference for TA-based programmes in health (particularly with a demography focus), including for FCDO.
Proven technical knowledge and understanding of demography/DT and SRHR in Nigeria, including key policy and systems bottlenecks in these areas.
Proven understanding of donor compliance, reporting, and value for money requirements.
Demonstrated experience engaging effectively with senior government stakeholders, donors, and partners in Nigeria; strength of government relationships and network a key asset.
Strong track record of managing budgets and financial performance.
Experience managing and working with multidisciplinary teams and consortium arrangements.


Essential Competencies


Ability to analyse and navigate complex political, institutional and stakeholder dynamics, identify opportunities for influence, and provide credible strategic advice to government and donor stakeholders.
Strategic leadership: Ability to set direction, prioritise, and drive delivery in complex environments Programme management: Strong expertise in results-based management, adaptive programming, and risk management
Financial acumen: Ability to manage budgets, forecasts, and financial risks effectively Stakeholder engagement: Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with experience working at senior levels
Partnership management: Ability to build and manage effective partnerships across diverse stakeholders
Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including reporting to donors
Problem-solving and adaptability: Ability to navigate uncertainty and respond to changing contexts