Project Director, Polio & Routine Immunization - FSN Grade 12 at JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc

Reports to:   Country Director, Nigeria 

Salary Grade:  FSN Grade 12

PROJECT OVERVIEW

JSI is currently seeking a Project Director (PD) for the Reaching Zero-Dose and Under-Immunized Children project in combination with the anticipated REACH Project. The Reaching Zero-Dose and Under-Immunized Children project’s overarching goal is to strengthen routine immunization programs to: 1) sustainably overcome the entrenched obstacles contributing to stagnating and declining immunization rates in the supported states, and 2) address the barriers to reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children with life-saving vaccines and other health services. The project provides technical assistance to support routine immunization strengthening in nine states, applying a co-creation approach to improve equitable coverage with a focus on identifying, understanding, and reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children. The REACH project will work to interrupt circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) transmission, reduce the number of zero-dose and under-immunized children, and strengthen routine immunization systems to sustainably increase vaccine coverage in high-burden geographies.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The PD is responsible for strategic and managerial oversight, project quality, and team leadership, acting as the primary driver for JSI’s polio and routine immunization work in Nigeria. The PD encourages innovation and oversees project coordination, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and compliance. This position will serve as the official representative of JSI for these projects and, as such, will maintain excellent communications and professional relationships between all relevant parties, including government counterparts, clients, stakeholders, and other partners. We are seeking a candidate who can elevate and improve JSI’s representation in these areas with local partners and government stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be highly skilled at articulating JSI’s work, giving a powerful voice and telling a compelling story about our impact in this field.

The PD will lead and supervise a team implementing a scope of work focused on providing direct technical support to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), State Primary Health Care Development Agencies (SPHCDAs), national/state routine immunization technical working groups, and State Immunization Teams. The PD will be responsible for client management (with the NPHCDA and the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare [FMOH]) and will engage with other partners and donors.  A key focus of this role is the ability to create innovative ways to work and design novel solutions in these areas, and successfully pitch and sell them to donors and clients. They will lead a team of public health technical and program management experts to achieve desired results, in coordination with the immunization practice team, and collaborate with JSI/Nigeria leadership. The PD will be responsible for management and technical oversight of project portfolios and overall risk management for the program. This position will report to the JSI/Nigeria Country Director with a dotted-line relationship to the Immunization Practice Director or designate located in the United States.       

Responsibilities

• Serves as the main point of contact for the project/s and has responsibilities for the success of the project/s.
• Provide overall strategic direction, management leadership and oversight of project implementation–including project quality–toward the achievement of project goals, objectives, and targets.
• Serve as technical representative, with primary leadership and representation, with the NPHCDA, the FMOH, and other national and international agencies, institutions, and stakeholders. 
• Act as a liaison to communicate and disseminate results and learning required for incorporating continuous improvement, ensuring that JSI’s work is presented appropriately, effectively, and compellingly.
• Lead the routine immunization and polio areas by creating innovative operational and technical solutions and effectively sell these new approaches to clients and donors.
• Provide management and technical oversight for JSI’s polio and routine immunization work and funding streams, as well as overall risk management for the portfolio.
• Directly supervise senior members of the team and provide leadership for the full project team, encourage mentoring mechanisms within and outside the team, and foster creativity to promote continuity and sustainability. 
• Ensure compliance with JSI and client policies, rules, and regulations, as well as in-country legal and regulatory frameworks, and ensure open and transparent communication with the global team and the assigned program support and technical staff at headquarters. 
• Manage the successful performance of the project/s and oversee the preparation of routine and ad hoc performance reports and technical deliverables, including the accuracy and timely submission of quarterly and annual reporting requirements, and ensuring all activities are within budget. 
• Oversee the development of appropriate planning, monitoring, management, and control systems to ensure informed decision-making and implementation of project activities. 
• Oversee monitoring of project activities and ensure incorporation of lessons learned into ongoing activity tasks. Ensure performance against targets. Take corrective action where necessary. 
• Keep alert for potential new business development opportunities for JSI in-country and communicate regularly with the Country Director, Senior Program Manager, and headquarters backstops on prospective opportunities.
• Assist with new business strategy implementation and individual proposal development, as needed.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor from time to time. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advanced degree in public health, immunization, supply chain management, management, or related social science, or the equivalent in practical experience. 
• Minimum of 8 years of direct experience with the Expanded Program on Immunization and/or immunization and a minimum of 3 years of project management/leadership experience is required. While a solid level of technical expertise is necessary, exceptional proven leadership, representation, and relationship building skills are paramount for this role.
• Knowledge of the principles and practice of public health. Familiarity with immunization systems support, such as implementation of outreach activities, vaccine management, cold chain, waste management and disposal, and vehicle management, as well as primary health care systems, polio outbreak and response, and cVDPV2 transmission response. 
• Ability to review and analyze routine immunization data, monitor and present program progress in a way that tells a clear and impactful story. 
• Demonstrated ability to work in a complex, multi-intervention health development program in collaboration with national health ministries and international partners. 
• Demonstrated experience in proposal development, client management, and new business development.
• Personal and professional commitment to gender equality. 
• Leadership and management experience in donor-funded projects is required, particularly demonstrating an openness to new ideas and a management style that facilitates teamwork and creativity. 
• Demonstrated project management and leadership skills with an ability to take initiative. 
• Effective presentation and strong advocacy skills, with a proven ability to give voice to the work and represent JSI effectively. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with a diverse team of partners and counterparts. 

Language: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required.

Travel Expectations: Ability to travel to/among states and internationally when needed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

JSI is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees and to fostering a workplace free from discrimination. We believe in upholding the values of individual merit, hard work, and excellence, and we actively oppose any practices that promote illegal preferences or discrimination in hiring, contracting, or other employment decisions. We strive to create an environment where every individual is treated with dignity and respect, and we are dedicated to promoting a culture that recognizes and rewards individual initiative and achievements.

JSI is committed to protecting the rights and dignity of the populations we serve, as well as creating safe workplaces for our staff, volunteers and other associates. Exploitation, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and child abuse and child neglect violate human rights and are a betrayal of our core values. JSI has zero tolerance for any form of sexual misconduct, abuse, exploitation, or violence, as well as for inaction on allegations of such behavior. 

​Only qualified candidates need to apply. Due to the volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.