Country Regional Manager, Programs

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Position: Country Regional Manager, Programs

Reports to: Country Director TaRL Africa in Nigeria

Location: Kaduna, Nigeria

Deadline: 3rd March 2026

About TaRL Africa 

TaRL Africa initiative is hosted by Empower Learning Africa, a not-for-profit organisation registered and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with teams in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Zambia and locally registered offices in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire. TaRL Africa began as a joint venture by Pratham and J-PAL in 2019, with the goal of supporting governments and organisations across Africa to accelerate children’s foundational skill learning using the evidence-based “Teaching at the Right Level” (TaRL) approach. TaRL Africa's vision is for every child across Africa to have foundational skills so that they can have a better future. Our mission is to ensure education systems effectively equip children with these foundational skills. We support governments and organisations in over 15 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to design, deliver and scale impactful TaRL programmes while learning and sharing how the approach can be improved for different contexts. Together with partners, TaRL Africa has reached over five million children with TaRL programming. 

 Summary of the Role 

The CRM is responsible for leading and expanding TaRL programming within a defined region of Nigeria. This includes overseeing implementation across multiple states, managing state teams, and building strong relationships with state governments and community partners. The role contributes to regional strategic planning and ensures that programs are implemented with fidelity, scale, and sustainability. The CRM works closely with the Country Director, Head MLE, and the Programme Design and Pedagogy Manager to identify opportunities for growth and improvement within the region. This role involves hands-on leadership, performance monitoring, and team development. As part of the Country Management Team, the CRM is based in a state within the region and travels extensively across the region, with occasional travel across Nigeria and Africa.

Key Responsibilities

Program and Partnership Support (40%)

• Enhance Program Quality and Fidelity: Strengthen the technical implementation of the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach by building capacity among internal teams and government partners. Ensure adaptation and fidelity to the model, resulting in effective learning outcomes for children.
  


• Ensure High-Quality Program Delivery: Provide strategic oversight and quality assurance to state teams to maintain strong financial health, operational efficiency, and program effectiveness. Use program data and team feedback to implement continuous improvement measures that lead to measurable impact.
  


• Drive Contextual Program Development: Lead the design and launch of new programs and partnerships that address regional education needs. Ensure these initiatives are aligned with TaRL Africa's mission and contribute to sustainable, scalable impact.
  


• Support Program Strengthening: Guide state teams through annual planning cycles and periodic program reviews to ensure strategic alignment and achievement of key objectives.
  


• Sustain and Grow Strategic Partnerships: Cultivate strong, productive relationships with partners and government stakeholders, ensuring shared ownership and high-quality delivery of program goals. Drive partner engagement through ongoing communication and strategic advocacy.
  

Regional Strategy (30%)

• Lead Regional Expansion and Scale: Identify strategic opportunities to expand TaRL programming across existing and new states within the region. Develop and implement tailored expansion strategies that result in sustainable, government-led program scale-up.
  


• Promote Government Ownership: Establish and maintain high-level relationships with state officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders to secure commitment and support for program implementation and sustainability.
  


• Strategic Budgeting and Planning: Translate regional priorities into well-coordinated work plans and budgets, ensuring cost-effectiveness and timely program execution.
  


• Inform Strategy through Data: Conduct needs assessments, analyze program data and stakeholder feedback to guide regional decision-making and refine strategic direction.
  

Support to TaRL Ecosystem (15%)

• Improve Tools and Systems: Design and refine tools, systems, and processes that improve operational efficiency and partner accountability, leading to more consistent and effective program management.


• Lead Special Projects for Program Innovation: Identify and address gaps in programming through targeted special projects working closely with the Programme Design and Pedagogy and Research Learning and Evaluation teams. . Facilitate innovation, cross-team collaboration, and integration of best practices across state programs.
  


• Contribute to Organizational Learning: Document lessons learned, promote cross-state knowledge sharing, and support a learning agenda that strengthens TaRL Africa’s overall ecosystem.
  

Team Leadership and Management (15%)

• Build a High-Performing Team: Lead, support, and mentor regional staff including Field Associates,  PD&P Coordinators, and PM &I Coordinators. Foster ownership, accountability, and team motivation.
  


• Set and Monitor Team Goals: Define clear performance goals and expectations. Conduct regular check-ins and evaluations to ensure alignment with organizational priorities and professional development.
  


• Promote a Learning Culture: Create and implement development plans that promote ongoing technical and leadership capacity among staff. Ensure the team has the skills and confidence to effectively implement the TaRL approach.
  


• Foster Team Cohesion: Cultivate a positive team culture that supports collaboration, continuous improvement, and a shared commitment to impact.
  
  

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
  Description: Applies long-term vision to guide program expansion and sustainability.
  Demonstrated by: Leading regional expansion strategies; promoting government ownership through stakeholder engagement; informing strategy through data analysis.


• Results Orientation
  Description: Focuses on achieving measurable, high-impact outcomes.
  Demonstrated by: Setting and monitoring performance goals; ensuring high-quality program delivery with financial health and operational efficiency; continuous improvement measures.


• Evidence-Based Decision Making

Description: Uses data, research, and insights to inform decisions.

Demonstrated by: Applying program data and stakeholder feedback to guide regional decision-making; conducting needs assessments; translating regional priorities into budgets and plans.

• Program Management

Description: Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale programs to achieve targeted education outcomes.

Demonstrated by: Leading large-scale programs to achieve educational objectives; overseeing implementation across multiple states; ensuring program fidelity.

• Stakeholder Engagement

Description: Proven success in building and managing relationships with government, donors, and partners.

Demonstrated by: Cultivating strong relationships with partners and government stakeholders; driving partner engagement; building capacity among government partners.

• Leadership

Description: Strong track record of motivating and guiding diverse teams toward high performance and accountability.

Demonstrated by: Leading and mentoring regional staff; building a high-performing team; fostering team cohesion and a learning culture.

• Organizational Management

Description: Proven ability to coordinate complex operations and align multiple functions to achieve shared goals.

Demonstrated by: Coordinating complex operations; improving tools and systems; leading special projects for program innovation.

• Financial Oversight

Description: Ability to manage and monitor program budgets with a focus on cost-effectiveness and sustainability.

Demonstrated by: Strategic budgeting and planning; ensuring strong financial health; managing and monitoring program budgets.

• Communication

Description: Ability to translate technical insights into clear, actionable information for stakeholders.

Demonstrated by: Translating technical insights into clear information for stakeholders; driving partner engagement through ongoing communication; reporting to donors and government agencies.

Minimum Requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, International Development, Education, or a related field (MPA, MPP, etc.).


• At least six (6) years’ experience of coordinating and managing medium to large-scale programs 


• Experience working with donors, government agencies, policymakers, and researchers.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills


• Strong skills in Excel, Word and PowerPoint, Google Suite

TaRL Africa Values 

1. We put children’s learning first


2. We are always learning, improving, and innovating


3. We are locally rooted for high-quality delivery and sustainable impact


4. We are kind, respectful, and collaborative


5. We are proactive, committed to integrity, and doing our best each day

This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organisational needs.