Program Officer at Population Services International (PSI)

• We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Program Officer to join our dynamic team and manage a multi-state Hypertension Screening program (Healthy Heart Africa) across 18 states in Nigeria.
• The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing and supervising assigned states, ensuring the effective implementation of the program's objectives.
• The Program Officer will play a crucial role in supporting and leading state coordinators to achieve program goals and contribute to the overall success of our public health initiatives and reports to the Team Lead 

Your contribution

You will be responsible for the following:

Overall Program Oversight:

• Ensure the successful implementation, supervision, and reporting of Healthy Heart Africa (HHA) program activities in assigned states.
• Provide leadership in coordinating program activities across Primary Healthcare Centers and General Hospitals within the designated zone.
• Support the State coordinator to conduct regular assessments to monitor progress, identify challenges, and develop strategies for continuous improvement.
• Provide comprehensive support to state coordinators, offering guidance, and expertise to enhance their capacity to execute program activities effectively.
• Collaborate with state coordinators to address challenges, troubleshoot issues, and ensure timely resolution.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Foster effective collaboration and communication with partners to enhance program outcomes.
• Foster strong relationships with relevant stakeholders, including government health agencies, NGOs, and community organizations.
• Coordinate with external partners to leverage resources, share best practices, and align program activities with broader public health initiatives.
• Act as the focal point for engaging with the MOH and other stakeholders on key issues relevant to service delivery in the assigned states.

Project Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Monitor and ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of all project activities.
• Conduct regular joint on-site supervision visits with ministry officials to assess program implementation, financial oversight, and administration.
• Lead quarterly review meetings with Local Government Area (LGA) coordinators and health facility providers, providing capacity building and technical assistance.

Results Framework and Monitoring Plans:

• Support the development and implementation of results frameworks and monitoring plans to track program performance at Health Facilities, LGAs, and States Ministries of Health.

Data Utilization and Information Systems:

• Support the implementation of a data utilization strategy, promoting the use of data for performance management decision-making by state coordinators.
• Facilitate the implementation of information systems, including GoGreen Data Collection App and DHIS2, to ensure timely and high-quality routine monitoring data.
• Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of program data from assigned states.
• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of reports, providing timely feedback to state coordinators and implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Responsible for the submission of high-quality monthly reports to the HHA Program Manager and State focal persons.
• Demonstrate expertise in data collection, analysis, management, and report writing.

Monitoring, Evidence, and Learning (MEL):

• Apply knowledge and experience in the application of Monitoring, Evidence, and Learning (MEL) in projects, ideally at the state or national level.

Strategy and Guideline Development:

• Utilize experience to contribute to the drafting of strategies and guidelines related to public health programs, focusing on NCDs such as hypertension and diabetes diagnosis, treatment, and management.

Supervision of Hypertension Screening Activities:

• Provide remote and in-person supervision of hypertension screening activities, ensuring adherence to established protocols and quality standards.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for someone with:

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, Epidemiology, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
• A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in Program management
• Proven experience in managing and implementing public health programs, with a focus on hypertension or related fields.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate and support a diverse team.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to effectively engage with stakeholders at various levels.
• Knowledge of public health systems, policies, and procedures.
• Familiarity with data management and analysis tools.
• Knowledge of relevant data collection tools and information systems.
• Ability to travel within the assigned states as needed.
• Strong self- starter with a strategic mindset
• Information Technology skills will be an added advantage
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Language skills: Fluency in English, working knowledge of local languages in the geopolitical zone
• Reference will be required
• The successful candidate will be required to pass a background check.

The candidate we hire will embody PSI’s corporate values:

Measurement:

• You use hard evidence to make decisions and guide your work. You set clear goalposts in advance and explain clearly if you need to move them.

Pragmatism:

• You will strive to deliver the best possible result with the resources available. You will not be paralyzed by a need to make things perfect.

Honesty:

• You own your mistakes and are open about your shortcomings – it is the only way you will learn and improve.

Collaboration:

• You will quickly establish a mental map of whom you can rely on for what, on your team, at headquarters, and in our country offices – if you try to do it all yourself, you will not succeed.

Trust:

• You accept limits to your sphere of control and give colleagues the benefit of the doubt.

 Commitment:

• You are in it for the long-haul and want to grow with the organization, just like PSI serves its consumers and partners with host-country governments through thick and thin.