Head of Programmes & Influencing

ABOUT US

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty. This means that we tackle the inequality that keeps people poor. Together we save, protect and rebuild lives. When disaster strikes, we help people build better lives for themselves and for others. We take on issues like land rights, climate change and discrimination against women. And we won’t stop until every person on the planet can enjoy life free from poverty.

We are an international confederation of 22 organizations (affiliates) plus the Oxfam International Secretariat, all working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 77 countries. All our work is led by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality.

Oxfam Novib “Nigeria” is looking for HEAD OF PROGRAMMES & INFLUENCING

Duty station: “Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria”

Type of appointment: “Fixed-term Contract”

Contract duration: “12 months” (With Possibility of renewal depending on budget and performance)

Work schedule: “Full-time” (40 hours per week)

Reports to: “Country Director”

Salary & Scale: “Grade Level B2 – Annual Gross Salary (N23,387,510.00)

Start date: “July 1, 2025”

Deadline for applications: “June 13, 2025”

CONTEXT

The Head of Programmes & Influencing will significantly contribute to the development and implementation of impactful and influencing Programmes in Nigeria consistent with the Oxfam in Nigeria Country Strategy.

OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION

Lead the development of Oxfam in Nigeria Programme, including Humanitarian, and Influencing Strategy and ensure effective execution. Explore opportunities for regional and multi-country programmes, advocacy and campaigns engagement that add value to the achievement of the programme goals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (Technical, Leadership, Partner management, Reporting and Documentation)

Strategic Management and Transformational Leadership:

• Manage and coach the programme and project managers, ensuring a shared vision, teamwork, effective communication, active engagement, transparent and participatory and productive decision-making, and management approaches.
• Manage the design, development, planning, budgeting, and implementation and monitoring of the OCS.
• Provide leadership and management support to Oxfam in Nigeria programme and project teams, leading on development and implementation of annual programme planning and budgeting. Lead timely and qualified delivery of projects.
• Work with Programme and Project Managers to develop quality signature programmes and relevant projects.
• Assist the Country Director in ensuring awareness of and full compliance with Oxfam, donor and government requirements.
• Work with Country Human Resources Manager and Programme Managers to develop and implement effective ways in which staff performance is adequately managed.
• Ensure effective teamwork by enhancing co-operation with colleagues.
• Transform and motivate the Programme and Project Team through idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration.
• Encourage the Programme and Project Team to come up with new and unique ways to challenge the status quo to bring innovation in the programming.
• Set goals and incentives to push the Programme and Project Team to higher performance levels, while providing opportunities for personal and professional growth.
• Actively engage in promotion of success stories, which are collected through reliable M&E system.
• Ensure that gender, safeguarding and other transversal issues are mainstreamed in all programming.
• Promote equality of opportunity.

Policy and Influencing Functions:

• Overview the development and implementation of Oxfam in Nigeria’s national influencing strategy as part of Oxfam’s regional influencing strategy and considering the role of ECOWAS AID office.
• To ensure the development of highly influencing programmes in Nigeria for impact
• Ensure that global campaigns identified in the OI strategy to which Oxfam in Nigeria is committed to are well conceptualized and excellently executed considering the national context.
• Ensure that local campaigns undertaken by regional programmes, and at the national level are well conceptualized and excellently executed to achieve the desired outcomes.
• Support review of policy papers and develop policy positions to propose policy alternatives.
• Support the development of working relationships with government, international NGO and CSO networks to implement joint programmes to promote Oxfam’s advocacy objectives.
• Establish strong and constructive relationships with the House of parliament, at Federal and state level, Government ministries at Federal and State levels Oxfam’s promising practices and alternatives.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Support the Programme Quality & Innovation Manager to set up and manage Knowledge, monitoring, evaluation and learning with support from Programmes.
• Lead the Programme teams to ensure the proper implementation of the global M&E framework.
• Lead and support programme monitoring and evaluation.
• Ensure inbuilt M&E system in each project, which is responsive of the donor and Oxfam’s international requirements.
• To support build a knowledge management system for Nigeria
• Support organizational learning through dissemination of important lessons.

Resource Mobilization and Donors Reporting:

• In collaboration with the Country Director, the Business Development Advisor and with support from the regional and global fundraising team, ensure that Oxfam Programme:
• Has an ambitious yet realistic fundraising strategy.
• Enables the programme team to aggressively pursue and draw strategic donor contracts.
• Identifies and reaches out to new/potential donors including institutions, corporate, foundations and consortiums with other strategic national and international organizations for joint programming and fundraising.
• Prepare and submit quality and innovative programme concept notes, proposals and budgets to donors.
• Ensure that narrative and financial reports to donors are of quality and submitted on time (in collaboration with the Finance Manager and Project Managers).
• Interact with (potential) donors to raise new or extended programme funding.

