The Deputy Project Director provides strategic oversight to ensure the programme achieves its intended results while maintaining strong commercial relevance and partnership effectiveness.
Working closely with the Project Director, the Deputy Project Director monitors programme performance against key indicators, provides high-level technical and strategic guidance, strengthens relationships with strategic partners, and supports adaptive decision-making throughout implementation.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Programme Oversight and Performance:

Provide strategic oversight to ensure programme implementation remains aligned with overall objectives, expected outcomes, and contractual commitments.
Review programme performance against key performance indicators, including job creation, youth-led entrepreneurship, enterprise development, private sector engagement, and market systems strengthening.
Provide strategic advice to the Project Director and senior management on programme direction, emerging opportunities, and implementation risks.
Review programme performance reports and recommend corrective actions where necessary.
Participate in periodic programme reviews and strategic planning sessions.

Commercial Strategy and Partnership Development:

Lead the programme’s commercial and partnership strategy to strengthen private-sector participation and long-term sustainability.
Build and maintain relationships with agribusinesses, processors, exporters, financial institutions, investors, input suppliers, and other strategic partners.
Identify opportunities for market expansion, private investment, and commercial partnerships that support programme objectives.
Support negotiations and strategic engagement with high-level public and private sector stakeholders.
Advise on approaches that improve the commercial viability and sustainability of programme interventions beyond the project lifecycle.

Governance, Risk Management and Quality Assurance:

Provide independent oversight of programme quality, implementation progress, and delivery standards across all implementation states.
Review strategic risks affecting programme delivery and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.
Support compliance with donor requirements, organisational policies, safeguarding standards, and contractual obligations.
Promote learning and adaptive management by reviewing programme evidence, lessons learned, and performance data to inform strategic decision-making.
Support the Project Director in presenting programme progress and strategic updates to senior stakeholders where required.

Qualifications and Experience
Essential:

Master’s Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Business Administration, Economics, Project Management, or a related discipline.
Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible experience leading large-scale agricultural, private sector development, or market systems programmes.
Demonstrated experience providing strategic oversight for complex, multi-state or national development programmes.

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Senior-level Project, program management jobs in Abuja, Nigeria