Senior Technical Advisor, Social and Behavior Change at Jhpiego - John Hopkins University

Background

• Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP) is currently recruiting for a Senior Technical Advisor, Social and Behavior Change (SBC) to oversee technical activities in Nigeria under the USAID-funded MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics project (MOMENTUM).
• MOMENTUM seeks to sustainably support the Government of Nigeria in strengthening surgical safety within maternal health (MH) and voluntary family planning (FP) programs by promoting evidence-based approaches and testing new innovations. MOMENTUM works with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and its state counterparts, as well as Nigerian institutions; civil society, faith-based, and community-based organizations (CSOs, FBOs, and CBOs); and professional associations and other stakeholders. The project is led by EngenderHealth in collaboration with core resource partners which include CCP, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LHSTM), and IntraHealth International.
• Through evidence-based SBC approaches including human-centered design (HCD), CCP supports MOMENTUM in Nigeria in increasing awareness of, equal access to, and quality of informed, voluntary, and consented safe surgical care for FP/MH and provides SBC technical assistance to national and regional partners.
• MOMENTUM technical priorities in Nigeria include safe and indicated caesarean delivery and peripartum hysterectomy, prevention and treatment of obstetric and iatrogenic fistula, and prevention of and management for female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) in the context of MH care.

General Summary

• Reporting to the CCP Program Manager, the Senior Technical Advisor, SBC in Nigeria will oversee the technical activities and provide oversight and technical guidance to the Senior SBC Specialist in the design, implementation, and monitoring of SBC interventions under MOMENTUM.
• This SBC Advisor will lead key activities and have overall responsibility for SBC implementation. S/he will possess both deep applied experience in SBC and demonstrated abilities in leadership; strategic thinking; application of best practices, gender integration and innovations in SBC.
• The SBC Advisor will integrate learnings from global best practices, s/he will provide strategic direction for SBC programming, while proactively engaging and convening a broad range of donors and implementers in advancing the practice of SBC for surgical FP/MH in Nigeria. The SBC Advisor will be required to travel within Nigeria, and internationally, as needed.

Technical Leadership and Innovation:

• Provide SBC technical expertiseand guidanceto the development and execution of SBC interventions included in theCCP-led activities within the project workplan for Nigeria
• Review and contribute expertise to project strategies, activity plans, and reports to ensure technical soundness of SBC approaches forsafe obstetrics, surgical FP,FGM/C, and fistula and these approaches are synergized/integrated with relevant clinical programs
• Participate and provide expert inputs, as relevant, in CCP-led SBC workplan activities including the HCD activities
• Build the capacity of project and partner staff for SBC programming forsafe obstetrics,FGM/C and fistula programs; particularly, provide mentorship and support to the CCP Senior SBC Specialist in Nigeria
• Ensure communication channels and systems are in place to understand the needs and feedback from other implementing partners and stakeholders working across MOMENTUM in Nigeria
• Recommend processes and mechanisms to improve efficiency and impact
• Lead shifts in approach as needed based on the reports and data
• Ensure that gender is at the forefront of all SBC activities, including design, planning, implementation, and monitoring

Management and Oversight:

• Represent MOMENTUM at relevant forums at national level; and provide support to the Senior SBC Specialist/ other local staff to undertake similar roles effectively at regional and lower levels
• Participate in the development of MOMENTUM strategic documents including work plan and quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports for Nigeria
• Compile program reports as required
• Seek, select, engage, and monitor qualified consultants and agencies to provide technical assistance in support of the project
• Any other relevant duties as assigned by the Deputy Chief of Party and/or the Chief of Party or as agreed/assigned during meetings with the broader project team

Partnership and coordination:

• Participate in monthly coordination meetings with EngenderHealth to identify opportunities for collaboration and enhancing the integration of SBC programming into the into the overall project/ elevating the value of SBC within FGM/C and fistula programs
• Attend meetings and represent the SBC initiatives of the project in all relevant levels of government officials, partners, donor, NGO, and private sector representatives
• Contribute to national, semi-annual and annual program reports, as requested
• Participate in clinical, SBC, and capacity strengthening sessions with CCP, EngenderHealth, and other implementing partners and stakeholders, as relevant
• Develop/maintain partnerships with relevant institutions (including CBOs/CSOs) to strengthen/implement project activities
• Liaise with key line Ministries, including the FMoH
• Respond to EngenderHealth requests related to progress against targets and provide other programmatically relevant information in a timely fashion
• Coordinate with other senior staff on MOMENTUM to ensure strategic project management

Capacity strengthening and training:

• Provide mentorship to technical staff
• Ensure all staff have the technical knowledge to complete their job duties
• Provide training opportunities to staff as appropriate
• Co-facilitate training workshops, including agenda, curriculum, manuals and materials necessary to appropriately train individuals
• Train and oversee staff on the project manuals and technical information
• Provide support to and build the capacity of partner organizations
• Carry out field visits as needed and work with staff in a collaborative manner to increase their technical capacity.

Minimum Qualifications

• An MD, PhD, or Master’s Degree in Medicine, Social Sciences, Public Health, Communications or other relevant Degree or a Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field with a minimum of fifteen (15) years of professional experience in delivering SBC and professional experience working in mid to senior management positions.
• A minimum of ten (10) years’ professional experience in delivering SBC programs with progressively increased responsibility working for health technical assistance programs or other health related services.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, monitoring, an/or evaluating SBC programs for FP/MH.
• Nigerian national.
• Excellent past performance references.
• Previous experience working with USAID programs in Nigeria.
• Experience working with local and regional SBC and clinical FP/RH stakeholders in Nigeria.
• Flexibility to take periodic meetings during business hours, US Eastern Time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated leadership qualities, depth and breadth of management expertise and technical experience.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• High level of interpersonal, technical, and analytical skills including a demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collaboratively with a broad range of public and private sector counterparts and other key stakeholders.
• Excellent skills and experience in collaborative working relationships with senior level government leadership.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Required oral and written fluency in English.