One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI) is a nonprofit organization advancing One Health through integrated programmes in public health, animal health and welfare, sustainable food systems, environmental conservation, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), health security, research, innovation, policy, and capacity strengthening across Africa.
As OHDI continues to expand its portfolio of programmes, partnerships, funding, and institutional impact, we are seeking an experienced and visionary Senior Program and Operations Manager to join our Senior Management Team (SMT).
This is a strategic leadership role responsible for providing operational oversight, programme coordination, institutional strengthening, and organizational performance management. Working closely with the Executive Director and the Board of Trustees and Advisors, the successful candidate will help translate OHDI’s strategic priorities into measurable impact while ensuring excellence in programme delivery and organizational operations.
Position Summary
Position: Senior Program and Operations Manager
Location: Hybrid. (Preferably in Abuja, Nigeria – with local and international travel as required)
Reports to: Executive Director and OHDI Board
Employment Type: Full-time
As the principal operational lead within the organization, the Senior Program and Operations Manager will oversee programme implementation, operational systems, staff performance, organizational coordination, donor compliance, and institutional growth. The position serves as the primary management link between programme teams and the Executive Director, ensuring that organizational priorities are implemented efficiently and effectively.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will provide leadership across the following areas:
- Strategic Programme Leadership
- Support the Executive Director in translating OHDI’s Strategic Plan into annual operational priorities.
- Lead the implementation of organizational strategic initiatives.
- Coordinate implementation across all programme portfolios.
- Monitor organizational performance against strategic objectives.
- Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and operational priorities.
- Recommend strategic improvements to strengthen organizational effectiveness.
- Ensure timely achievement of programme milestones and institutional targets.
- Programme Management Oversight: Provide direct oversight to all programme teams by supervising Programme Managers and Coordinators, reviewing work plans, monitoring implementation timelines, ensuring the quality of programme delivery, coordinating cross-programme collaboration, resolving implementation bottlenecks and ensuring donor deliverables are met to set standards and best practices.
- Organizational Operations: Lead day-to-day organizational operations and ensure smooth organizational functioning across all departments including operational planning, internal coordination, administrative systems, resource allocation, organizational workflows, staff coordination, and internal communication
- Team Leadership and Performance Management: Supervise programme and operational staff, conduct regular performance reviews, mentor and coach staff, support recruitment processes, identify staff capacity needs, foster teamwork and accountability and promote organizational culture and values.
- Executive Support: Act as the Executive Director’s primary operational support by coordinating implementation of Executive Management decisions, monitoring organizational KPIs, ensuring timely follow-up on action points, coordinating quarterly organizational reviews, supporting Board reporting where required, managing cross-departmental coordination and serving as Acting Executive Director when delegated.
- Monitoring, Learning and Performance: Oversee organizational performance by tracking key organizational KPIs, reviewing programme dashboards, monitoring implementation progress of M&E frameworks to assess program impact and effectiveness, supporting organizational learning, coordinating quarterly performance reviews and promoting evidence-based decision making.
- Partnership and Stakeholder Coordination: Support institutional engagement and maintain positive working relationships and coordinate institutional engagements where delegated with government partners, development partners, universities, NGOs, private sector, consultants and donors
- Financial and Resource Oversight: Working closely with Finance to monitor programme budgets, track expenditure, support budget planning, ensure efficient resource utilization., monitor procurement planning, and support financial accountability.
- Risk, Compliance and Quality Assurance: Monitor organizational risks, ensure policy compliance, strengthen internal controls, improve operational systems, ensure donor compliance and promote quality standards across programmes.
- Institutional Development: Support organizational growth through improving systems, developing SOPs, strengthening organizational processes, supporting strategic planning, identifying operational innovations, and driving continuous improvement.
- Resource Mobilization: support proposal development, coordinate programme inputs into funding opportunities, track funding pipelines, support donor engagement, strengthen strategic partnerships, and identify opportunities for organizational growth.
Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should possess:
- A minimum of a Master’s degree in Public Health, Veterinary Medicine, One Health, Development Studies, Project Management, Business Administration, International Development, or a related field.
- Professional certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification are desirable. Additional training in leadership, management, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), or financial management will be an added advantage.
- A minimum of 8–10 years of relevant professional experience.
- At least 5 years of experience managing programmes at national and/or regional levels.
- Demonstrated experience supervising multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience managing donor-funded programmes.
- Experience working with government institutions, development partners, and other key stakeholders.
- Strong experience in strategic planning, organizational management, and institutional development.
- Experience in One Health, public health, animal health, agriculture, food systems, international development, environmental health, health security, AMR, or related sectors.
Competencies
The ideal candidate should demonstrate:
- Leadership: Strategic thinking, decision making, people management, coaching, delegation and accountability
- Technical: Programme management, operations management, project planning, monitoring and evaluation, risk management, and budget management
- Personal: Excellent communication, strong organizational skills, problem solving, emotional intelligence, professional integrity, adaptability and initiative
What We Offer
- A senior leadership opportunity within a growing global nonprofit organization.
- The opportunity to shape ambitious and impactful programmes that advance One Health and sustainable development across Africa and a global scale
- A collaborative, multidisciplinary, mission and innovation-driven work environment.
- Opportunities for professional growth and strategic leadership.
- Competitive remuneration commensurate with qualifications and experience.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should complete the online application form and upload the requested documents.
Application Deadline: 31st July, 2026
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process.
Join us in strengthening One Health systems, advancing organizational excellence, and delivering sustainable impact across Africa.
For any concerns, contact us at info@onehealthdev.org
