Senior Project Director — Hope-PHC & Hope-GOV Programs

Role Summary

This person will lead the full lifecycle execution of the Hope-PHC World Bank program across five northern Nigerian states, with working knowledge of its dependency on the Hope-GOV fiscal governance program. They will be the single accountable leader coordinating all subsidiaries, managing state government relationships, and ensuring the company hits the DLI-linked milestones that trigger payment.

Core Responsibilities

Government & Institutional Engagement

• Build and own relationships with State Ministries of Health, Water Boards, SPHCDAs, SSHIAs, and State PIUs in all 5 states

• Manage the Subsidiary Agreement process and ensure states meet annual eligibility criteria

• Navigate State Steering Committees and SWAp desk focal officers

• Monitor Hope-GOV prerequisite compliance at state level — budget publication, IPSAS-aligned audited statements, and quarterly PHC budget reports — as these directly gate Hope-PHC disbursements

Program Execution

• Oversee full Hope-PHC implementation across health facility readiness and WASH infrastructure workstreams

• Coordinate across 3+ subsidiary companies as if running an internal joint venture

• Ensure DLI compliance from day one, building IVA verification readiness into every deliverable

• Anticipate and manage the interdependencies between Hope-GOV fiscal milestones and Hope-PHC activity timelines

Financial & Disbursement Management

• Manage the World Bank → Federal → State → Agency → Company payment chain

• Track state budget release cycles and align company cash flow accordingly

• Strategically manage advance financing mechanisms to pre-fund activities

Risk & Compliance

• Maintain fiduciary discipline and internal controls to World Bank standards

• Monitor verification quality gaps and build compliance into deliverables from inception

Requirements
Required Experience

Non-Negotiable

• Minimum 10 years in international development or public sector infrastructure in Nigeria

• Demonstrated experience managing World Bank-funded projects (PforR instrument specifically, not just traditional lending)

• Prior hands-on work at state government level in Nigeria — not federal

• Fluency with Nigerian public procurement processes (BPPSA and State procurement codes)

Strongly Preferred

• Direct experience on previous World Bank state-level programs in Nigeria (health, WASH, or social sectors)

• Familiarity with fiscal governance reform programs — IPSAS, budget transparency, or public financial management at state level (directly relevant to Hope-GOV linkages)

• Northern Nigeria operational experience — Katsina, Kaduna, or Plateau ideally

• Background in health infrastructure, primary healthcare systems, or WASH

• Experience coordinating multi-entity consortia or subsidiaries under a lead implementer structure

Skills

• DLI design, tracking, and IVA preparation across both Hope-PHC and Hope-GOV linked indicators

• State-level political navigation — Governors' offices, commissioners, and agency DGs

• Strong financial management — IPSAS-aligned reporting, audit-readiness, fiduciary controls

• Program Operations Manual (POM) interpretation and compliance