Governance Manager

Work Arrangement: In-person

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee has been in Nigeria since October 2012 and came in response to a widespread flood disaster. IRC’s Emergency Response Team, with local partner, Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication (CISCOPE), implemented projects to support food security, livelihoods, nutrition, and WASH in Kogi State. Beginning of January 2014, IRC shifted geographical location to the Northeast, in Adamawa state to provide humanitarian response to the conflict-affected populations. In the Northeast, IRC has operational offices: Yola and Mubi field offices in Adamawa State, Damaturu in Yobe State and Bama, Monguno, Gwoza and Maiduguri field offices in Borno State-with the latter office opened in October 2015. In 2023, IRC began operations in Northwest Nigeria with offices in Katsina and Zamfara State. In the states, IRC is providing humanitarian support to internally displaced populations hosted in IDP camps, camp like settings, host communities and returnee populations.

The IRC Nigeria country program is implementing multi-sectoral interventions in the sectors of: Health and Nutrition; Environmental Health; Child Protection; Education; Women’s Protection and Empowerment; Economic Recovery and Development, Protection Rule of Law and integrating power across all these outcome areas. Most of these programs are driven in partnership with strategic Government agencies and local NGOs.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The power integration approaches of International Rescue Committee amplify the voices of people whose lives have been impacted by conflict and crisis. We support clients to regain control of their future by championing their rights to influence the decisions that affect their cities, towns, and communities. To achieve this, we Strengthen the ability and power of people affected by conflict and crisis to have a voice in how decisions are made in their communities. We also Support governments, civil society organizations, community representatives, and the IRC to respond to their voices and provide effective and inclusive services and Promote communications between leaders and the people they represent so that actions are meaningful and sustainable. In line with the current IRC’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP) agenda which is to have power mainstreamed across sectors; the Governance Manager will ensure power is integrated within other sectors’ programming and is not stand alone in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara (Northwest) states. The Governance Manager will work closely with other IRC Sectors and Partner agencies operating in Northwest. This position will report to the Northwest deputy team lead, with technical support from the Governance Coordinator.

Responsibilities Program Management & Development:

- Create and execute work plans, spending plans, procurement plans and related systems to ensure that project power deliverables and deadlines are met, and targets achieved. - Facilitate and carry out day to day power activities, including community engagement, stakeholder engagement, trainings, and advocacy activities. - Participate in the development of proposals, budgets, and concept notes in consultation with the Governance Coordinator, DTL, Grants team, and other outcome areas. - Contribute to the development of the Power Integration Strategy for the Nigeria Country Program. - Collaborate with the Monitoring and evaluation team to disseminate project findings, learnings, and reports. - Develop timely, high-quality, and result-based reports, annual work plans, implementation plan and relevant project narratives and updates as required. - Sustain deep working collaborations with partners that are relevant in bringing about policy changes, i.e., Government, International NGOs, and local NGOs, women, and youth associations in Northwest. - Carryout field support visits to all intervention locations within the Northwest states to ensure program quality and compliance. - Participate in Grants Opening, Mid-Term and Closing meetings. - Prepare internal and external reports within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats, as required. - Establish and maintain relationships with other NGOs, international organizations, community stakeholders, government stakeholders and MDAs.

Key Working Relationships:

- Position Reports directly to: Northwest Deputy Team Lead with technical support from the Governance Coordinator. - Other Internal and/or external contacts: - Internal: Supply Chain and Finance. - External: Service provider, Traditional and Community Leaders, Consortium Partners, Local Government Authorities, Government Ministries/Agencies.

Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in community development, public administration, law, international development, international relations, or other social sciences related fields. - Knowledge of Northwest humanitarian context. - Minimum (4) years of experience in local governance, social accountability, public administration, institutional development, stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and related technical areas. - Ability to work independently with limited daily supervision. - Strong knowledge and understanding of governance in service delivery, in particular, disaster preparedness and response, capacity and system strengthening approaches. - Solid experience in participatory, flexible, conflict and gender-sensitive programming and implementation. - Strong track record of working in partnership with governments and civil society at various levels. - Demonstrated ability to negotiate and partner with communities, civil societies, and government representatives. - Demonstrated skill in staff collaboration in a cross- cultural environment. - Demonstrated analytical skills and report writing experience required. - Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills - Fluency in written and spoken English and Hausa is required. (A must). - Proficiency in the use of MS applications mostly MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. And outlook. - Ability to Travel: 50% of the time.

Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Employment Gaps: We welcome applicants with varied career paths and recognize that a gap in employment does not define a candidate's potential. We value transferrable skills and are committed to investing in the growth and development of our team members. We encourage applicants to highlight any relevant skills or experiences they have acquired, even if they were not gained in a traditional work setting.

Compensation and Benefits: IRC strives to provide externally competitive and internally equitable Compensation and Benefits programs that attracts, motivates, and retains employees that deliver strong performance while demonstrating the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity or tribe, gender, age, religion, caste, sexual orientation, differently abled, geographic origin, marital status, veteran status and cultural background (or any other characteristic protected by law). We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.