Project Manager, Upcoming Advocacy Project at Ikore International Development Limited

About the Role

• The Project Manager will provide strategic oversight and day-to-day leadership, coordination and operational management of the programme across all target states, ensuring timely delivery of project activities, outputs and results. With oversight from the Programme Director, the Project Manager will coordinate multidisciplinary technical teams, oversee state-level implementation, monitor workplan execution, manage operational risks, and ensure effective collaboration among consortium partners, government institutions, Farmer Organizations (FOs) and private-sector stakeholders. The position will ensure that programme implementation is well-coordinated, results-oriented and compliant with donor requirements while supporting adaptive management and high-quality delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Management

• Lead in translating high-level Project objectives to actionable project scopes, roadmaps, and annual workplans.
• Lead the team in executing programme activities across all target States, in alignment with consortium partners and field partners, complying with workplan schedules, quality delivery and at the desired costs.
• Establish an adaptive management system of delivery, incorporating the needed flexibility and decision points for prioritisation of clients interest and changing realities and emerging opportunities for better influencing policies and institutions.
• Ensure integration of organizational development, advocacy, gender, evidence generation and communication activities.
• Represent the Project in high-level forum and stakeholder meetings.
• Provide periodic project reports to consortium lead, ensuring compliance to reporting requirements.
• Monitor programme performance against approved targets and indicators and report in compliance with clients expectations.
• Establish and utilize reporting dashboards to track progress and changes at various levels of the chain.

Team Leadership and Performance Management

• Supervise State Team Leads and support effective management of field teams.
• Design and implement professional development support plans, keeping team motivated and delivering high-quality work.
• Facilitate regular programme review meetings and implementation planning sessions.
• Promote collaboration, accountability and effective communication across project teams.
• Support staff performance management and continuous improvement.

Stakeholder and Partnership Coordination

• In collaboration with the Advocacy expert, lead in undertaking political economy analysis and conflict sensitivity analysis to establish the baselines: identifying winners and losers, enablers, blockers and in what conditions institutional change will occur and the main change agents.
• Develop and implement stakeholder management plans, in consultations with the Advocacy and Organizational Development Experts.
• Coordinate engagement with government institutions, Farmer Organizations, private-sector actors, research institutions and consortium partners.
• Support the organization of stakeholder consultations, technical meetings, advocacy forums, and learning events.
• Maintain productive working relationships that facilitate programme implementation and sustainability.

Monitoring, Reporting and Adaptive Management

• Track implementation progress and ensure timely submission of technical and operational reports.
• Support programme monitoring, evidence generation and learning processes.
• Facilitate regular implementation reviews and promote adaptive management based on programme evidence.
• Ensure documentation of implementation progress, lessons learned and emerging risks.

Operational and Risk Management

• With oversight from Project Director, set up a Project Direction Committee (PDC) to serve as a governance and accountability group, for steering the project.
• Coordinate monthly PDC meetings, for progress updates and decision making.
• With support from PDC, assess the project risks and establish a risk management plan for the project.
• Monitor operational risks affecting programme delivery and implement mitigation measures.
• Coordinate logistics and operational support for programme activities.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, donor requirements, and approved operational procedures.

Financial and Administrative Coordination

• Work closely with the Finance, Contracts, and Compliance Manager to ensure activities are implemented within approved budgets.
• Review activity implementation plans for operational feasibility and resource requirements.
• Monitor timely utilization of financial and logistical resources.

Quality Assurance

• Ensure project activities meet agreed technical and operational quality standards.
• Coordinate internal quality assurance processes across implementation states.
• Support preparation for donor reviews, field monitoring visits and programme evaluations.
• Promote continuous learning and application of best practices across programme activities.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Master’s degree in project management, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Development Studies, Business Administration, Public Administration or a related field.
• Professional certification in Project Management (PMP, PRINCE2 or equivalent) will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience managing complex, multi-state development programmes, preferably in agriculture or rural development.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and managing donor-funded projects.
• Proven experience in project planning, implementation, stakeholder coordination, and performance monitoring.
• Strong understanding of agricultural market systems, Farmer Organization development, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Experience working with government institutions, private-sector actors and development partners in Nigeria.
• Excellent leadership, coordination, communication, and problem-solving skills.