General coordinator (head of mission) (F/M) – Nigeria

For more than 40 years, Médecins du Monde, a campaigning medical organisation committed to international solidarity, has been caring for the most vulnerable populations here and abroad. It has continued to bear witness to obstacles that exist in accessing healthcare and has secured sustainable improvements in health-for-all policies.

Those working for this independent organisation do not solely dispense care and treatment but condemn violations of human dignity and rights and fight to improve matters for populations living in precarious situations.

MdM France currently works in 30 countries across all continents to facilitate access to healthcare through 6 political battles:

• Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
• Migration, Exile, Human Rights and Health
• Harm Reduction
• Environment and Health
• Humanitarian Space
• Healthcare systems and rights

MdM has been active in North-East Nigeria since 2016. The program is implemented around the main following components:

• Access to primary healthcare
• Gender based violence survivors’ treatment
• Mental health and psychological support.

Untill recently MdM’s intervention was pretty much emergency oriented, with five MdM runned clinics plus an emergency response team (ERT) for rapid response to sudden population displacements and cholera outbreaks. The mission is now shifting its logic of intervention towards a Nexus approach: ERT team doesn’t exist anymore and we are slowly shifting from substitution programming (MdM clinics) to the support to State MoH health facilities in a bid to foster sustainability.

Currently, MdM has its coordination office in Abuja, a field office in Maiduguri City and a sub office in Damboa. A new project is deployed in the North West of the country (Katsina) so as to respond to the internal crisis that is worsen by the Niger crisis including a mobile clinic and support to the MoH structures.

The team is composed of around 10 expatriates and 200 national staffs.

Job description

Under the supervision of the desk manager (based in HQ), you are in charge of the overall strategic leadership and direction of the MdM Nigeria mission to achieve the organizational mission and objectives.

You will supervise over four bases within the country: Abuja coordination unit, Maiduguri base, Damboa base and Katsina base) and indirectly supervise a team of approximately 200 people.

More specifically, your main responsibilities are the following:

• Recruit, manage, train and motivate the mission’s team
• Define the operational and advocacy strategy together with the coordination team, the desk manager and the volunteer board delegates of the mission
• Plan and monitor activities, implement corrective action when necessary, providing technical support to the team
• Represent MdM with authorities, local actors, partners, donors and the media
• Monitor partnership agreements with partners, authorities and donors, seek out and develop new partnerships, and ensure or supervise fundraising
• Ensure the financial coverage of the mission by leading fundraising and budget management
• Draft, adapt and monitor safety regulations and procedures and coordinate crisis management in the region
• Implement and monitor the application of MdM’s programmatic and support services framework, policies and procedures
• Supervise reporting to MdM and donors

Profile

• Higher education in project management or general field of study (five years post-secondary education)
• Minimum three year experience in a similar position with an international NGO working in emergency contexts, preferably within the health sector, or previous field experience with MdM in different contexts
• Experience in supervision and management of a large expatriate and national team
• Substantial experience in safety and security management in volatile contexts
• Previous experience in Nigeria is an asset
• Analyse the issues and challenges in the region
• Adapt language and feedback to the audience
• Analyse the external risks and threats to the security of teams, report on it
• Manage and follow a budget
• Prioritise and adapt plans to unforeseen events
• Identify sources of information and actors, and analyse the political, social and economic context
• Identify the levers and barriers to advocacy work
• Understand national and regional strategies and donors, negotiate with donors and the authorities
• Strong leadership skills and a supportive management style
• Diplomacy, negotiation and networking skills
• Reactivity, anticipation, adaptability and capacity to take initiatives
• Strong problem solving and organisational skills in day to day and crisis situations
• Ability to classify and to manage priorities
• Good Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Word…)
• Languages: fluent English mandatory (oral and written). Knowledge of the country languages such as Hawsa or French would be an asset
• You embrace the core values and support the proactive philosophy of Médecins du Monde.

Conditions of employment

• Starting date : October 14th, 2024
• 12-month contract
• Gross monthly salary: €3,964
• Position based in Abuja with regular field visits to sites of intervention or assessment.
• Premium equal to one month salary paid in two instalments – minimum of 6 months seniority required
• Expatriation bonus (10% gross salary per month)
• Transportation cost, vaccines and visas covered
• Guesthouse housing
• 22.5 recovery days per year
• 5 weeks of paid leaves per year
• Health insurance (60% covered by MdM and 40% by the employee)
• Insurance (repatriation…)

Médecins du Monde promotes trainings and internal mobility

As part of our measures to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism, any selected candidate may be subject to a background check on international sanctions lists (UN, the EU, France, the United States…). This information is handled confidentially and stored on a secure server. For more information on the processing of personal data throughout this process.

TELEPHONE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Médecins du Monde reserves the right to fill the vacancy before the closing date for applications.

MdM stands up for the integration of people living with disabilities and fights against discrimination.

More Information

• Job City Abuja