Team Leader

Job Posting Organization:
FHI 360 is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives through integrated, evidence-based solutions. Established with a mission to advance human development, FHI 360 collaborates with governments, communities, and partners to promote social equity, strengthen systems, respond to humanitarian challenges, and build resilient societies. The organization mobilizes research, resources, and relationships to ensure that individuals and communities have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. FHI 360 operates in multiple countries and employs a diverse workforce committed to making a positive impact on global health and education.

Job Overview:
The Team Leader position is a critical role within the Lagos Outcomes Fund for Education program, which is an innovative outcomes-based financing initiative aimed at supporting out-of-school children (OOSC) and vulnerable learners in Lagos State, Nigeria. The program is designed to enhance access to quality education, improve retention rates, and boost foundational learning outcomes for up to 200,000 children, including marginalized groups such as migrant children and those with disabilities. The Team Leader will provide strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the effective implementation of both out-of-school and in-school components of the program. This role requires a strong focus on adaptive management, high-quality delivery, and achieving measurable results related to school access, retention, and learning outcomes. The ideal candidate will lead a multidisciplinary team, manage relationships with various stakeholders, and ensure compliance with rigorous evaluation and payment metrics, all while fostering a culture of learning and adaptation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Team Leader will be responsible for providing overall leadership and strategic direction for the program, ensuring that it meets its outcome targets. Key responsibilities include:

• Identifying and placing out-of-school children, ensuring sustained school retention over one to two academic years, and achieving demonstrable learning gains in supported schools.
• Designing and implementing interventions aimed at improving teaching quality, inclusive pedagogy, and school leadership, with a focus on reducing dropout rates and enhancing foundational learning outcomes.
• Overseeing program planning, implementation, and performance management, ensuring compliance with outcome-based payment metrics and rigorous evaluation protocols.
• Managing performance management systems to track progress against payment metrics, including learning assessments, and ensuring timely reporting to donors and government stakeholders.
• Leading a multidisciplinary team and consortium partners, promoting collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Supporting discussions for co-funding from other donors and fostering strong partnerships with LASUBEB, donors, community actors, and implementing partners.
• Contributing to evidence generation, policy engagement, and sustainability planning to support scale-up and long-term impact.
• Promoting a culture of learning and adaptation, using data and evidence to refine approaches and inform scale-up across Lagos and beyond.
• Providing leadership to staff, ensuring clear roles and responsibilities, and maintaining communication with project team members. 1
• Leading and/or supporting policy and advocacy efforts.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree (Master's or higher preferred) in Education, International Development, or a related field. Additionally, a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in leading large-scale education programs in low- and middle-income countries is required, with a preference for experience in West Africa or Nigeria. A proven track record of delivering measurable results in school access, retention, and foundational learning outcomes, particularly for marginalized populations, is essential. Candidates should also have demonstrated experience managing donor-funded programs, ideally involving results-based financing, payment-by-results, or performance-based contracting. Strong leadership and team management skills are necessary, along with excellent stakeholder engagement and diplomacy skills, particularly in collaboration with government agencies, donors, and civil society organizations.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor's degree in Education, International Development, or a related field, with a preference for candidates holding a Master's degree or higher. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of educational systems and the challenges faced by out-of-school children and vulnerable learners.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in leading large-scale education programs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Experience in the education sector in Nigeria or the region is strongly preferred, as is a proven track record of delivering measurable results in school access, retention, and foundational learning outcomes, especially for marginalized populations. Candidates should also have experience managing donor-funded programs, ideally involving results-based financing or performance-based contracting.

Languages:
Oral and written fluency in English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the local context may be considered an asset, but English is the primary language of communication within the organization and for reporting purposes.

Additional Notes:
This position is contingent upon award and may involve a contract duration aligned with the program timeline from 2026 to 202

• The role is full-time and involves leading a multidisciplinary team, with a focus on collaboration and accountability. FHI 360 is committed to equal employment opportunities and affirmative action, ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace. The organization offers a competitive benefits package and supports professional development and work/life balance.