The Accountability Lab supports active citizens, responsible leaders and accountable institutions. We train, mentor, and resource citizens to strengthen systems of accountability to unleash positive social and economic change. The Lab also strives to reinvent the way that development organizations operate through radical accountability, context-appropriate reporting, and creative awareness campaigns. Accountability Lab Nigeria is seeking a dynamic, experienced and creative individual to fill the position of Programs and Learning Manager (PLM). The Lab is especially keen to review applications from suitably qualified female candidates and candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups.

Position Description

The PLM will be a key member of the Accountability Lab Nigeria team, reporting to the Country Director. They will lead a team of officers and volunteers to ensure the growing portfolio of projects are managed effectively, efficiently and transparently. They will be responsible for the day-to-day management of activities, and should demonstrate high-level strategic vision for enhancing evidence and knowledge in governance and citizen engagement. The PLM will possess excellent management skills and experience leading complex projects, and experience in convening collaborative networks preferably in the democracy, rights and governance sector.

One of the main responsibilities of the PLM will be to ensure harmonization across the various grant and project-related elements. The PLM will be charged with effective deployment of human, technical and material resources to assist the attainment of results across the Lab’s Knowledge, Campaigns and Communities categories of work. They will also work with a diverse cast of creatives, innovators, local and trans-local communities, state and non-state actors.

The Lab is a learning organization,  and it will expect the PLM to understand and appreciate how to support its learning objectives for internal purposes as well as external influencing and advocacy purposes. 

The PLM will be one of the main points of contact for the Lab with donors and partners, effectively operating as the Lab’s Deputy Country Director. They will be expected to initiate, cultivate and nurture donor relations with both current and prospective Lab funders. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project and Program Management (40%)

1. Lead the design, implementation and oversight of Accountability Lab’s projects related to accountability, transparency, youth engagement and citizen participation;
2. Build relationships with key Lab partners and stakeholders including donors, communities, the media and other civil society organizations;
3. Oversee the work of the team including Program, M&E and communications to ensure projects are meeting goals and are adaptive based on the context;
4. Provide guidance and leadership to staff and with partners to ensure project outputs are delivered on time and within budget;
5. Oversee the coordination of project activities to ensure effective implementation including events, trainings and outreach. 

Leadership (20%)

1. 1. Provide leadership and management of the the Lab’s work in partnership with the Country Director;
   2. Lead the production of internal progress reports and report to the team on a weekly basis on progress;
   3. Act as a key interlocutor with donors on key grants and work with the Global Team in a timely fashion and with exceptional levels of quality;
   4. Oversee the Lab’s partnerships, and coordinate and collaborate with designated personnel from partner organisations to ensure seamless and coordinated delivery of activities.

Learning (40%)

1. Coordinate large-scale learning processes including major internal and external research and evaluation processes; 
2. Oversee the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team’s efforts to develop context specific and adaptable impact measurement tools and learning frameworks;
3. Integrate a learning mindset and approach into the Lab’s work ensuring that feedback and data is used to improve activities over time;
4. Lead trainings, where relevant, related to project implementation, outreach, community-building and reporting;
5. Ensure that the Lab follows-up on lessons learnt to take corrective actions and make  adjustments to program and project responses;
6. Lead the Lab’s internal learning and evaluation processes including annual impact and learning reporting and ongoing iterative data collection processes.

Success Factors:

The PLM requires a superb understanding of program design, management, implementation and reporting. It demands excellent management skills, attention to detail, interpersonal and organizational skills, as well as an ability to conceptualize and implement creative advocacy and engagement campaigns. Above all this position requires a learning mindset and experience in understanding how to use information to learn and improve within programs. The Lab’s work in Nigeria may scale very quickly, and the successful candidate will need to have the energy, vision and knowledge of program implementation to help the Lab deliver on commitments and improve its work. The successful candidate should also be able to work within a dynamic and culturally diverse team, embodying the organization’s commitment to accountability, transparency and equity. The Lab seeks a demonstrated record of assuming significant professional responsibility and delivering on programmatic goals with integrity and humility.

The candidate must be aligned with the values of the Lab, and be inspired, believe in, and committed to its vision of building active citizens, responsible leaders and accountable institutions. Prior work with creative advocacy and campaigns, innovation and creativity in social and governance programs, as well as work with young people and women will be distinct advantages. 

Qualifications

1. MA/Msc degree in Development, Politics, Public Administration, Management, Business, an MBA or other relevant graduate degree is highly desirable, as is work experience elsewhere in the world;
2. 4-5 years of experience in relevant project management, learning and implementation roles in complex governance programs and campaigns;
3. Thorough understanding of project/program management techniques and methods;
4. Experience managing programs and teams for non-profit organizations;
5. Demonstrated ability to establish professional relationships and to work collaboratively with government agencies, donors, civil society and CBOs;
6. Experience working with/within a variety of donor organizations including close familiarity with donor reporting systems, requirements, timelines and structures;
7. Experience conducting trainings and mentoring;
8. Ability to oversee and support successful organization of events, and effectively network, including subsequent follow-up with key stakeholders.
9. Ability to manage relationships and internal accountability between programs, MEL and the finance and administration departments, including through ensuring that every department has the information needed to provide regular and accurate financial and programmatic reporting.

Location: Abuja with extensive travel across Nigeria and internationally as needed.

Compensation: Competitive, commensurate with skills and experience.

For more information or to apply, please send a cover letter, CV and salary expectations to apply@accountabilitylab.org before 5pm on October 11, 2020. Please use “AL Nigeria  PLM Application” as your reference.

Sheena Adams