Signature Program Technical Lead at Heifer International

Our goal is to help families achieve living incomes, which will allow them to feed their families daily; educate all their children; and have proper housing, water, hygiene and other essential resources.

Job Type: Full Time
Qualification: BA/BSc/HND
Experience: 15 years
Location: Abuja
Job Field: Project Management.

The Signature Program Technical Lead – Nigeria will provide strategic leadership for country office Signature Programs. The role will be responsible for signature program design, and development. The role will lead the programs impact data analysis and interpretation, market systems and value chain development, and will lead the facilitation of access to innovative finance for smallholder farmers, and proposal writing, as well as program co-designing with our strategic partners.

The role will also be responsible for signature program implementation, donor reporting and field-level program management while ensuring the highest standards in compliance with obligations and results according to signed agreements. The role therefore enforces quality assurance with programs and is responsible for the quality and performance of work of all relevant Signature Program staff, sub-recipients, and sub-contract service providers. In addition, the role will build capacity/capability for signature programming in the country office.  

 The major focus of the role is to carefully guide the implementation of country-led Signature Programs, in line with project strategy, to achieve the Country’s objectives. The role will maintain focus on management, communication and strategy and drive towards sustainability that achieves scale, and permanent impact through long-term partnership.  

The Signature Program Technical Lead – Nigeria will report to the Country Director but will work collaboratively with the Signature Program Technical team at the regional level. The role supervises Project and Program Managers and Coordinators.

Responsibilities & Deliverables

Signature Program Designing (15 %)

Engage in designing/co-designing and implementation of market systems, and value chain development programs and project, facilitate access to Innovative Finance, access to relevant technology, and premium market for smallholder farmers. Facilitate capacity strengthening trainings for farmers and other value chain actors and build organizational relationships with relevant stakeholders. In consultation with the Country Director and the Regional Signature Program Technical team, creatively design initiatives that uphold and improve program quality, innovation and learning on signature programs.
Provide technical leadership for the preparation, design, submission and approval of project concepts and full-fledged proposals. Act as in-country technical proposal developer, while integrating donor strategies, priorities, and technical requirements into Heifer’s approach.
Enable strong relationships with donors, peer organizations, research, and other institutions, towards enhancing Program Quality.
Develop and adopt standardized approaches, practices, tools and measurements in co-design and capacity strengthening.
Guide in-country program team, in the development of comprehensive plans and materials, development and implementation of capacity strengthening strategies in the Program and project areas.
Provide strategic leadership to the Country Signature Program team and excellent management of the approved program, schedules and budgets. Maintain excellent oversight of all program components and meet expectations for program success.
Ensure application of best standards, best practices, partnership principles, processes, and tools, towards high quality implementation of signature programs.
Develop and implement strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in Program Quality, that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments.
Roll out capacity-strengthening initiatives in Program Quality for staff and partners, develop learning and training strategies and agenda, and conduct training and workshops.

Preferred Requirements

Master’s degree preferred.
At least seven (7) years in technical signature programming leadership.
At least five (5) years in management.

Most Critical Proficiencies

Knowledge of strategic planning, program and project development and implementation processes (including planning, monitoring, and evaluation).
Knowledge and work experience in agriculture and community development in a developing country context (market systems, value chains, access to market, access to finance, etc).
Excellent knowledge of monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects.
Excellent organizational and administrative skills including strong attention to detail.

Key Behavioural Competencies