Health System Strengthening and Quality Improvement Coordinator - IHP at Palladium Group

Project/ Role Overview

• IHP is an integrated health program with an expanded effort with the Government of Nigeria (GON) to identify and support rapid scale-up of proven interventions through improvement of service delivery and strengthening of health systems.
• It will focus its support for service delivery in six intervention areas, family planning, malaria, routine immunization, nutrition, maternal/newborn health, and treatment of childhood pneumonia/diarrhea.

Overview

• Zonal Office Health System Strengthening (HSS) and Quality Improvement (QI) Coordinator will be responsible for providing overall leadership and coordination of the zonal office in addition to providing technical leadership in health systems strengthening and QI.
• The Zonal Office HSS/QI Coordinator will provide technical assistance to the LGAs and support LGAs in training and coach facilities and communities.
• The Zonal Office HSS/QI Coordinator will provide technical assistance across areas of health systems strengthening and develop capacity in adaptive management and quality improvement to continually strengthen systems and services.
• This integrated health project aims to contribute to reductions in child and maternal morbidity and mortality in target states, and to increase the capacity of health systems (public and private) to sustainably support quality PHC. 
• Also, the position will provide support to strengthen community-based services to enhance access, referrals and linkages to the formal PHC system. The project will operate over a 5-year period.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership to and build capacity of LGA officials to use available data and information to make strategic decisions for planning, budgeting and supervising systems for health financing, health workforce, service delivery, supply chain, governance and accountability.
• Facilitate and support LGA officials to adapt and implement state-wide policies including, but not limited to, Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR), One PHC per Ward, Integrated Supportive Supervision
• Build capacity of LGAs to strengthen Facility Health Committees (FHC) and Ward Development Committees (WDCs) to fulfill their functions and to work with health providers to improve care.
• Participate in catchment LGAs’ planning meetings, data and progress reviews to provide technical assistance and guidance and adapt/target IHP technical assistance plans, as necessary to address needs.
• Conduct regular internal review and analysis of program and quality improvement data for catchment LGAs to determine progress towards goals and gaps and develop plans for technical assistance to address gaps.
• Build capacity of LGAs to use quality improvement methodology to improve service delivery, coverage, referral, and health system management, including training and ongoing coaching to LGA officials.
• Support and mentor LGAs to train and coach health care providers at facility and community, FHCs, and WDCs in quality improvement.
• Coordinate scheduling of program-wide technical assistance activities for catchment LGAs.

Management:

• Manage the overall activities of the zonal office, including planning and coordinating technical assistance activities.
• Coordinate planning and implementation closely with LGA and Sanitorial Zone officials.
• Communicate regularly with the Bauchi office on progress, challenges, need for technical assistance or support.
• Supervise two QI Specialists and Data Analyst, including overseeing day-to-day work, providing performance reviews, and administrative issues.
• Oversee financial and administrative operations of the zonal office. 
• Contribute to program-wide annual work planning, training plans and quarterly reports and other required technical reports.
• Contribute to timely, accurate and appropriate reporting of program activities and results.
• Ensure quality program implementation consistent with MOH Nigerian Guidelines, global best practices and USAID Nigerian Strategic Directions.
• Evaluate program progress against deliverables on a quarterly basis.
• With the State Technical Director, oversee program design, implementation, quality assurance and monitoring of work plan.
• Coordinate with the other members of the technical team and NGO partners to develop and implement feasible facility and community-based approaches.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor which contribute to the achievement of program goals.

Required Qualifications

• The Zonal Office HSS/QI Coordinator must be experienced professional in the field of health systems strengthen, have experience with quality assurance and improvement approaches, and have project management experience in public health programs.

The Coordinator must be intimately familiar with the context in Nigeria and have in-country experience with USAID programs. Additional qualifications include:

• An experienced Health Systems Strengthening Advisor or any other closely related health care professional; other related courses (e.g. MD, RN, MPH, MPA, or other relevant degree) will be an advantage.
• Minimum 7 years of experience working in Health Systems Strengthening in Africa, preferably in Nigeria
• Experience with quality assurance and quality improvement approaches is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience managing programs, including administrative and financial oversight and supervisory responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience in working with host-country partners, organizations, and institutions
• Strong skills in design, implementation and monitoring of program components; e.g. health systems strengthening, qual training, supportive supervision, advocacy and coordination.
• Demonstrated capacity to work with African experts and partners in developing technical materials and providing training to improve service delivery, advocacy and resource mobilization.
• Experience with technical leadership for programs funded by USAID and/or other donor programs in developing countries, with significant Nigeria experience.
• Strong verbal, listening, writing, and intrapersonal skills essential for effective coordination among several institutions and staff involved in a broad range of activities.
• Fluent in English, (written and oral communication) and Hausa and/or Fulfulde.
• Willingness to travel throughout Nigeria as necessary.