Budget Management:

• Work closely with the Business Support Unit to support Oxfam in Nigeria programme teams, manage and monitor programme budgets ensuring value for money and ensuring that programme expenditure is within agreed budgets.
• Work closely with the Finance Team, lead regular budget variance analysis meetings ensuring that Oxfam procurement and other policies, procedures and control systems are followed, and that programme activities are implemented on time as agreed with donors.
• Ensure budget compliance and requirement of donors in the entire budget management cycle.
• Liaise with the Business services Manager and Business development Advisor to develop financial strategies, budgets and systems, which ensure optimum efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure cost effectiveness in reviewing and recommending proposals and budgets.
• Collaborate to develop strategies that safeguard the resources and assets of Oxfam in Nigeria

Representation and Networking

• Together with the Country Director develop an advocacy strategy that projects Oxfam’s multi-sectoral and coordinated impact on policies and practices.
• Work closely with the Country Director to develop a media strategy, represent in media as appropriate, create, communication tools and produce materials that allow visibility to Oxfam Nigeria programme.
• Ensure Oxfam participation at relevant fora such as sectoral working groups, conferences etc. to raise Oxfam’s profile; represent Oxfam in strategic external fora as appropriate and as delegated by the Country Director.

Partnership Development and management?

• To work with the CD, Managers to build strategic partnerships for Oxfam’s work in Nigeria

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Education/Knowledge & Experience:

• Someone with a passion for social and economic justice/equity, a strong professional qualification and background in international development, a strong background in non-profit management and a track record in strategic planning and leadership, program development and delivery, project management, program grant management, organizational development, policy research and analysis for campaigns, advocacy and influencing work.
• A master’s degree in a related field is required (development studies, social and/or public policy, non-profit management).

Knowledge & Experience:

• At least Ten (10) years of international development and human rights experience with considerable experience in public policy issues.
• Proven and strong experience on conducting effective advocacy and influencing demonstrated by examples of impact on significant policy change.
• An understanding of how to use policy analysis, research, lobbying, public campaigning, media, communications, and alliance-building to influence a political agenda.
• An understanding of Nigerian campaigns, movements, and civil society organizations
• Strong understanding of social justice, rights and globalization issues, and critical issues in development practice.
• Familiarity with the donors, development and human rights groups that focus on transparency and accountability of just economic justice public finance, extractive industries, and foreign aid.
• Proven progressive experience as a development professional in similar management and senior management roles.
• Demonstrated track records in driving change, and engendering high performing teams, with the ability to lead, motivate and develop others.
• Exceptional conceptual and strategic thinking skills and demonstrated experience in designing and leading strategic planning processes.
• Knowledge of key programme areas such as Economic Justice, Accountable Governance and Gender Justice with a sound understanding of integrated developmental issues and critical analysis of poverty.
• Knowledge of programming processes, systems and principles, and the ability to provide leadership and support to staff.
• Knowledge of logistics and other support areas including finance, grant management, and human resource management.
• Knowledge of effective participatory monitoring, evaluation and research systems and processes.
• Ability to provide leadership, communicate effectively and build high performance teams in support of achievement of organizational objectives.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues at long distances in a multicultural environment.
• Solid experience in resource mobilization with a variety of donors.
• Numeracy and the ability to interpret financial data in order to provide management support to budgetary processes, including planning, monitoring and reporting

WORKING AT OXFAM IN NIGERIA

• All our work is guided by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality.
• At Oxfam in Nigeria, we work according to the Feminist Principles - Oxfam Policy & Practice.
• Oxfam in Nigeria is based on the power of difference. That is why we aim to attract a diverse mix of talented people who share our standards, values and principles, and who are committed to prevent and eliminate any type of misconduct.
• We have an active policy against sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any form of abuse of power or lack of integrity and financial misconduct. This subject will be covered in our application and selection process.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Do you believe that this is the job you are looking for? Then we would love to meet you! Please send your resume and cover letter.

• Only applications received before the closing date “June 13, 2025” and submitted via our application portal will be considered.

• Oxfam in Nigeria is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

• At the time of a contract offer, it is necessary for Oxfam in Nigeria to request valid references. Our candidates will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including criminal records and terrorism, financial checks or integrity screenings/references.

• This job opening is posted internally and externally, simultaneously. Internal candidates are given preference if they are sufficiently qualified or can be obtained in short term. We believe it’s important in our organization that our employees are offered maximum opportunities for growth in new themes and competencies. Priority for internal candidates supports this.

• Oxfam in Nigeria reserves the right, to its sole discretion, not to make agreements regarding this job opening, make an agreement in a lower level, or make an agreement with an amended job description.

• Only applicants shortlisted for the post will be contacted.