Nigeria Country Representative Pathfinder International

Pathfinder Overview
Pathfinder International is a global leader in sexual and reproductive health. We place reproductive health care at the center of all that we do—believing that it is not only a fundamental human right, but is critical for expanding life opportunities for women, families, communities, and nations, and paving the way for transformations in environmental stewardship, decreases in population pressures, and innovations in poverty reduction. Pathfinder provides women, men, and adolescents with a range of quality health services—from contraception and maternal care to HIV prevention and AIDS care and treatment. Pathfinder strives to strengthen access to family planning, ensure availability of safe abortion services and post-abortion care, advocate for sound reproductive health policies, and, through all of our work, improve the rights and lives of the people we serve.

Program Overview
Pathfinder International’s Nigeria program activities include the implementation of the Clinic and Community Action to Address Post-Partum Hemorrhage Project funded by Mac-Arthur foundation with the objective of reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in 62 health facilities and 34 communities across 7 states (Kano, Katsina, Oyo, Lagos, Ebonyi, Nasarawa and Yobe states); the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AID (PMTCT) Project in Edo and Kano States funding by CDC that seeks to establish, strengthen and scale-up PMTCT and counseling and testing service in 14 facilities; and the Community Actions to Improve Safe Motherhood Project based in the north western state of Katsina supported by the World Bank. Pathfinder Nigeria is also strengthening the capacity of Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN), a local faith based organization to undertake activities aimed at prevention, management and rehabilitation of Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) cases in Kaduna state with funding from Bella jar Foundation. The project provides intensive capacity building support for two local community-based organizations which will address quality of care issues at the comprehensive health center and surrounding primary health centers. With funds from the Ford Foundation, The International Ford Fellowship Program in West Africa has been coordinated by the Association of African Universities, with the Nigerian component facilitated by Pathfinder. This program expands educational opportunities and fosters social justice initiatives and dialogues for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Position Purpose
The Country Representative coordinates, manages and increases visability and funding for Pathfinder International programs in Nigeria. S/he prominently positions Pathfinder as a leader in the field of maternal and newborn care, HIV/AIDS, Adolescents, Systems Strengthening, and Community Outreach and as a successful partner in the development and cost effective implementation of USG and private funded programs. The Country Representative works closely with Pathfinder International’s in-country and Headquarters staff to conceptualize and plan program development activities, diversify funding resources, and build on country and international best practices.

The Country Representative also provides strategic leadership and managerial oversight of the administrative, programmatic, technical, financial and operational aspects of Pathfinder International’s Nigeria Program. S/he ensures that program objectives are met, all activities are responsive to the needs of the host country, and the program continues to advance and play a key role in contributing to Pathfinder International’s development within Nigeria. The Country Representative in this position also oversees one small project in northern Ghana that is suppoted by the Safe Aborortion Action Fund.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Representation
•Serve as the primary representative for Pathfinder International on all matters related to the Country Program. Meet regularly with donors, partners, local Government agencies, and other key stakeholders to share progress, accomplishments, and challenges.
•Be a vigilent voice for justice for reproductive rights and health and work strategically to incorporate into our implementing partners integrity and committment to relevant parties both within country and Pathfinder. Work to remove policy impedements in reprodiuctive health and rights and to foster and forge improvements.
•Use the Theory of Change to guide country strategies; create a timeline to implement strategy; contribute to organizational TOC goals and continuously evaluate country level progress for achieving organizational strategic goals.
•Provide periodic updates to the Pathfinder staff worldwide on the progress made, technical direction, approaches, challenges, successes, and lessons learned in managing the country Program.
•In all matters, develop and foster a strong partner relationship with Head Quarters to build a unified organization working in concert to achieve organizational goals.

Strategy
•Utilize a participatory approach to developing and updating the Country strategic plan, ensuring that programmatic directions are technically sound, evidence-based and consistent with Pathfinder’s country priorities.
•Ensure local organizations are developed and strengthened to become successful, sustainable bodies to promote RH/FP in their respective communities and countries.

Administration
•Implement administrative and financial operations of the Program, ensuring compliance and ethical standards, corporate philosophy, local laws and with Pathfinder International’s policy and contract provisions.
•Develop management policies and procedures to ensure efficiency, quality, and all resources are in place, adhered to, and in compliance with local laws, donor rules and regulations.
•Contract and manage local individuals/organizations for identified tasks according to donor and Pathfinder International procedures. Negotiate consultancy agreements, provide training and/or develop capacity of local partners in mandated program areas.
•Ensure that security guidelines and procedures are established, maintained, updated regularly and adhered to by the Country team. Monitor the security situation and provide leadership for staff in emergencies.
•Protect the organization’s resources and assets and ensure that they are used efficiently in furtherance of PI mission and programs.

