Project Director

Position Summary

Reporting to the Head of Programs, the Project Director assumes a leadership role in overseeing and directing JRS Nigeria's diverse interventions (Education in Emergencies, Protection, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Livelihoods) within their designated area. This position ensures projects are implemented in a timely and compliant manner, addressing contextual relevance and responding to priority needs identified through assessments. The Project Director also serves as JRS's representative at the field level, engaging with stakeholders and coordination bodies, maintaining fluid communication between field and country office teams, and managing security protocols, including adherence to safety measures, contingency planning, and standard operating procedures.

Key Duties

Provide strategic guidance and management oversight for the execution of JRS's multi-sectoral humanitarian initiatives across assigned regions, ensuring timely and effective delivery aligned with JRS's country strategy and ECHO requirements.
Orchestrate project planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and reporting, ensuring adherence to donor (including ECHO) stipulations and internal JRS policies.
Guarantee program activities address priority needs identified in the MSNA, encompassing education, protection, and livelihoods, with a strong focus on inclusion, quality, and sustainability.
Spearhead and supervise multi-disciplinary teams, offering guidance, tracking objectives, and conducting performance evaluations while addressing staff welfare and interpersonal matters in collaboration with HR.
Champion the Safe School Declaration (SSD), Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), safeguarding, and child protection standards across all project components, ensuring all staff are trained and protocols are consistently followed.
Ensure punctual and high-quality donor and internal reporting, including situation reports, incident reports, and contractual project updates.
Spearhead needs assessments and project design in conjunction with technical leads and field teams, ensuring alignment with donor formats and internal protocols.
Supervise budget monitoring and cost optimization, participating in cross-departmental budget analysis (Programs, HR, Logistics, Finance), identifying anomalies, and proposing corrective measures.
Foster robust stakeholder engagement and representation, attending coordination forums (Education in Emergencies Working Group, Child Protection Working Group, Gender-Based Violence Sub-Sector, INGO Forum, etc.) and ensuring effective collaboration with government, Local Government Education Authorities, and community actors.
Ensure field office safety plans are current and staff are thoroughly briefed, while facilitating smooth logistics, administration, and compliance across operational sites.
Ensure adherence to JRS internal rules and procedures, and represent JRS professionally in line with organizational values, neutrality, and local cultural norms.
Support activation and oversight of the crisis modifier, ensuring rapid response capacity for emerging needs in line with predefined thresholds and protocols.
Contribute as a member of the Country Management Team (CMT) to broader strategic goals and undertake additional responsibilities as assigned by the Country Director.
The responsibilities outlined in this job description are non-exhaustive and may evolve based on organizational needs and contextual developments.

Required Qualifications

Educational Background

Advanced degree in Education, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or related disciplines.
Minimum of 7 years' experience managing multi-sectoral humanitarian programs, preferably in Northeast Nigeria.
Robust knowledge of Education in Emergencies, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Livelihoods in emergency contexts.
Demonstrated proficiency in project cycle management and ECHO compliance.
Exceptional representation, coordination, and communication abilities.
Fluency in English; knowledge of Hausa/Kanuri is advantageous.
Willingness to travel frequently to field locations (Dikwa, Monguno, Ngala).

Competencies and Skills

Strong leadership, team management, and supervisory skills, with the ability to delegate effectively and manage teams remotely in high-pressure and insecure environments.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and diplomatic skills, with the ability to manage relationships across diverse stakeholders and represent JRS to local authorities and coordination bodies.
Proven experience in project and security management, including contextual analysis and implementation of safety protocols and contingency planning.
Strong analytical, writing, and presentation skills, with exceptional ability to produce high-quality reports and documentation.
Comprehensive knowledge of institutional donor requirements, financial guidelines, and humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
Proficiency in MS Office applications and capacity to adapt tools and approaches to evolving operational needs.
Ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative, and adapt to changing priorities with a strong sense of responsibility and professionalism.
Flexible, well-organized, and committed to developing team capacity and fostering a supportive working environment.
Cultural sensitivity, with the ability to integrate political, economic, and social dynamics into program design and implementation.

JRS is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic.