Search for Common Ground seeks a professional, motivated, and creative Project Manager that will work with Search’s program teams to implement Search strategy for the project ensuring that the project addresses real needs and contributes to the organization’s national, regional and global strategies. The position entails project logic and strategy development; team leadership; project management; financial, operations, and administrative oversight for the project; security management; and liaison with key stakeholders including Security actors.

The position requires an experienced conflict transformation, peacebuilding and or development expert, conversant with project management cycles and managing a field implementation. The position holder must be organized and experienced in culturally identifiable conflict and context analyst capable of steering various project activities in Adamawa and Benue, to respond to real-time conflict, peace efforts, security and the overall aim of conflict transformation. The Project Manager must have good diplomacy skills be capable of negotiating with challenging stakeholders and also lead a diverse team. The position holder advises the Country leadership on the project needs, strategies, staffing issues, local context, and dynamics.

This position will be based in our Abuja office with frequent travels to Adamawa and Benue states. She/he will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Field Programme Implementation. The position holder will directly oversee the project implementation and have a team of officers and assistants.

National and international attention, garnered by the #EndSARS protests have shone a light on the history of impunity experienced from Nigerian security forces and amplified messages calling for greater accountability of security actors accused of human rights violence. This moment presents a window of opportunity to further entrench security sector reform from a collaborative and rights-based lens, empowering stakeholders at all levels, including communities, CSOs, media professionals, government authorities, and security actors. The project aims to enhance the role of CSOs and communities in constructively engaging security forces, while increasing the capacity of security actors to effectively assume their roles and responsibilities in a manner that upholds human rights standards. Through trainings, dialogue, advocacy, and peace and security initiatives, these actors will work together towards shared solutions to persistent security challenges. Search’s intervention is informed by strong evidence from over 10 years of lessons learned and networks built through our human rights and security sector accountability programming in Nigeria.

The overall goal is to strengthen engagement and advocacy processes to reduce human rights abuse by security forces in North East and North Central Nigeria. This is supported by three specific objectives that will guide the project’s activities:

Objective 1: Increased capacity of target CSOs and media actors’ in human rights monitoring, reporting and advocacy. CSO and media actors’ coordination, communication, and action to influence security sector policy and practice related to accountability and human rights are strengthened

Objective 2: Improved capacity of security forces to understand and respect human rights principles. Increased dialogue between affected communities, key stakeholders, and security actors on issues related to human rights and protection.

Objective 3:  Empower diverse communities and groups to contribute to the design and implementation of security sector reform processes. Strengthened collaboration between communities, CSOs, security actors, and government authorities around joint initiatives responding to demands for accountability and improved security

Duration

Roles and Responsibilities

Oversee and monitor the implementation of the project

Project activities: design project activities (e.g., objectives and structure of activities); lead and/or deliver project activities; coordinate with trainers in the design and delivery of project activities

Reporting: review and finalize project documents (e.g., presentations, and agenda); finalize donor reports; review and finalize monthly and activity reports before sharing; review General Ledger (GL) and support country finance team (CFT) in producing financial report

Compliance: coordinates with the appropriate country management team member in ensuring project, finance, and logistics staff follow donor rules/regulations; ensure donor compliance; lead capacity-building sessions to streamline rules and regulations

Monitor the BvA and the actual/planned project expenditure, submit expenditure reports and supporting documents after a careful check of form, substance and quality.

Project Management Tool (PMT): Regularly update the PMT for projects, ensuring accurate and up-to-date work plans and projections.

Performance management: Interface with staff across all departments on regular basis

Lead in staff capacity-building and identifying learning/growth opportunities;

Coordinate with the Head of Office in the development of project staffing plan;

Manage staff members accordingly

External engagement: Maintain regular communication with consortium partners, meet with local authorities as needed, facilitate approvals; meet with partner leadership, and conduct regular meetings

Program management, quality and project design: Coordinate with Design, Monitoring & Evaluation (DM&E), Grants Management System (GMS), Head of Field Program Implementation in the organization of reflection sessions

Note and record lessons learned via donor reports

Ensure reviews and reflection sessions lead to adaptive work plan

Make sure that approved Search methodologies are utilized

Coordinate with Global Affairs & Partnerships Program Development team, as needed

Support in attending fundraising and networking meetings

Provide inputs to strategy development and planning related to technical area of work

Infuses organizational Values into all work

In coordination with the Head of Field Programme Implementation, the position is responsible for collaboration with institutional partners in the field and for representing Search as appropriate in project locations, including in donors’ meetings and with the government.

Participate in the various coordination mechanisms with other humanitarian organizations in the field at the request of the project leader

Participate in relevant technical groups in Yola

Behavioral Competencies

Working with People: The ability to respect the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy, listens, supports; consults others and shares information and expertise, builds team spirit and adapts to the team.

Flexibility:  The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities, to tolerate ambiguity, to adapt personal style to different people and situations.

Drive for Results and Efficiency: The ability to set quality standards, monitor and maintain quality of work, and set goals to achieve continuous improvement.

Relationship Management: The ability to manage interactions, to provide service and to support the organization while building an effective internal and external network.

Leadership and Navigation:    The ability to manage and contribute to initiatives and processes within the organization while making progress toward change and continuous improvement.

Communication: The ability to effectively exchange information with others, to effectively deliver critical information, to gather information and communicate with others.

Global and Cultural Effectiveness:    The ability to value and consider the perspectives and backgrounds of all parties and be able to work cross-culturally.

Ethical Practice:    The ability to integrate Search vision, mission and core values, integrity and accountability throughout all organizational and business practices.

Critical Evaluation (for managers and up):    The ability to interpret information to make business decisions and recommendations based on keen analysis, best practices and an understanding of preferred outcomes.

Business Acumen:    The ability to understand and apply information to contribute to the organization’s strategic plan.

Developing others (for people manager): The ability to provide support to enhance performance and professional growth.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a related area required while a Masters in Conflict Resolution, International Relations, or related field would be an added benefit;

Required Experience

At least 5 years of experience in peacebuilding, gender mainstreaming and Do No Harm related work.

At least five (5) years of experience in managing a small team and project management in the field of conflict resolution, conflict transformation, development or related fields.

Other Relevant Requirements

Knowledge of and exposure to a wide range of conflict prevention; peace; conflict transformation; governance; and development and humanitarian issues;

Good knowledge of the country context and ability to network with both civil society and public sector

Ability to review and analyze and interpret financial reports, budget versus actuals, financial projections and procurement documentation;

Good interpersonal and networking skills, as well as the ability to conduct professional working relationships;

Analytical capacity, including the ability to analyze and articulate peace, human security and conflict issues;

Ability to work with people at all levels, ranging from high-level national officials to community leaders;

Experience in setting performance objectives of teams and leading a team.

Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in farmer-herder issues, policies, laws etc.,s and peace-building fields;

Good knowledge of North Central, including the political, economic and social dimensions;

Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite) and other software

Detail-oriented with ability to meet deadlines, both prescribed and self-imposed

Willingness and desire to learn while demonstrating self-initiative

Ability to adapt to new cultures and work in diverse environments

Added Advantage

Language Skills: (Native/Fluent/Basic)

English Language (Fluent)

Hausa (an added advantage)

Fulfulde (an added advantage)