Governance Coordinator at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Full Time

Job Title: Governance Coordinator

Requisition ID: req25568
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Full-Time
Sector: Governance
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Open to Expatriates: Yes

Job Description

• The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations.
• IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi, Michika and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri, Gwoza and Monguno of Borno state and Damaturu of Yobe State and through the recent Strategic Action Plan, IRC hopes to expand to Taraba in northeast Nigeria and Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina states in Northwestern Nigeria.
• Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods and governance.

Job Overview / Summary

• The Governance and Systems Strengthening Coordinator will provide technical leadership and oversight to the governance and systems strengthening approaches in Nigeria Country Programs and ensure the integration of Power Outcome across and throughout sectors/programming and partnership in line with Strategic Action Plan (SAP) 2022 – 2024 ambitions.
• S/he should have strong knowledge and experience in local governance, systems strengthening, civil society strengthening, peacebuilding/social cohesion and civic engagement to amplify the voices of people whose lives have been impacted by the conflict and crisis, to play a big role and influence decisions about their recovery, resilience building as well as the development and the ability of community leaders, authorities, and service providers to respond to the people’s needs.
• The Governance and Systems Strengthening Coordinator will work closely and under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) with close working relationship and support from the IRC’s global Governance Technical Unit.
• In country S/he will have close collaboration and coordination with the Country Director, Deputy Director Field Management, Senior Program Coordinators, Technical Coordinators, MEAL Coordinator, Senior Grants Coordinator and BHA MMC/Jere consortium partners.
• S/he will supervise Senior Urban Resilience Manager and matrix management support to Health Governance Manager. S/he will provide oversight support to Governance and Resilience Programs.

Major Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership:

• Lead the development of a strategy for integrating power outcomes across all prioritized outcomes for Nigeria S100 Strategic Action Plan.
• Lead and support program teams across various technical sectors in the integration of power outcomes across all the prioritized outcomes
• Lead and support the Nigerian programs in conducting context, political economy, and conflict analysis to identify promising entry points and better inform program design and implementation.
• Provide technical leadership and oversee the design and implementation of local governance, systems strengthening, civil society strengthening, peacebuilding/social cohesion, and civic engagement in the country programs.
• Contribute to the development of knowledge and capacity in the country office around systems strengthening, civil society strengthening, social accountability, conflict-sensitivity and other related governance themes and support the integration of those themes into sectoral programs.
• Conduct technical training and technical coaching for program staff across sectors and local partners on power system strengthening and relevant topics
• Work closely with the Grants and Partnerships Team to plan for and engage in capacity sharing with local partners including use of organizational capacity assessment and strengthening plans.
• Work closely with the Safety & Security/Humanitarian Access and Program Teams to map sensitive programing and integrate conflict-sensitivity into country programs and operations.
• Provide technical support toward integration of governance indicators into project M&E frameworks
• Review and input into donor reports to ensure that the power and governance work is well reported and articulated in the reports.
• Liaise regularly with technical advisors from the Governance Unit on proposal development, programming, and implementation approaches.

Program Development and Implementation:

• Participate in Go-No-Go decisions for new business development opportunities, ensuring the perspective of power and systems strengthening approaches is mainstreamed
• Contribute in development of proposals through design workshops and also proposals reviews to ensure that power and systems strengthening approaches are fully considered and mainstreamed in all opportunities
• Advise on budgeting for governance staffing and activities as part of program development and be responsible for financial oversight of project budgets and expenditure (when assigned) in compliance to donor agreements
• Oversee implementation of all governance projects and components, managing staff to ensure all activities are delivered according to plans, and that when delays and problems occur remedial actions are identified and undertaken
• In collaboration with Governance and M&E staff, ensure monitoring and evaluation systems for Governance programming are effectively designed and integrated into all stages of the project; that output and impact data are captured and used to optimize program quality
• Conduct regular visits to project sites, as possible, to provide technical assistance and ensure proper implementation and monitoring of project activities.

Coordination and Networking:

• S/he will be a governance focal point at country level, collaborate with other in-country technical coordinators, to ensure an integrated strategy to achieve the power outcome as per the country’s Strategic Action Plan;
• Coordinate with other programs to strengthen joint planning and implementation of projects, ensure integration across sectors, and enhance program implementation
• Coordinate with the Client Responsiveness team to strengthen IRC’s capacities around gathering and responding to reactive and proactive feedback and complaints
• Participate in internal coordination and management meetings to promote effective and efficient information sharing, problem-solving and decision making.
• Represent the IRC in relevant technical advisory/working groups and professional forums e.g The Nexus working group for northeast and northwest Nigeria etc.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Where relevant hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to:  Deputy Director of Programs
• Indirect/Technical Reporting: H/Q Technical Unit, Senior Technical Advisor – Governance and Systems Strengthening
• Position directly Supervises:  Senior Urban Resilience Manager
• Position indirectly supervises: Health Governance Manager.

Key Internal Contacts:

• Country Program:  Country Director, Deputy Director Field Management, SMT, Senior Program Coordinators, Technical Coordinators, MEAL Coordinator, Senior Grants Coordinator and BHA MMC/Jere Consortium Team Leader
• Region/Global: Global Governance Technical Unit
• Key External Contacts:  State Government, Local Government, Technical Line Ministries, Civil Society Organization, and partners.

Requirements
Education:

• Master’s Degree in Development, Policy, Governance, Economics, Public Administration, Business Administration, Law or Social Science or equivalent.

Work Experience:

• 5 – 7 years of experience in local governance, social accountability, public administration, peacebuilding, or related technical areas, with at least 2 years’ experience developing, managing, and coordinating governance programs in humanitarian
• or development settings, preferably with an INGO.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of political economy analysis, governance in service delivery as well community driven development.
• Solid experience in participatory, flexible, conflict and gender-sensitive programming and implementation.
• Strong track record in working in partnership with governments and civil society at various levels and diverse organizational stakeholders, developing and implementing appropriate and targeted learning and capacity development activities in support of programming partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and motivate staff working in multiple locations.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate and partner with communities, civil society, government representatives, donors and other stakeholders.
• Experience working with different sectors, in particular Health, Nutrition, Environmental Health/WASH, Education, Food Security and Livelihood, Protection (Child Protection, WPE, GBV AND Protection and Rule of Law) preferred.
• Strong program management skills, including assessment, planning, budgeting, and monitoring skills
• Demonstrated strong proposal and report writing skills.

Demonstrated Managerial / Leadership Competencies:

• Must have good time management, multitasking skills
• Good teamwork and leadership skills are essential in order to motivate different groups of people to fulfil their responsibilities within a given time frame.
• Demonstrates well-developed interpersonal skills, excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, as well as negotiation skills.
• Ability to work with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams
• Values diversity, inclusion, people with disabilities and minorities groups
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations with minimal supervision and without compromising on deadlines or quality.

Languages:

•  Fluent English (Written and Spoken)
•  Fluency in Hausa is an advantage.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Ability to Travel:

• 40% of travel time to program locations

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

Note: This role is open for both national and international candidates who meet the required qualifications