Human Resources Management
•Build a culture and a work environment where every employee regardless of role/title feels s/he contributes to the larger purpose of reproductive health and rights.
•Build a high performing team focusing resources on employee retention, professional development, organizational culture and staff morale.
•Manage the HR function in the country ensuring Pathfinder policies and standards are maintained.
•Hire and supervise the HR Manager in the development of local Handbooks, staff morale, customized policies, HR reports, procedures, systems, maintenance of personnel files and other legally required documentation.
•Ensure compliance with local labor laws and practice.
•Select, hire and supervise staff and subcontractors; assign roles and responsibilities, manage performance and monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the work.

Program Management
•Directs the successful programmatic, technical and financial implementation of the country’s programs and awards including the timely completion of high quality reports, work plans, performance objectives and other mandated deliverables.
•Undertake travel within the Country as necessary for the development of new projects and monitoring of ongoing Program activities.
•Partner successfully with PI’s and Headquarters financial, technical, and program operations backstop officers by providing accurate and timely reporting and updates on the Program progress and difficulties.
•Contribute to other country programs, provide technical assistance, support and foster cross country collaboration and fertilization.
•Serve on the Country Representative Council.
•Promote and enable in-country staff to travel and assist other countries in service to professional growth and development as well as organizational capacity building.
•Oversee all subgrantee relationships to ensure that subgrantees are accomplishing programmatic objectives and that both PI and the subgrantees comply with applicable rules and policies.
•Document technical components of materials and Program achievements for communications materials such as annual reports, brochures, and website updates.
•Monitor the country program progress and achievements vis a vis the goals and objectives utilizing tools and methods developed by Pathfinder and in alignment with donor requirements.

Financial Management
•Develop and prepare the budget and manage expenses within approved budget.
•Maintain all internal controls and ensure that the controls are operating effectively.
•Report on financial results. Approve the monthly operating report.

Fundraising/Development
•Maintain close working relationships with the Headquarters Director of Business Development and Director of Foundation Relations to implement regional program development strategies and to diversify funding resources.
•Gather information/intelligence from the field on future and current funding opportunities and communicate these to Headquarters.
•Monitor, identify, pursue and negotiate funding opportunities with various donors and partners to expand Pathfinder's in-country activities in close colaboration with New Business and Resource Development.
•Maintain an awareness of the programs conducted by other international NGOs including but not limited to RH/FP and HIV/AIDS.
•Promote Pathfinder International by attending meetings, delivering presentations and cultivating positive, productive relationships with donors, partners, Ministry of Health, and other governmental agencies.
•Assist with the creation of proposal teams, and lead, manage and/or respond to proposals.

Basic Requirements
•Master’s degree in public health, social sciences or related field.
•Minimum of 10 years of experience managing mid-large scale donor funded Reproductive Health projects in developing and transitioning countries including operations and financial management experience in developing countries.
•Participated in high level strategic visioning and planning.
•Proven record of successful fundraising from diverse public and private sources.
•Strong business development expertise, including proposal writing and negotiation skills.
•Hands-on experience working effectively with local, regional and central-level government authorities.
•Demonstrated experience in successfully fulfilling performance objectives, including the timely implementation and reporting of donor-funded program activities.
•Proven experience working with a variety of donors and the diversity of requirements (regulations and administrative procedures) including USAID, multi-laterals, bi-laterals and US foundations.
•Proven experience in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating development and intervention activities in the health sector.
•Direct senior staff supervision experience required.
•In-depth knowledge of public and/or private health systems and decentralization of services in Reproductive Health.
•Excellent diplomatic, interpersonal and communication (written and verbal) skills.
•Proven ability to create and maintain effective working relations with senior Government personnel, international organizations, NGO partners, host country governments, and U. S. Government Agencies.
•Demonstrated ability to manage, motivate, mentor and direct all levels of staff while creating a positive team environment.
•Excellent knowledge of the political, social, economic, and cultural context of working in Nigeria.
•Strong presentation skills including the ability to present results and products to USAID and other key stakeholders.
•Thorough understanding of and ability to analyze finanical documents, projections, expenditures and accruals.
•Expert computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
•Must be fluent in English.
•Position requires up to 25% in-county travel depending upon project needs.
•Occasional travel to the US Headquarters may be required.

Preferred Qualifications
•Experience managing USAID-funded activities desirable.
•Knowledge of accounting software helpful.

Please apply online at www.pathfinder.org

Pathfinder International is proud to be an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer.