Programme Manager in Nigeria (Position is opened for National Candidates)

About the job:

As a Programme Manager (PGM), you will lead the ZOA team and provide programmatic direction and coach the staff to improve staff and partners’ capacities. You will have integral management responsibility for the realization of the projects’ outcomes in these areas and the area ZOA plans to expand its operation in future. To do so, you will work together and maintain contact with relevant stakeholders including National NGO partners, Sectors and cluster coordination. You are a member of the Country Management Team, in which strategic decisions of ZOA in Nigeria (beyond your individual responsibility and mandate) are discussed. You will be accountable to the Country Director of ZOA Nigeria.

Responsibilities:

Overall leadership and integral management responsibility for program management in Borno and Yobe States.  

Leadership and management

• Responsible for all ZOA activities within Borno and Yobe states and to provide a programmatic directions to the program team to effectively implement the program/projects; Able work with the partners to drive the ZOA’s localization strategies and building the partners’ implementation capacities.
• Spiritual oversight and Christian leadership of the ZOA team in your program;
• Participation in country wide programme and knowledge development;
• Member of ZOA Nigeria Management Team (MT);
• Capacity building and supervision of implementing partners.

 Programme Management

• Development of the strategic vision for the respective programme area, with annual review of needs for changes, based on ongoing context analysis and results of annual programme review;
• Annual planning for the programme area, as an input to the Country Plan (CP);
• Planning, implementation, and monitoring of project activities as approved by donors with the corresponding project budget planning and also as per the Country Plan priorities
• Liaison with Programme Quality team and relevant sector advisors in Nigeria and the Netherlands, to ensure programme quality;
• Project Cycle management, including needs assessments, formulation of concept notes and proposals and budget;
• Reporting - monthly and quarterly activity and financial reporting, including realization of activities versus budget utilisation;
• Narrative Report development for donors and financial donor reporting;
• Annual review of progress towards programme objectives and outcomes;
• Initiating and maintaining effective working relations with relevant stakeholders at programme area level.

 HR/admin/finance

• Budget holder for projects implemented in programme area;
• Approval of expenditures and related cost allocations, on the basis of approved project and programme organisation budgets;
• Human Resource Management (at individual- and team level) for programme staff – supervision and periodical evaluation of the performance, effective team building etc..
• Implementation and monitoring of financial, personnel and security policies and procedures;
• In collaboration with the Manager of Operations and Admin Co-ordinator, prepare and process the allocation of indirect costs to project budgets.

Security

• Ensures regular analysis on security context and risks pertaining to ZOA programme, and updates on security plans, in line with ZOA’s security management framework;

Ensuring compliance at program level with ZOA’s security policies and procedures

Identity

• The candidate is expected to fully support the vision and mission of ZOA.

Requirements:

Knowledge & Experience

• Bachelor or Master degree in a humanitarian, development or other relevant field;
• At least five years’ multi-sectoral field experience in a relief/recovery setting;
• Management experience; including leading consortiums (preferred)
• Partner Capacity development within the strategic program implementation
• Familiar with Project Cycle Management;
• Has undertaken leadership role(s) within a Christian team / organisation;
• Good spoken and written command of English;
• Knowledge of local languages is a plus;
• Direct experience of programme management and project implementation in Nigeria is a plus.

Skills 

• Command of operations, including finance, procurement, logistics, HR;
• Analytical, able to participate in strategic level discussions and decisions taking a ‘bigger picture’ approach;
• Good risk awareness around fraud and corruption issues and ability to proactively mitigate and recommend improvements;
• Organisational sensitivity;
• Writing skills;
• Planning and organising, supporting the team in field planning and operational coordination;
• Participative leadership, consulting team members, taking on board feedback;
• Provides regular feedback, acknowledges success and the need for improvement.

Behaviour & Attitude 

• Flexible and adaptability;
• Interpersonal and cross cultural sensitive;
• Able to work under pressure and with strict deadlines;
• Able to work in a sometimes fluid and insecure environment.

 Special conditions

Up to half of the time will be spent undertaking travel in field locations within the programme area, and to other ZOA programme locations and stay with project implementation team for further guidance and support.

Interested and you want to apply?

ZOA operates with an equal opportunities policy and is committed to diversity in the workplace. Qualified women and men, people of all nationalities, and cultural backgrounds, and candidates with disabilities are welcome to apply. In case of equal qualifications and fit to the position, our preference will go to a locally hired PGM.

If you are interested in this position, please apply directly via our website. The closing date of this vacancy is March 8, 2026.

CV’s of no more than 5 pages in length are appreciated. 

Please provide at least 3 references related to your previous employment listed in the application. References of previous positions held should not be older than five years.

Please note that ZOA carries out background and reference checks (including COTER) for all candidates as part of the recruitment process. As ZOA participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a written questionnaire: the “Statement of Conduct”, which will be sent to past employers regarding Misconduct (such as sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment).

Salary and other terms of employment: