Technical Director/Health Systems Strengthening at Palladium Group

Project Overview and Role

• Health Policy Plus (HP+) is a global USAID-funded five-year project awarded to Palladium (formerly Futures Group) on August 28, 2015.  HP+ has a mandate across global, country and sub-national levels to strengthen and advance health policy priorities in the areas of family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH), HIV, and maternal health
• HP+ aims to improve the enabling environment for equitable and sustainable health services, supplies, and delivery systems through policy development and implementation, with an emphasis on voluntary, rights-based health programs. HP+ will help public health and policy leaders attach higher priority to their national and sub-national health needs, secure sustainable financing, advance health equity, and monitor policy implementation to ensure gains stay on track
• HP+ aims to secure long-term enduring change by working with coalitions both inside and outside of health and showing common cause with neglected populations and other development actors
• Central elements of HP+ revolve around building in-country capacity, institutionalizing achievements of past investments, and promoting country ownership of programs and initiatives.

Purpose of Role

• The Technical Director - Health Systems Strengthening provides technical oversight of the HP+ project and liaises with relevant institutions and partners at the national level to articulate and drive the execution of strategies, systems and structures to facilitate the implementation of the project
• S/he will work closely with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and other relevant National and Sub-national institutions to strengthen health systems
• The candidate will be responsible for providing strategic direction for the implementation of the project support to selected states PHCDAs
• The Technical Director also provides oversight of the Senior Advisors for Health Finance and Policy & Advocacy at the national level and ensures the the strategic and functional integration of technical activities to achieve project objectives
• This position reports to the Country Director of the HP+ project.

Responsibilities

• Work closely NPHCDA to provide overall strategic support to states’ primary health care development agencies
• Lead in the coordination of the PHC collaborative of Nigeria Joint Learning Network for UHC and ensure adequate participation of implementing states in the network
• Lead in the conduct of regular facility quality assessments and scorecards by NPHCDA and build the capacity of State PHC leads to monitor quality improvements in facilities
• Work closely with the Senior Advisor for Health Finance and Policy & Advocacy and provide technical guidance for the articulation, planning and implementation of project objectives
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of project objectives, manage resources and the project workplan to efficiently deliver results
• Participate in high-level coordination meetings with development partners and stakeholders
• Engage federal level actors and stakeholders in relevant dialogue, and support the shaping of policies and strategies relating to financing of primary health care services and the operationalisation of BHCPF
• Carry out other duties as assigned by the Country Director that will lead to successful implementation of the project.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in Health Economics, Health Policy and Management, or Public Health with a health system strengthening focus.
• At least twelve (12) years of progressively senior experience in health systems strengthening, health financing reforms, capacity-building, designing operations and successfully implementing complex programs with multiple partners and work streams. Experience with designing and implementing programmes at the primary health care level is an advantage.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Strong writing, editing and oral communication skills with the ability to lead the production of high-quality deliverables and reports
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills
• Demonstrated problem solving, analytic, financial, and evaluative skills.
• Strong management skills and ability to effectively set priorities and handle competing time and resource demands for self and others
• Ability to take initiative and/or respond independently to situations.