Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent (MNCAH) Health Advisor at Save The Children

Ref Id: 190000DX
Location: Abuja
Employee Status: Fixed Term

Program Summary/Role Purpose

• Breakthrough ACTION (BA) is a five-year cooperative agreement from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to lead USAID’s social and behavior change (SBC) programming around the world. Breakthrough ACTION/Nigeria (BA/N) focuses on malaria; maternal, newborn, and child health including nutrition (MNCH+N); family planning (FP); and tuberculosis (TB); and increasing the capacity of national and sub-national entities to coordinate and oversee quality SBC programming. BA/N will collaborate closely with the relevant USAID service delivery and commodities implementation partners from the outset to ensure seamless coordination between supply, demand, and quality of services.  BA/N will work at the national level and in 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Three states will implement an integrated SBC approach, seven states will implement a malaria-only SBC approach, and FCT will implement an FP-only SBC approach.
• The Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) Advisor will provide technical leadership and advice to other programme staff on the Breakthrough-Action project, staff in the programme states and Ministry of Health officials at state and LGA level in the area of MNCAH.
• S/he is responsible for strategic planning, coordination and monitoring & evaluation of programme activities in relation to social and behaviour change for MNCAH and for supporting the state programme teams in strategic and operational planning and programme implementation.
• S/he works closely with the Community Health Director, the Sr. Advisors for MNCAH, Nutrition, and Community Health, and the Community Mobilization staff based in the field offices of Bauchi, Kebbi, and Sokoto.

Key Areas of Accountabilities
Oversees Save the Children’s programs and operations in Yobe:

• Manages the financial, administrative, logistics, IT, and other operational aspects in the field site.
• Supervises  Program Managers  based in the field office, providing managerial guidance and support, and ensuring effective communication and coordination among programmes, including ensuring integration where appropriate.
• Ensures effective performance and coherence of the staff team through holding regular meetings and implementing regular training, support, and performance evaluation of staff.
• With support from Human Resources in Abuja, ensures sufficient staffing to perform all programmatic and operational responsibilities.
• Participates in developing the program strategy for Save the Children in Nigeria and in setting policies relevant to field operations.
• Ensures compliance with donor requirements.  Supports development of proposals and reports for donors and others.  Facilitates donor and other visits as requested.
• Ensures effective representation and coordination with local government, communities, and NGO partners.
• Maintains effective implementation of security guidelines and reporting.

Leadership and overall management:

• Ensure vision, mission and values of Save the Children are clearly and properly understood and upheld by all staff in Yobe.
• Maintain Save the Children’s organizational and operational policies and procedures in the Yobe Field Office. This includes Code of Conduct, Child Safeguarding Policy, Fraud Policy, the Minimum Standards of Humanitarian Relief, etc.
• Responsible for the overall management and supervision of programme, finance, logistics, HR, and administration functions in Yobe Office.
• Maintain awareness on legal cultural/traditional issues and ensure these are considered in the implementation of the programme if required and relevant.
• Monitor the operating context, identifying changes to the context, identifying constraints and challenges and taking relevant actions in consultation with the Humanitarian Director, and Programmes Staff.

Management of Programme Implementation:

• Facilitate and coordinate implementation of planned activities, providing support to ensure high quality of implementation.
• Bear ultimate responsibility for ensuring planned activities are implemented according to the operational plans and budget.
• Ensure an integrated approach to programme implementation in order to maximize resource utilization and synergy.
• Ensure that all activities are in compliance with Save the Children’s and donor requirements, regulations and policies; and as per the approved plan/proposal.
• Facilitate and coordinate with Director of Programme Operations, Humanitarian Director, Director of Program Development and Quality to ensure technical support and capacity development of programme staff in Yobe.
• Work closely with Programme Advisors to ensure teams receive the necessary support to deliver quality programmes.

