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 MBA/MSc/MA
- Experience 10 – 15 years
- Location Abuja
- Job Field Project Management
FUNCTION
- The Country Director – Nigeria shall have deep experience and knowledge of various donors as well as agricultural value chain development. This position requires experience working in a highly competitive donor environment. The Country Director – Nigeria is the national-level representative of Heifer International in their respective country. This position will report to the Africa Regional Senior Vice President.
- New business development is the main function of this position. This position is responsible for building relationships and providing strategic direction to grow a strong portfolio of funding and programs. The Country Director – Nigeria will work closely with the Africa Regional team and new business development teams to develop and implement country-specific and cross-regional new business strategies by aligning Heifer’s programmatic priorities with funder priorities.
- This position will serve as Heifer’s chief brand ambassador in the country. The Country Director – Nigeria will represent Heifer in strategic forums to ensure Heifer carries strong brand recognition within the country. As a brand ambassador, this position will drive impactful strategic brand communication centered on effective strategies that will increase Heifer’s profile and visibility.
Essential Character Traits
- Ability to apply a strategic mindset, business insight and organizational savvy to drive results in complex environments. Ability to collaborate, communicate effectively, instill trust, and demonstrate self-awareness. Ability to build effective teams and to be resourceful. Ability to provide effective leadership and drive team spirit.
Responsibilities & Deliverables
BRAND AMBASSADOR (20%)
- Facilitate the increased visibility of Heifer amidst the larger public including government officials, corporations, institutions, non-governmental organizations, and other development agencies in the country.
- Represent Heifer International before all persons and organizations at the country level, government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private sector, donors, and partners.
- Educate others about Heifer’s brand and positively always promote the brand.
- Thoroughly understand Heifer’s value proposition and tailor messages for individual audiences .
- Demonstrate an aptitude for creativity and innovation.
- Position Heifer as one of the thought leaders on thematic issues (i.e. livestock, agriculture, livelihoods, women, and youth).
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT and STRATEGY (60%)
- Lead the process of strategic visioning for Heifer International at the country level under the Africa Regional priorities.
- Form strategic partnerships that embrace the triple bottom line (social, environmental, and financial).
- Strengthen strategic alliances and partnerships (Public & Private) with all program stakeholders’ donors, and supporters.
- In collaboration with the New Business Development Teams, ensure the development and implementation of new business strategies with full landscape analysis.
- Keep abreast of funder priorities in the region.
- Establish solid knowledge of the government’s and donor’s development strategies for the country.
- Contribute to the proposal process to ensure adequate information is provided to build winning proposals.
- In partnership with signature program leaders work to identify and deploy capital investments across the signature programs.
- Build and maintain strong relationships among partner organizations and expand strategic networks and partnerships at local, country, and international level.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP (15%)
- Remain knowledgeable of and commission market-based demand-driven value chain studies to build out signature programs within the country.
- Maintain, cultivate, and grow a strong signature program portfolio.
- Work with signature program leaders to ensure quality delivery of Heifer’s model.
- Systematically identify viable value chain opportunities .
- Fosters a sense of connection and belonging.
- Shows openness to new ideas and fosters organizational learning.
- Maintain country-level requirements for Heifer’s legal operation.
- Provide sound operational and fiscal management.
MAY PERFORM OTHER JOB-RELATED DUTIES AS ASSIGNED (5%)
Minimum Requirements
- Master’s Degree from a recognized university or equivalent in Social Sciences or Business Administration, plus 10 – 15 years of relevant experience with at least five (5) years in a supervisory capacity. Fluent in English and local language/s, both spoken and written.
Preferred Requirements
- Demonstrated knowledge of major funders such as USAID, DFID, IFAD, AFDB, FAO, etc.
- Proven professional experience & results in agribusiness/community development.
Most Critical Proficiencies
- Proven knowledge of new business development strategies
- Inspires and motivates others to take action.
- Aligns resources to accomplish key objectives and assigns clear accountability for important objectives. Achieves meaningful accomplishments.
- Ability to support differences of opinion, and help individuals resolve conflict in a constructive manner.
- Proven experience in development actions under the following or related themes: Food Security and Nutrition, Environment, Women and Youth Empowerment
- Knowledge of NGO regulatory environment in country of employment
- Knowledge of and skill in managing institutional and project budgets.
- Existing relationships with potential partners in Agri-business in country.
- Excellent analytical and writing skills.
- Familiarity with and experience in responding to requests for applications/proposals (RFA/RFP), call for proposals, indefinite quantity contracts and task orders.
- Excellent networking and negotiation skills.
- Public speaking skills.
- Skills with Microsoft Office package, internet browser, and other appropriate technology.
- Good understanding of and sensitivity to poverty, social and ethnic issues.
- Understand the importance of traditional customs to various ethnic issue.
- An excellent team player with the ability to work with diverse cultural groups.
Essential Job Functions And Physical Demands
- Unify a group of individuals behind a commonly shared vision.
- Motivated to work responsibly with little supervision.
- Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity.
- Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the public.
- Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule.
- Willingness and ability to travel extensively, both locally and internationally.
- Ability to meet and deal with others courteously and tactfully.
- Working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality at all times.
- Ability to work with sensitive information and to maintain confidentiality.
