Maternal Health Technical Advisor at Jhpiego - John Hopkins University

Locations: Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto States
Reports To: Technical Director
Supervisees: TBD

Overview

• The Maternal Health Advisor will be responsible for providing leadership in capacity building and in the technical area of maternal health (MH) for a USAID award in Nigeria.
• The Advisor will provide technical support at the State Primary Health Cafe level activities.
• This integrated health project aims to contribute to reductions in child and maternal morbidity and mortality in target states, and so increase the capacity of health systems (public and private) to sustainably support quality PHC services.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance on Maternal Health (MH) that is sound, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of the State and USAID.
• Provide technical leadership, and build local capacity using proven training approaches and quality improvement methodologies.
• Provide trainings (providers and training of trainers) as well as follow-up support and clinical mentoring as necessary for MH.
• Support basic maternal health (MH) continuum of care (including antenatal through postpartum care, FP integration, birth planning and birth preparedness) at IHP- public and private health facilities State sites.
• Develop strategies for increasing the percentage of pregnant women, including married adolescents, who deliver under the care of as killed birth attendant.
• Supervise technical coordinators-as needed.
• Advocate with State Ministry of Health for adoption of new evidence based MH best practices at health facilities in project sites.
• Supervise Service/Quality improvement coordinators as needed.
• Advocate with other ministries, community, NGO's, and religious leaders to support and promote MH components.
• Contribute to and coordinate with the progr's monitoring and evaluation (M&E) team on activities to ensure that the program meets set targets in accordance with national and USG standards.
• Represent program at state level stakeholder meetings and technical working groups in relation to MH and related technical areas.

Management:

• Contribute to 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 Maternal Health Technical Advisor must be a proven leader in the field of international MH with senior-level management experience in public health programs.
• S/he must be well recognized by the reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) community in Nigeria.
• The Advisor must be intimately familiar with the context in Nigeria and have in-country experience with USAID programs.

Additional qualifications include:

• A Medical doctor or any other closely related health care professional; specialization is obstetrics and gynaecology or Public Health and other health related courses (e.g. MPH, MSC or other relevant degree) will be an advantage.
• Minimum of 8-9 years working experience in the areas of maternal health, family planning and HIV/AIDS.
• Previous experience working on a CDC or USAID funded project will be an added advantage.
• Familiarity with the FMOH, SMOH structures and functions especially as it relates to MNCH is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise in working directly with host-country senior government officials and policy makers in maternal health.
• Experience working with host-country partners, organizations, and institutions.
• Strong skills in design, implementation and monitoring of program components; e.g. services, training, quality improvement, 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 for expanding MH.
• 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.
• Strong ability to multi-task will be highly desirable.
• Fluent in English, (written and oral communication) and Hausa and/or Fulfulde.
• Willingness to travel throughout Nigeria as necessary.