Senior Program Officer at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Nigeria
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people-especially those with the fewest resources-have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school
and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
Location: Nigeria
Job Title: Senior Program Officer - External Relations
Division: Global Development Program
Department: Policy and Advocacy
Requisition Number: 2820BR
Division: Global Development Program
Department: Policy and Advocacy
Requisition Number: 2820BR
Group Summary:
The goal of the Global Development Program is to increase opportunities for poor people in the developing world to lift themselves out of hunger and poverty.
We support efforts in the following areas:
- Agricultural Development: helping poor farmers increase their productivity and incomes;
- Financial Services: making a wide range of financial services-particularly safe places to save-more widely available to people in developing countries
- Policy, Advocacy, and Special Initiatives: increasing awareness of global development issues; identifying and promoting powerful solutions; and advocating for more effective investments;
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: investing in effective sanitation approaches that will contribute to a world where children and families lead healthier, more productive lives;
- Global Libraries: providing free access to computers with the Internet through public libraries in emerging countries.
- The Senior External Relations Officer in Nigeria will function as a senior-level foundation representative and spokesperson. He/she will also be expected to provide policy/political advice and local information for the foundation's specific priority areas within Nigeria, which are family health, routine immunization, new vaccine introduction, and polio eradication as well as periodic information on other key strategic issues. While the position will be focused on the foundation's highest priority strategies, there may be opportunities for the role (time and focus permitting) to help support the work of other foundation strategies with grants in Nigeria.
- The Senior Officer will be expected to become fully knowledgeable and fluent in the strategic priorities across the foundation's priorities, and establish strong partnership with the relevant programs and staff within the various foundation offices. While the position will be focused on the foundation's highest priority strategies, there may be opportunities for the role (time and focus permitting) to help support the work of other foundation strategies with grants in Nigeria.
- The Senior Officer in Nigeria will be based in Abuja, and will work closely with appropriate governmental, NGO and civil society, private sector, traditional authorities and grantee groups in support of shared strategic objectives. The role will include regular travel to other parts of the country, especially in the North.
- The Senior Officer will report to the Deputy Director of External Relations in the Global Development Policy and Advocacy group, who is based in London, UK, and will work closely with the Directors of Family Health and Vaccine Delivery in Seattle to help support Program-driven goals. This position will function as an integral part of the Africa team led by the Deputy Director and be accountable to the Deputy Director for the achievement of foundation objectives.
- Serve as a senior-level foundation representative and spokesperson in Nigeria
- Build and maintain close relationships with key stakeholders in government, grantees, funders, NGOs, private sector, media, and other influentials relative to family health, routine immunization, new vaccine introduction, and polio eradication. Identify engagement priorities for 2011-2012 with relevant teams and execute upon that work.
- Establish close working relationship with key foundation staff on relevant strategies to ensure ongoing strategic alignment and prioritization of efforts.
- Provide strategic advice and support for foundation leadership to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in Nigeria. Lead and coordinate co-chairs, CEO and President's engagement on the continent including their visits and interactions with relevant partners and stakeholders in Nigeria and the region.
- Serve as an in-country lead for leadership trips within Nigeria; participate in planning and preparation for such trips with the appropriate groups.
- Provide research and requested briefings for staff and leadership and staff on relevant events and activities in Nigeria.
- Regional work: Provide limited support to foundation activities in other countries in the sub-region as well as engage more deeply with regional and Pan-African organizations headquartered in Nigeria, including ECOWAS.
- Operational: Oversee the operating budget and forecasts, expenditures for the foundation's Nigeria presence.
- 10 years of experience with responsibility over multidisciplinary functions in Africa-focused organizations and institutions contributing to the development, design, and management of strategies and initiatives that produce significantly improved global health and/or global development outcomes. An advanced degree preferred.
- Deep understanding of Nigerian social and political landscape and knowledge of local language and culture preferred.
- Exceptional leadership, interpersonal and analytical skills; excellent written and oral communication skills in positions requiring communication with a broad and diverse audience.
- Strong judgment with a demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks with competing priorities. Ability to manage confidential information and situations with efficiency, flexibility, diplomacy, while cultivating trust within the team.
- Experience growing and managing teams in dynamic organizations with complex reporting structures. Experience successfully managing a remote office of a larger organization is a plus.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively at the highest levels of government. Experience working with media and communications agencies desired.
- Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy both individually and as part of a complex team effort.
- Commitment to the foundation's core values, mission, and programs.
- Willingness to travel within Nigeria and the region.
- Sense of humor.
Method of Application
Interested candidates should click here to apply online
Don't miss Jobs like this. Subscribe to our Jobs Alert. Its free. CLICK HERE NOW
Interested candidates should click here to apply online
Don't miss Jobs like this. Subscribe to our Jobs Alert. Its free. CLICK HERE NOW
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(
Atom
)
No comments :
Post a Comment