State Team Lead at Palladium Group

Job Summary

• The UK Support to Health transformation in Nigeria through the Lafiya Program is a flexible, demand-led strategic partnership with the Nigerian Federal and targeted State governments designed to address equity, improve and sustain health outcomes for the most vulnerable States with the worst health statistics.
• The desired objectives of the program included fostering an enabling environment for UHC policy reform and implementation, institutional management capacity building and health system strengthening.
• This required the full engagement and participation of communities with a view to contributing to ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
• The program operated at the Federal level; and geographically in five states - Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Yobe. Following the ODA cuts, from 0.7% to 0.5% and the spend review handrails, the FCDO reprioritization and business planning exercise beginning in the last quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021 the program had to scale down some key interventions and consider reviewing the geographic scope going into the next financial years.
• The program now focuses on contributing to three outcomes (1) Increased health financing (SDG 3.c) (2) