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