Project HOPE, a leading international humanitarian health organisation, is recruiting a Country Director for Nigeria, a senior executive role that will oversee strategy, programs, partnerships, and operations in the health sector across Nigeria. The position is full-time, international, and based in Abuja, reporting to the Regional Director, Africa.
The role places the successful candidate at the centre of Nigeria’s public health and humanitarian ecosystem, with responsibility for leading large-scale donor-funded health programmes, managing multi-disciplinary teams, and representing Project HOPE to government, multilateral institutions, and development partners.
About Project HOPE
Founded more than 60 years ago, Project HOPE is a globally respected health-focused NGO that has:
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Treated millions of patients worldwide
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Delivered over $3 billion worth of medicines to health systems
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Built and scaled hundreds of health programmes
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Responded to major humanitarian and emergency health crises across continents
The organisation works at the intersection of health systems strengthening, emergency response, maternal and child health, and community-based care, partnering with governments, donors, and local institutions to deliver sustainable impact.
Role Overview: Country Director, Project HOPE Nigeria
The Country Director (CD) holds full delegated authority for strategic, programmatic, financial, human resources, and security decision-making for Project HOPE’s Nigeria operations, within parameters set by headquarters and the Africa Regional Office.
The role combines executive leadership, technical oversight, donor engagement, and country-level representation, making it one of the most senior NGO leadership positions in Nigeria’s health sector.
Key Responsibilities
1. Programme Leadership & Technical Oversight
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Lead the design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management of all Project HOPE programmes in Nigeria
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Supervise Programme Directors and Managers, ensuring delivery on time, on budget, and to donor standards
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Oversee production of quarterly and annual programme reports, work plans, and learning documentation
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Contribute to proposal development and portfolio expansion aligned with national health priorities
2. Strategy, Growth & Compliance
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Develop and implement Nigeria’s country strategy in alignment with Project HOPE’s global framework
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Consolidate safeguarding, compliance, risk management, investigations, and security governance
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Ensure adherence to donor regulations, Nigerian law, and organisational policies
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Roll out protection risk assessments and community feedback mechanisms
3. Finance, Administration & Human Resources
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Provide executive oversight of finance, procurement, asset management, and HR systems
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Manage complex donor-funded budgets and ensure audit compliance
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Lead recruitment, performance management, and leadership development of national staff
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Ensure timely financial reporting and budget monitoring across all programmes
4. Representation, Partnerships & Donor Relations
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Serve as Project HOPE’s principal representative to Nigerian government authorities, donors, UN agencies, and NGOs
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Maintain active engagement with USAID, CDC, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNAIDS, and other partners
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Lead donor visits, government relations, advocacy, and portfolio growth efforts
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Strengthen collaboration with the Lafia Initiative for Health and Development (LIHD) and other partners
5. Security & Duty of Care
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Hold ultimate responsibility for staff, asset, and operational security in Nigeria
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Lead incident response, contingency planning, and evacuation protocols
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Ensure compliance with Project HOPE’s global security standards and reporting requirements
Required Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
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Medical degree plus a Master’s in Public Health or related field
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15+ years of field-based experience in global health or humanitarian programming
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At least 10 years in senior leadership roles managing complex, donor-funded programmes
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Experience with US Government-funded programmes, including RMNCH
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Proven expertise in strategic planning, financial management, compliance, and team leadership
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Strong writing, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills
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Full professional proficiency in English
Preferred Profile
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Established relationships within the humanitarian and emergency response ecosystem
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Strong people leadership, resilience, and cross-cultural management skills
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Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in high-pressure and hardship environments
Nigeria remains one of the most complex and consequential public health environments globally. The Country Director role offers a rare opportunity to shape national health outcomes, steward significant donor resources, and lead mission-critical programmes with long-term social impact.
For senior global health leaders, this position combines policy influence, operational control, and humanitarian leadership at scale.