Deputy Head of Delegation- Programs at Terre des hommes – BORNO
About Terre des hommes Foundation (Tdh)
Terre des hommes (Tdh) is the leading Swiss child relief agency. The Foundation has been helping children in need for over 50 years, defending their rights regardless of their race, creed, or political affiliation. In over 30 countries, Tdh protects children against exploitation, and violence, improves children’s and their mother’s health, and provides emergency psychological and material support in humanitarian crises.
Line Manager: Head of Delegation
Functional Links: Programs/expertise regional & HQ
Line management (direct): Thematic program coordinator (when applicable); Delegation’s technical adviser (when applicable); Project Managers; Project Coordinators; MEAL Manager
Location: Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
Advert Closing date: 22nd September 2025.
Overarching Responsibilities “Main goals”
- Under the Head of Delegation’s supervision, the Deputy Head of Delegation-Programs ensures the supervision of operations at the national level.
- He/She sees to the proper implementation of operations in compliance with the Strategic Planning (SP) of the delegation’s operations in adherence to the general reference framework and the program approach.
- He/She ensures the implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems in the projects and monitor the progress of activities according to pre-established indicators. He/She notifies the Head of Delegation if there is a need to implement corrective measures.
- He/She supervises the program teams.
- He/She feels accountable to the beneficiaries, collaborators and donors.
- In coordination with the Head of Delegation He/She is responsible for the safety of TDH teams under their responsibility and are in charge of the security rules and the delegation’s contingency plans.
- He/She ensures that their teams and partners have been instructed in the security policies and the gen-eral code of conduct and conform to them at all times.
- Through delegation from the Head of Delegation, He/She contributes to managing and assuming ultimate responsibility for all the mission’s risks and aspects of access.
Specific Responsibilities/Context of “tasks”
More specifically He/She has the following responsibilities:
Steering activities:
- Ensures project implementation and activities follow-up according to the program approach and the strategic issues connected to their context(s) (targets, follow-up of scheduled activities, budg-etary activity reports follow-up.
- Informs the Head of Delegation and colleagues involved, if necessary (PROG& EXP, RDF, etc.) of the timelines for execution and propose adjustments where necessary depending on the availa-ble means and in coordination with the teams involved.
- Puts in place a regular system of information and data reporting (e.g. beneficiary counts, indica-tors, steering, etc.) as well as the formal coordination at field level (coordination meetings, re-ports, etc.)
- In coordination with the support staff, ensures that the needs of programs and expertise in terms of financial, logistics and HR means are covered in a professional way within the framework of current and well measured projects for the implementation of new operations (GAP, etc.)
- Ensures that the strategic plan, including the program approach, are properly implemented to at-tain the results as defined in the operational framework and projections planned for by the Foundation.
- In coordination with the M&E department, ensures that the implementation of activities is in harmony with the quality and accountability protocols.
- Participates in the design of assessment methods intended to collect qualitative and quantitative data in terms of program indicators (needs assessment, statistical data, impact studies, etc.)
- In connection with the delegation technical adviser(s), ensures the compliance of technical prac-tices with the Tdh’s remit and the major strategic lines.
- Makes regular visits to programs and activities in the field and informs the Head of Delegation and the other colleagues involved of possible problems, challenges or identified obstacles
Operational strategy
- Follows the evolution of the humanitarian and political context of the country of operations and shares this information with the Head of Delegation and his/her collaborators; actively contributes to drafting the context analysis.
- Actively participates in identifying the needs and proposes adapted responses as part of the implementation of the country strategy in concert with the program coordination team.
- In concert with the program coordinators and experts and the project leaders, in collaboration with the support department and under the supervision of the Head of Delegation, defines the country strategy and interventional plan for the delegation and recommends realistic adjustments if necessary (including in terms of resources where necessary).
- Ensures that the country strategy is in harmony with the Foundation’s values and remit.
Human Resources
- Supervises and oversees a diversified team of thematic coordinators, guaranteeing cohesion and good coordination between them for the successful execution of programs.
- Supports the Head of Delegation in the design and implementation of an organizational structure, participates in defining the roles and responsibilities needed for the proper execution of activities.
- May be led to participate in the recruitment of their collaborators.
- Ensures a constant effort of strengthening national and international teams’ capacity according to the needs identified and proposes internal and external training activities.
- Drafts field job descriptions, participates and leads coordination meetings, resolves any conflicts when required, defines activity priorities and scheduling.
Representation
- Ensures good information reporting from the field to the coordination office.
- Supports the Head of Delegation by taking part in coordination meetings and in this regard, represents Tdh locally with donors, the authorities, partners, etc.
- Ensures Tdh sectorial representation in various forums.
- May be led to act as a Tdh spokesperson with the media upon a request by the Head of Delegation.
Reporting
- Consolidates the monthly drafting of sitreps about monitoring current activities in the delegation and submits them for endorsement to the Head of Delegation
- Contributes to the drafting of intermediary and final reports intended for donors
- Contributes to the drafting of any other document is necessary and upon request
Finance
- In adhering to the GAP, participates in fund-raising and negotiations with donors to ensure adequate funding for current and future programs
- Ensures program budget follow-up together with the heads of the departments involved
Management
- Efficiently directs their collaborators by appropriately delegating with a view to attaining results and developing skills
- Watches over good management practices in line with Tdh values
Safety & security
- Upon delegation by the Head of Delegation, contributes and may be entrusted with the following responsibilities and thus be accountable to the portfolio owner:
- Foresight
- Monitors the world’s security context relevant to the mission
- Identifies the main stakeholders for access to Tdh
- Maintains an information network enabling the follow-up of the changing risks and threats
- Manages and documents the risk context and analysis
- Shares the risk analysis with the staff, the new arrivals and visitors on a regular basis (meetings/regular information sessions)
- Assesses risks and the threats connected to the implementation of Tdh activities throughout the mission
- Chooses and decides on appropriate strategies according to the operations risk/benefits report
- Keeps headquarters in the loop of any new risk taken and any development in the security context
- Preparation
- Designs, defines and manages the implementation of all necessary responses to risks (regulation, training, networking, communications, coordination, etc.)
