LATEST JOBS , RECRUITMENT FOR COUNTRY DIRECTOR, OXFAM NOVIB, FRIDAY, 13 JAN. 2012

THE ORGANIZATION:

Oxfam Novib is committed to ridding the world of poverty. We have a conviction that people are well capable of building a livelihood without poverty on their own, once given the chance to do so. Which is why we support local projects in developing countries, why we lobby governments and companies to take into account the interests of the poorest people, and why we campaign to involve Dutch men and women also in our work. We work together with other Oxfam affiliates to increase our impact on development  issues.

Oxfam Novib is looking for a Country Director based in Nigeria 36 hours per week Start
date: February 2012 Family Posting.

Oxfam’s program in Nigeria is to be managed through a consortium model, with Oxfam Novib as Managing affiliate working closely with Oxfam Great Britain as Implementing Affiliate. The consortium model is developing towards a “single management structure” (SMS) which implies stronger coordination in-country aiming to achieve higher impact, coherence and identity. The Country Director will be guiding the SMS process till the “Go-Live” on 1st of November 2012. From that date onwards the two affiliates will be accountable to the Nigeria Country Director for the delivery of their share of the Joint Country Analysis and Strategy (JCAS) 2011-2015. In order to play the role of Managing Affiliate, Oxfam Novib will be decentralizing its Nigeria operations to Abuja in the same time frame as the SMS process.

The country strategy will guide Oxfam’s working perspectives in this country, and will be the basis for defining programming, and for realizing the most efficient and effective operating model for Oxfam in Nigeria. Affiliates contribute a variety of expertise and approaches to the programs. The Joint Country Analysis and Strategy is currently shaped around three strategic change objectives related to:

1) sustainable livelihoods and fair agricultural policies; 

2) good governance and social and political participation; 

3) gender justice. Two priority geographical areas have been defined: the Niger Delta and Northern Nigeria. 

Programs are developed and implemented in partnership with local organizations, and increasingly the cooperation with the private sector is being sought. The Oxfam Nigeria program includes support to lobby and advocacy at national with linkages to regional/global level (Nigeria is a focus country for Oxfam’s GROW Campaign, in Nigeria under the banner of Voices for Food Security ) in collaboration with other Oxfam affiliates in West Africa at regional d ECOWAS-level.

The scale of the Oxfam program relies on external funding. In 2010 the total program budget in Nigeria across the two Oxfams combined was approximately 3.4 million Euro.

POST TITLE:   Country Director 

MAIN TASKS:

• Guides the Oxfam Novib registration and decentralization process in Nigeria, with the aim to have a fully operational team of approx. nine staff on September 1st 2012 and take over responsibilities from HQs by November 1st 2012,
• Provides strategic leadership of the Oxfam SMS process in Nigeria, ensuring the delivery of the required SMS change documents with sufficient quality, aimed towards ‘Go-Live’ on November 1st 2012,
• Provide strategic leadership of the entire Oxfam’s program in Nigeria, and works to ensure that the Single Management Structure change activity is implemented successfully,
• Is accountable to the West Africa Program Governance Group (PGG) for the delivery, effective management and monitoring, evaluation and learning of the Oxfam in Nigeria program via consolidated annual plans and reports. Holds the two Implementing Affiliates to account for delivery of their part of the program strategy and annual operational plans. Chairs the Country Leadership Team, with the Heads of two Implementing Affiliates covering programming, organizational, humanitarian and campaigning operations,
• Takes the lead in representing Oxfam in Nigeria, builds relationships and develops networks contributing to the achievement of the country strategy with the relevant Government authorities and international (donor) community. Represents Oxfam in Nigeria at regional, and global level,
• After decentralization, line manages Oxfam Novib’s work in Nigeria, through the Oxfam Novib Associate Country Director – staff, HR, and directly steers a team of approx. eight staff (budget (€ 2,2 million secured funds) and management of the programs funded by external donors, both delivered by Oxfam Novib with partners as part of the JCAS. The CD is line managed by Oxfam Novib’s Regional Director West Africa in The Hague,
• Manages Oxfam’s shared services and joint staff in Nigeria. Has the overall responsibility for implementation on the agreed joint policies on human resources, health and safety, Information Technology , finance and administration, legal aspects, security management and Oxfam’s branding in Nigeria,
• Works with the Country Leadership Team to ensure that minimum Oxfam standards are met in the country – on program, program management, HR, finance, IT, security, health and safety etc.,
• Co-ordinates with the Country Leadership team to elaborate an Oxfam external funding strategy, identify new funding sources and negotiate funding opportunities to support program implementation,
• Ensures overall leadership of disaster preparedness , disaster risk reduction & mitigation and management, including humanitarian response activities for category 3 emergencies in working areas of existing livelihood partners, in collaboration with the humanitarian and security program manager,
• Supports/facilitates the implementation of Oxfam’s regional advocacy work in Nigeria (under the JRAS), especially related to ECOWAS. Attends regional consultation meetings with the West-Africa PGG and other Oxfam Country Directors, and when required the regional Oxfam Campaign Leads (esp. on Food Justice; Extractives Industries and Good Governance).

JOB EXPERIENCE:

• Senior management experience in leading the development and ensuring the delivery, of program strategy, either through partners or directly, in one or more challenging locations,
• Proven analytical skills and ability to think strategically, including the ability to think beyond the country program context and to act within a regional and global framework,
• The ability to manage the development of, and contribute to, the high level analysis of factors driving poverty & food insecurity , marginalization and vulnerability in developing country contexts, including the ability to ‘think politically’ by understanding motivations, pressures and challenges faced by colleagues, partners and other actors,
• Experience in leading and motivating multi disciplinary teams, a high degree of self awareness and an understanding of how to drive and support excellent team performance and individual development,
• Experience of managing complex change & decentralization processes and relationships involving a wide range of both internal and external multi-cultural stakeholders across a variety of disciplines & geographical areas,
• Experience in representing an organization with partners, government agencies, private sector organizations, and donors at senior level: locally, regionally and globally,
• An active commitment to promoting gender equity and the interests of marginalized people in all aspects of an organization’s work,
• High level financial management skills to steer the operational budget,
• Experience of fundraising from diverse institutions, local, regional and international,
• Understanding of managing security and risk within an INGO context,
• Good level of IT literacy and an understanding of how new developments in technology can positively contribute to the aims of an INGO,
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to motivate, influence, and negotiate,
• The ability to speak and write professional English.

We offer Oxfam Novib is committed to providing you with a competitive, fair and comprehensive pay and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors. The salary range for this position is set between € 3.229, – and € 4.967, – based on relevant experience for this position.

MODE OF APPLICATION:

More information and application procedure Are you interested? Please send your application letter and CV and mentioning reference number 5-111 to jobs@oxfamnovib.nl , to the attention of Shabinah Asgarali, before January 18, 2012.