Project Director, Routine Immunization 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 Routine Immunization Project. The 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. 

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Project Director is responsible for strategic and managerial oversight, project quality, and team leadership. The Project Director encourages innovation and oversees project coordination, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and compliance. This position will serve as the official representative of JSI for this project and, as such, will maintain excellent communications and professional relationships between all relevant parties, including government counterparts, clients, stakeholders, and other partners.

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 (SPHCDA)s, national/state routine immunization technical working groups, and State Immunization Teams. The Project Director will be responsible for client management (with the NPHCDA and the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare [FMOH&SW]) and will engage with other partners and donors. 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 Project Director will be responsible for management and technical oversight of the project portfolio 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 and has responsibilities for the success of the project.
• 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 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.
• Provide management and technical oversight for JSI’s routine immunization portfolio 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 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 Manager and Senior Technical Advisor. 
• Manage the successful performance of the project and oversee the preparation of routine and ad hoc performance reports and technical deliverables. 
• Ensure accuracy and timely submission of all quarterly and annual reporting requirements. 
• Ensure quality and timeliness of work and the completion of all activities 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. 
• At least 10 years of direct experience with the Expanded Program on Immunization and/or immunization is required. 
• 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. 
• Ability to review and analyze routine immunization data, monitor and present program progress. 
• 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. 
• Demonstrated project management and leadership skills with an ability to take initiative. 
• Effective presentation and strong advocacy skills. 
• 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.