- Designs and manages/coordinates the mission’s access strategy
- Compiles security plans (rules, procedures, standards, emergency plans) and ensures the sharing and follow-up of the implementation
- Ensures the participation of all staff members in developing the response to risks and security practices
- Acts as mentor for the basic coordinators concerning issues of steering risks and access
- Identifies and assesses the required support, in particular with the sector at risk (training, mentoring, thematic and technical know-how)
- Reaction
- Coordinates and directs the management of incidents
- Informs without delay the portfolio manager of all security incidents or threats that might have an impact on the mission, staff security and/or Tdh business
- Under the management of the headquarter crisis cell (Crisis Management Team), implements a country crisis cell (implementational management team) in case of a critical incident if deemed necessary
- Learning/documentation
- Systematically debriefs the staff members involved in an incident (victims, witnesses and management personnel involved) and compiles/documents return on experience (REX).
- Drafts the reports on every incident connected to security and affecting Tdh staff, and keeps an eye on its consequences
- Identifies gaps in the preparation of a response to risks, and schedules improvements.
Others
- Undertake all other duties that may be determined by the Supervisor.
- Fully comply with Tdh Code of Conduct and ensure Child Safeguarding Policy, PSEA are always upheld.
- Ensure adherence to Tdh standards and quality requirements in all the project activities.
- Adhere to and ensure the team under her/his responsibility follows Tdh administrative and logistical regulations and procedures.
Skills
This function requires possession of fundamental personal, social and leadership skills (CPSLs), technical and methodological skills (CTMs) and Managerial and strategic skills (CMSs)
In particular the following:
- Manages potentially volatile intervention areas
- Represents and explains the Tdh mission and projects
- Ethical and exemplary leadership (secure base), managerial excellence; inspires and motivates collaborators
- High-level team spirit, a strong ability to create cohesiveness
- Shows the way for their colleagues/collaborators
- Knows and applies policies for managing operational risks with the ability to explain them
- Delegates responsibilities and tasks according to skills available in teams
- Fosters and supports the development of the skills of their team(s)
- Manages conflicts in his/her team
- Makes decisions that he/she is responsible for and owns them
- Develops and endorses the strategic plan, the guidelines and governance tools
- Defines policies, establishes budgets and sets the quality standards
- Analyzes program and context in a connected way
- A strong capacity to work under pressure
- Able to make decisions in the uncertainty of potentially high stakes
- Able to schedule and organize in a stressful environment
- Able to analyze, rank and summarize
- Is open minded and bold
As well as the following specific “trade” skills:
- Significant experience in designing and managing projects and implementing multi-sectorial operations.
- Knowledge of humanitarian, practical and standard principles (Sphere)
- Experience in representation (donors, authorities, partners)
- Experience in supervising multicultural teams
- Similar experience in emergency contexts
- Strong organizational capacities, a capacity to operate autonomously, proactively and the strength of initiative, meets deadlines
- An analytical mind
- A results-driven mindset
- Good resistance to stress and an ability to work under pressure
- An excellent ability and ease in expressing themselves in public (conferences, workshops) and to adapt themselves to their audience (governments and local authorities)
Training/Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in social sciences or relevant discipline
Experience
- A minimum of eight years of senior management and development experi-ence in an NGO environment, including experience directing and imple-menting programs for children.
- Robust experience in program cycle management including in emergencies.
- Substantial experience and knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control and managing grants from major institutional donors.
- Experience in more than one of Tdh’s thematic sectors: child protection, health, and nutrition, emergencies.
- Experience managing teams for resource mobilization and submitting pro-posals including large proposals in a wide range of thematic areas.
- Experience working with high-level government agencies and academics on issues related to children.
- Proven experience in new business development, project design, and donor proposal design with corporate, foundations, and institutional donors.
- Proven experience in developing and managing monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems.
Languages
- English and Hausa.
- Kanuri, French, or other languages spoken in Nigeria are considered as-sets.
IT know-how
- Mastery of the usual Microsoft tools
General Code of of Conduct and Tdh’s Risk Management Policies
- S/he commits to complying with the General Code of Conduct and systematically reports any breach of the Code through the Tdh warning procedure raises the awareness within the Foundation on violence and abuse and the rights that derive from them regarding children, community members and our own employees.
- S/he commits to complying with the Risk Management Policies, including Safeguarding policies (the policy of Safeguarding Children, the Policy of Protecting against Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, the Guideline on Abusive Behavior at Work), the Safety/Security Policy and Anti-Fraud/Corruption Policies and the Prevention of Funding Criminal Acivities.
- S/he commits to reducing the risk of abuse by developing an open and informed culture of management within the organization and in our work with children and the communities where we work.
The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are not exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project’s needs.
Hiring Conditions
- Applications will be processed on a rolling basis.
Equal Opportunity Clause
Terre Des Hommes- Nigeria is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and celebrate the differences that make us unique. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
Method of Application:
Interested and qualified candidates should go to:https://forms.gle/rmypY6744tZyutdK8 to apply.
