Position Summary
WomenLift Health is seeking an experienced, innovative and dynamic Nigeria Program Director to design, lead, grow and implement the WomenLift Health Nigeria strategy. Reporting to the WomenLift Health Africa Partnership Director, the Nigeria Director will lead the engagement and implementation with and by Nigerian partner institutions and high-level champions to expand the voice and influence of Nigerian women leaders in health, to influence systemic change in organizations and support a movement. The Nigeria Director must have excellent skills engaging and building partnerships with a deep understanding of the Nigerian context, at both national and state levels. The Director must thrive in a dynamic and creative work environment, be a self-starter and be a passionate change agent for advancing women’s leadership.
Our Vision and Mission – WomenLift Health is committed to expanding the power and influence of talented women in global health and catalyzing systemic change to achieve gender equality in leadership. We envision a world where diverse, accomplished leaders collectively transform health outcomes.
Our Work – Established in 2019, we work to advance equality in health leadership through a range of actions at the individual, institutional, and societal levels. This includes a “Leadership Journey,” which focuses on giving mid-career women the tools, along with peer, mentor and coach support, to successfully use their voice, expertise and leadership for impact. It includes pushing conversations and partnerships with health institutions, taking steps to prioritize gender equality. It also includes driving a global conversation about the importance of women’s leadership, amplifying the voices of national and global health leaders including at our annual conference, Women Leaders in Global Health.
Our Culture and Values – We are building a diverse, entrepreneurial team of people who bring unique cultural and technical perspectives and experiences. We welcome results-oriented problem-solvers of any nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability. We are a growing organization that is committed to building a culture with our partners that values:
● Collaborative leadership that celebrates diverse perspectives and experiences and ensures everyone contributes to their full potential.
● Partnership grounded in humility, respect, empathy, and inclusion.
● Transformative change based upon bold, strategic thinking combined with adaptability and pragmatic action.
● Spirit of learning that ensures we are open, forward-looking, constructive, and committed to growing collectively and individually.
● Achieving impact by improving global health and gender equality.
Responsibilities and Tasks
● Support the establishment and growth of WomenLift Health’s presence in Nigeria including setting up an appropriate structure and governance mechanisms and hiring and leading a small team of staff.
● Independently develop and support a consortium of Nigerian institutions including those focused on health, leadership, and gender equality to advance women’s leadership in health.
● Independently engage with leaders of WomenLift Health partners in Nigeria to:
o Develop an Nigeria countrywide partner engagement strategy for WomenLift Health
o Establish and support an Nigerian advisory group composed of senior leaders from across the country in different sectors (public, private, NGO)
o Create and execute mechanisms and a culture that encourages partners to engage in the WomenLift Health Pan-African and global network
o As a member of the senior leadership team, engage with and provide guidance to the WomenLift Health Executive Director, Africa Partnership Director and other senior leaders on best ways to mitigate risk and leverage strategic opportunities
o Support key partners to invest in sharing and receiving best practices and other learning
o Work with other WomenLift Program Directors in Africa and the Africa Partnership Director to develop shared learning, goals, and objectives for the continent.
● Lead efforts to identify institutional partners and negotiate agreements with them (workplans, budgets and monitoring plans) to help design and implement WomenLift Health activities in Nigeria including:
o Establishing the processes and systems to support cohorts of Nigerian women leaders in the 1-year long Leadership Journey beginning with 1 cohort per year (starting in 2022/2023) and scaling to 2-3 cohorts per year within 5 years.
▪ Establishing and supporting the network of women leader alumni
o Integrating women’s leadership topics and speakers in planned Nigerian conferences and meetings
o Designing and supporting national and State-level efforts to advance women’s leadership in the Nigerian health systems (public, private, NGO). This may, for example, include supporting a multi-partner Roadmap for change.
o Engaging with and supporting select organizational leaders in creating more gender friendly work environments
● Design and lead efforts to increase brand and mission visibility of WomenLift Health, its objectives, strategy and partnerships, as well as contextualizing core messaging on the value and challenges of Nigerian women’s leadership in health.
● Be a regional spokesperson for WomenLift Health, engaging as a speaker, panelist and participant at priority conferences and meetings.
● As a senior leader in WomenLift Health, contribute to the design and implementation of the global strategy and workplans.
Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability
● Minimum Bachelor's degree, Master’s degree preferred
● Minimum 10 years related global, regional or national experience in health, gender equality, leadership and/or development in an Nigerian context
● Proven track record independently developing and executing a country wide engagement strategy working with Nigerian partners
● Strong strategic and tactical thinking ability
● Strong communication and engagement skills
● Strong influencing, negotiating and relationship management skills
● Established network of personal and institutional relationships in Nigeria relevant to development, health, gender equality and/or leadership
● Proven capacity to engage and support high-level leaders including CEOs and heads of agencies in Nigeria
● Depth of experience, sensitivity, maturity and confidence befitting a strategic leadership position
● Proven ability to manage large and complex issues through diverse and competing interests
● Demonstrated ability to earn credibility and influence opinion leaders
● Proactive, self-starter able to work independently
● Fluency in English (written, spoken, reading)