Country Manager, Nigeria

Company Overview:

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) strengthens democracy around the world through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy and is an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Since 1983, CIPE has worked with business leaders, policymakers, and civil society to build the institutions vital to a democratic society. CIPE’s key program areas include Enterprise Ecosystems, Democratic Governance, Business Advocacy, Anti-Corruption & Ethics and Trade.

Scope: The Country Manager is the  resident representative of CIPE in Nigeria responsible for overseeing and ensuring the quality of all CIPE’s program management, implementation, and operations in the country. With the supervision and close coordination of the CIPE Africa Regional Hub based in Lagos, Nigeria, the Country Manager supervises all in-country program personnel, liaises with CIPE’s donors, partners, and stakeholders. As CIPE’s  representative, the Country Manager will contribute to CIPE’s program strategy, design, delivery, and quality of all CIPE projects ensuring strict compliance with CIPE policies and donor requirements.

Reporting to the Africa Regional Hub Director, the Country Manager works closely with the entire Program Management Team,  the Senior Directors for Strategy & Impact, technical advisors, and HQ teams to ensure that programs are well-executed, contextually grounded, and strategically aligned. Under supervision, the Country Manager represents CIPE in the country with donors, partners, government agencies, and other key stakeholders. The Country Manager will promote the organization’s mission and cultivate relationships that support CIPE’s vision: a world where democracy delivers freedom and opportunity for all to prosper.
This position is a remote position based in Lagos, Nigeria and fully functionally supported by the Regional Hub Office based in Lagos, Nigeria. The position would require travel throughout the country and on some occasions outside the region.
 

Key Responsibilities: 

Leadership and Program Implementation

• Develop, manage, and execute CIPE Nigeria's program strategy, programs, and work plans in coordination with Africa Regional Hub and Program and strategic innovation and impact teams in HQ.
• Oversee the implementation of CIPE’s diverse program portfolio in and remote operations in Nigeria.
• Provide expert perspectives on the political and economic contexts in Nigeria to inform program strategy and delivery
• Provide expert strategic, technical, and capacity-building assistance to implementing partners of CIPE programs.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks, establishing benchmarks, and measuring goals and objectives.
• Monitor current events, including political and economic developments, assessing their impact on CIPE programs.

• Identify and cultivate new opportunities and partnerships in the country, in coordination with HQ and the Regional Hub’s business development efforts. 

• Contribute to concept development, country and regional scoping, and proposal inputs that align with CIPE’s thematic priorities. 

• Provide political and operational insights to support effective donor engagement and project design. 

• Build and strengthen relationships within the donor community in Nigeria.
• Promote the CIPE brand by attending and speaking at conferences, official meetings, and relevant events.

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing in-country program team that reflects CIPE’s values and mission. 
• Supervise and support the professional development of program teams, setting performance goals, and assigning responsibilities following HR policies and processes.

• In coordination with the Human Resources teams in the Regional Hub Office and HQ, oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and staff development for all in-country programmatic of all CIPE staff based in .
• Foster a collaborative and supportive work culture within the hub and across field presence in the region. 

• Ensure compliance with CIPE and donor policies, procedures, and Nigerian legal requirements (e.g., employment, tax, and social security).

• Upon request by Hub Office or HQ functional team leads, support in-country program administration, operations, procurement, budgeting, risk management, and security protocols.

• Manage country program financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, including ensuring financial and tax compliance.
• Manage country program budgets and expenditures, ensuring alignment with program goals and financial standards. 

Qualifications: 

• University degree or an Advanced degree in International Development, International Relations, Law, Political Science, Economics, Public Administration, or a related field, or equivalent work experience. Professional training in management is preferred.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in private sector development, governance reform or related functions including managing projects and program portfolios and teams. 
• Reliable understanding of the political, economic, and institutional dynamics in the country. 
• Proven ability to build and maintain a diverse network of development partners particularly in the private sector, civil society and the policy making space in Nigeria and internationally.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing impactful programs with NGOs, businesses, associations, and governments.
• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills, with a proven ability to represent an organization to high-level stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated experience in program design, donor engagement, and organizational representation. 
• Experience working on issues related to business advocacy, organizational management, digital economy, trade and investment, women economic empowerment, business integrity and corporate governance.
• Strong financial acumen and the ability to develop, manage, and monitor budgets.
• Proven ability to work in a remote team environment and manage organizational growth and sustainability.
• Minimum of 5 years experience managing donor relationships.
• Minimum of 5 years experience managing donor relationships especially U.S. government-funded programs (e.g., NED, DRL) and working with international donors is preferred. 
• Strong organizational and financial management skills. 
• Fluency in professional written and spoken English; Swahili proficiency is preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively within Nigeria and the region.
• Legal authorization to work in Nigeria is required.