The Team Leader, based at the EF office in Abuja, will report hierarchically to the Head of Pharmacy and Health Population Unit at Expertise France headquarters in Paris. S/he will work closely with the Project Officer and Project Assistant at the headquarters and will directly manage the support team members based in Abuja (see below). The Team Leader will collaborate with other Project Managers from Expertise France in Abuja and maintain regular contact with the "France team" in Abuja, including AFD and the French Embassy, while working in close coordination with Nigerian authorities.

S/he will be responsible for the overall coordination and management of the project, overseeing the Abuja-based project unit, which includes roles dedicated to administration, finance, logistics, security, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL), and project operations, such as the Administration and Finance Manager, Officer, Accounting Assistants, Logistics and Security Officer, MEAL Officer, and Driver.

The key responsibilities of the Team Leader include the following:

Strategic and Operational Project Management

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the project, ensuring alignment with contractual frameworks and consultation with all stakeholders, including Expertise France headquarters and the Project Coordination Committee (PCC).
• Provide overall leadership and direction for the implementation of the QUALIMEDS project in line with Nigeria’s National Plan and the EU's MAV+ framework.
• Ensure alignment of project activities with national health strategies, MAV+ objectives, and AFD/Expertise France priorities.
• Foster strong collaboration with national authorities (NIPRD, FMoH, NAFDAC), EU Delegation, and implementing partners.
• Define and manage both strategic and operational project goals, ensuring coherence with existing and forthcoming policies, programs, and initiatives in Nigeria.
• Oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of project activities, ensuring timely delivery of outputs and alignment with objectives, logframe targets, and budget.
• Supervise the financial and accounting management in accordance with Expertise France and EU guidelines.
• Lead internal steering exercises (semi-annual and annual reviews), and co-chair project monitoring and steering committees with partners (EU Delegation, Nigerian authorities).
• Oversee the deployment of short- and long-term experts, ensuring efficient mission planning, needs assessment, and quality control of deliverables.
• Facilitate internal and external project missions (headquarters visits, expert assignments, etc.) to ensure smooth project implementation.
• Support team cohesion and drive the operational implementation of strategic directions from the Abuja-based office.
• Monitor and report on potential challenges or sectoral developments that may affect project execution, ensuring proactive measures are in place.
• Contribute to identifying partnership opportunities and aligning with France’s health initiatives in Nigeria.

Project Representation, Institutional Relations, and Communication

• Represent the project and Expertise France to stakeholders, including national and provincial authorities, technical and financial partners (EU Delegation, AFD, UNICEF, GIZ, World Bank, etc.).
• Serve as the primary liaison between Expertise France, national stakeholders, donors (EU, MEAE), and technical partners (e.g. Africa CDC, AUDA-NEPAD, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi).
• Represent the project in high-level meetings, technical working groups, and policy dialogues.
• Build strong institutional relationships to support sustainability and local ownership
• Build and maintain strong relationships with project beneficiaries, ensuring transparent and regular communication with Nigerian authorities and promoting smooth activity implementation.
• Coordinate and ensure alignment with other ongoing health sector initiatives, fostering synergies and complementarities with local, national, and EF-implemented projects.
• Actively participate in sectoral coordination mechanisms and governance bodies, facilitating project-related consultations and meetings.
• Develop and maintain strong ties with the broader "Team France" (French Embassy, AFD Group), Expertise France geographical coordinators, and the EF Regional Operations Security Coordinator.
• Supervise the development and implementation of the project’s communication strategy, in collaboration with the EUD focal point for Visibility and Communication.
• Promote the project and disseminate its results in line with donor and institutional standards, ensuring maximum visibility.
• Build and maintain a network of institutional, technical, public, and private partners, along with national, regional, and international experts relevant to the project’s objectives.

Technical oversight

• Provide high-level technical guidance in areas such as R&D, pharmaceutical regulation, clinical trial readiness, and gender equity in the health sector.
• Oversee the delivery of technical support to NIPRD and other beneficiary institutions, ensuring quality and compliance with international standards.
• Guide the implementation of capacity-building components, including support for technology transfer, training, and infrastructure development.

Support to Sustainability & Policy Development

• Support national efforts to institutionalize project results and integrate them into long-term strategies.
• Identify opportunities to build synergies with other MAV+ country projects and regional initiatives (ECOWAS, Africa CDC, WHO manufacturing initiatives).
• Promote policy dialogue and knowledge-sharing on local production, vaccine self-reliance, and regulatory strengthening.

Administrative and Financial Management

In coordination with the Administrative and Financial Manager (RAF) and project team at headquarters:

• Ensure operational planning aligns with budget forecasting.
• Oversee and consolidate budget monitoring, including financial reviews and forecasts.
• Ensure timely updates and accuracy of all financial tracking tools, such as expenditure forecasts, procurement plans, and audit schedules required by the donor.
• Provide the RAF with necessary data for internal (Expertise France) and external reporting to the donor, ensuring compliance with reporting deadlines and required formats.
• Monitor and enforce adherence to financial and administrative procedures in line with Expertise France and EU regulations.
• Verify that partners' financial reports meet donor requirements, ensuring quality control of financial documentation.
• Support the preparation of technical and financial reports in collaboration with the project team.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of project management tools and administrative procedures.

Project Team and Human Resources Management

• Coordinate and manage the project team, including support staff and experts, from recruitment through task delegation and performance evaluation.
• Oversee the setup and management of the Abuja office, ensuring smooth daily operations.
• Define operational objectives for team members, organize workloads, and lead regular meetings to foster communication and collaboration.
• Participate in the recruitment and onboarding of project team members and mobilized experts, including drafting terms of reference and overseeing their assignments.
• Supervise the performance and professional development of the team, in coordination with EF headquarters.
• Lead the implementation of organizational and coordination tools (e.g., RACI charts, office planning documents).
• Ensure proper administrative management of staff in line with EF procedures.
• Promote a positive, inclusive, and collaborative team environment, fostering strong internal communication and teamwork.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Capitalization

In coordination with the MEAL Officer in Abuja and with support from dedicated staff at EF headquarters:

• Assist in the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system at the start of the project:
• Track both quantitative and qualitative project indicators, contributing to data analysis and ensuring the integration of gender considerations into project strategies.
• Prepare intermediate and final activity reports (narrative and financial) in line with donor deadlines and contractual requirements.
• Consolidate and coordinate the preparation of internal and external reports related to project activities.
• Supervise the implementation of the project’s communication and visibility plan, ensuring all project outcomes are appropriately highlighted.

Safety and Security Management

In coordination with the Logistics and Security Officer and with the support of the Regional Operations Security Coordinator for the Gulf of Guinea (based in Ivory Coast):

• Ensure the implementation and dissemination of security rules, ensuring their compliance by project team.
• Identify potential security issues and escalate them appropriately.
• Contribute to the overall safety management of personnel and assets, ensuring compliance with necessary security procedures and protocols.

This list is not exhaustive, and the tasks and activities mentioned are not restrictive.