Country Director / Strategic Expert

About the Role

TradeMark Africa (TMA) is a leading Aid-for-Trade organisation dedicated to growing intra-African trade, increasing Africa's share in global trade, and making trade more pro-poor and sustainable. We are seeking a dynamic Country Director to lead our Nigeria team and portfolio while serving as the Strategic Expert for the ECOWAS Trade and Transport Facilitation Programme (TTF-ECOWAS).

• Set the strategic direction for TMA's contribution to the TTF-ECOWAS initiative, overseeing the inception phase, workplans, budgets, procurement, and reporting.
• Develop and implement TMA's Nigeria strategy aligned with regional priorities, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and donor expectations.
• Build and maintain high-level relationships with the Government of Nigeria, the ECOWAS Commission, development partners, the private sector, and civil society.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing Nigeria-based team while coordinating seamlessly with regional corridor programmes and consortium partners.
• Ensure rigorous financial management, compliance, and integration of inclusion, safeguarding, and climate considerations across all projects.

• Undergraduate degree with at least 12 years of experience, or postgraduate degree with at least 10 years of experience, in Economics, Development Studies, International Trade, Planning, Finance, or Management.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience leading business units or development programmes in trade facilitation, customs, or infrastructure.
• At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in West Africa or developing economies, with proven budget-holding expertise for donor-funded initiatives.
• Deep technical knowledge of AfCFTA, ECOWAS trade instruments, and regional integration, with fluency in English and a strong working knowledge of French.
• Exceptional strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, financial management, and team leadership skills.

• Competitive remuneration package commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Opportunity to lead high-impact continental trade initiatives with international development partners.
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment dedicated to sustainable economic growth in Africa.

Skills