Monitoring, Reporting and Learning:

• Work closely with Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning advisors to build field staff capacity.
• Ensure monitoring systems and procedures as well as documentation and information management systems are being utilized properly and projects are regularly monitored in Yobe.
• Responsible for the enforcement of reporting requirements and procedures for grants and timely submission of reports to Humanitarian Director,  thematic Program Advisors, Director of Program Operations, Director of Program Design and Quality, Director of Finance for all projects implemented in Yobe State.
• Facilitate and coordinate the preparation and provision of information and data to Learning and Development Unit for quarterly and annual reports of the country programme.
• Collate and produce monthly reports and weekly SITREPS.
• Ensure that all reports (i.e. logistics, HR and finance, donor as well as program) are of good quality and produced timely and sent to the appropriate authority at Abuja

Administration and Management of Support Functions:

• Ensure proper control and usage of Save the Children assets and funds in Yobe – providing direct oversight on finance, logistics, HR and admin functions
• Ensure the programmes in Yobe provide value for money
• Work closely with the logistics department to coordinate and follow-up on the procurement and delivery of goods and services for the programme and the programme offices.
• Provide the key communication link to the head office and other field offices to share learning, secure appropriate support and update them on progress of the work underway. 

Budget Follow up and Ensuring Financial Compliance:

• Accountable for management and monitoring of assigned budget in his/her capacity as budget holder.
• Ensure the effective compliance of Save the Children and donor finance and grant procedures and requirements.
• Coordinates and facilitates the work of the finance team in Yobe office.
• Ensure the financial reporting and forecasting to the country office is accurately and efficiently carried out within the right timeframe.
• Work with the finance department and Finance Director to ensure accurate budget control for financial management at the field in line with project/grant proposals.
• Facilitate and coordinate the preparation of cash flows and budget phasing in of projects to be implemented in Yobe.
• Facilitate and coordinate budget revisions for projects/grants as required.

Human Resource Development and Management:

• Build a high performing team in Yobe who deliver results for children.
• Ensure staffing levels, management structures, and personnel processes are appropriate and effective to enable the smooth implementation of the programme, including appropriate recruitment and induction processes.
• In collaboration with the HR/Admin officer, guide and support staff in their development, planning succession, and taking prompt action to address issues of underperformance and other issues impacting on professional conduct or implementing duties and responsibilities.
• Ensure staff in Yobe receives regular support, supervision and performance appraisals in line with HR procedures and protocols.
• Ensure the Save the Children Child Safeguarding Policy is understood by all staff in Yobe that it is integrated into all aspects of the teams’ work.

Representation of Save the Children in the field region:

• Represent Save the Children in Yobe, in relation to programme implementation and maintaining a strong link with community leaders, government, NGOs and UN organizations in the area.
• Establish and maintain contact with all key actors as relevant for the programme implementation – military, government, UN, NGOs and partners – and establish mechanisms for contacting local community organizations in line with key thematic areas of work and assess capacity/resources to respond.
• Advocate on the issues and rights of children in Yobe districts in order to improve policy and practices.

Safety and Security Management:

• Serve as the overall security focal point for the area of operation.
• With support from the safety and security  officers, provide regular updates and analysis of the security situation of the Area of operation to the Deputy Director of Programme Operations, Head of Safety and Security, National safety and Security Manager and the Country Director as appropriate.
• Assist  the safety and security  officers’ in the development of security procedures and protocols for the field and sub offices under the Area of Operation and ensure an understating and adherence of the same.
• Have an overview of the political and security context in field locations and how their changes may affect the programme’s work and ensure that this is communicated regularly to the Senior Management Team.

Qualifications and Experience
Essential:

• Degree in a related field, masters preferable
• Five years related experience
• Five years progressive non-profit work experience with international humanitarian programmes.
• A proven understanding of development issues in the country and region.
• Management and supervisory experience.
• Established excellence in written communication, including the preparation of complex documents to meet strict deadlines
• Strong personal communication skills, ability to facilitate liaison between different sectors.
• Good financial, budget and grant management skills
• Able to work and travel in difficult conditions
• Able to work with diverse team members
• Good training skills, with a proven ability to build capacity of others in report writing.
• Solid Knowledge of donor funded projects (EU, USAID, DFID, GAC, OFDA etc.).

Desirable:

• Experience in Northeast Nigeria or similar conflict context.