Data Quality & Field Lead at Lafiya Nigeria

Position Overview

• We are looking for a practical, field-oriented professional to strengthen the operational monitoring backbone of our MEL department. As Lafiya scales, we need someone who understands that data is only as good as the systems that collect it and the partnerships that use it. Working closely with other members of the MEL Department, you will manage Data Verification Officers and ensure that the hard work of our Lafiya Sisters is accurately reflected in both our internal dashboards and national health information systems.
• This is not a role for someone who wants to stay behind a desk. It requires engaging directly with state partners, troubleshooting supply chain bottlenecks, and ensuring our routine monitoring is rigorous enough to influence government decision-making. You will be the bridge between community-level reality and high-level reporting, ensuring our evidence is trusted, timely, and actionable.

What You’ll Do

• Supervise, mentor, and build the capacity of Data Verification Officers (DVOs) on both internal Lafiya data systems and public health information systems (DHIS2, LMIS)
• Manage the schedule and quality of field spotchecks, working with DVOs to ensure spotchecks identify reporting gaps, biases, or training needs among Lafiya Sisters.
• Identify and flag performance issues, anomalies, and outliers to State Programme Managers (SPMs) and the Director of Programmes.
• Lead the monthly reconciliation of Lafiya’s internal data (SurveyCTO) with government systems (DHIS2 and NHLMIS). You will identify where the numbers don't match and work with facility staff to fix the root causes.
• Organise and facilitate regular coordination meetings with state partners and stakeholders to align on data gaps and strengthen reporting synchronisation.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for state-level M&E units, development partners, and government stakeholders to strengthen coordination and data sharing.
• Provide guidance and support to Data Verification Officers to engage effectively with state and partner M&E teams
• Act as the M&E lead for our Sayana Press supply chain. You will monitor stock levels from central procurement down to the individual Lafiya Sister level, and working with the Operations team to identify bottlenecks and prevent stockouts.
• Contribute to the development of externally facing reports and documentation, including quarterly reports to state partners
• Contribute to the development of tools, dashboards, and SOPs that strengthen Lafiya’s monitoring systems and data reliability
• Support programme evaluations, learning reviews, and evidence generation activities by providing validated datasets and analytical inputs
• Collaborate closely with staff to coordinate the efforts of the MEL department

Who You Are

We care about how you think and your ability to ensure data integrity and build strong operational relationships on the ground. We are looking for someone who is locally rooted, rigorous, and understands the reality of health logistics in Northern Nigeria. We are looking for a "thinker-doer" who is curious, rigorous, and ready to dive in.

You’re someone who:

• Is determined to Find What Doesn't Work: You care deeply about why a system is failing. You don’t just report a gap; you are driven to uncover the inaccuracy or the root cause behind the numbers.
• Has a Culture of Accountability: You take ownership of data integrity. You don’t hesitate to highlight issues proactively and you believe that "M&E protects truth, not comfort."
• Is a proactive Truth-Seeker: You have a "detective" mindset. You spot noise and bias in data and aren't afraid to challenge findings or ask difficult questions to ensure we are measuring what truly matters.
• Is a local expert and communicator. You are fluent in Hausa and English and understand the cultural context of the communities we serve. You can navigate government protocols with ease, sitting down with State M&E officers or Logistics Management Coordination Unit (LMCU) staff to explain our data.
• Thinks in supply chains. You understand that service delivery depends on stock. You have an eye for spotting inconsistencies in consumption registers to keep commodities moving.
• Has a "field-first" leadership style. You have experience managing field teams or data collectors. You know how to motivate DVOs to be evaluators for data quality rather than tick-boxers and are ready to troubleshoot side-by-side with them at rural facilities.
• Cares deeply about data integrity. You have the patience to cross-reference multiple datasets (SurveyCTO, DHIS2, NHLMIS) to find the reality behind the numbers.
• Is driven by learning. You are comfortable saying when you don't know something and enjoy figuring it out. You are proactive in flagging performance issues to program managers, not just filing reports.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Statistics, Social Sciences, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in Monitoring & Evaluation, public health operations, or supply chain logistics.
• Past experience managing field teams, data enumerators, or verification officers.
• Past experience engaging with government stakeholders, particularly State Ministry of Health (SMOH), State Primary Healthcare Management Board (SPHCDB), or Logistics Management Coordination Unit (LMCU) representatives.

Skills & Competencies

• Professional fluency in English and Hausa is mandatory.
• Proficiency using spreadsheet software (Excel or Google Sheets) for analysis (e.g. VLOOKUP, pivot tables, data cleaning).
• Working knowledge of DHIS2 and NHLMIS (National Health Logistics Management Information System) is essential.
• Experience with mobile data collection tools like SurveyCTO, ODK, or CommCare.
• Ability to present data clearly to government partners and advocate for data alignment in Technical Working Groups (TWGs).
• Understanding of supply chain models and inventory control procedures.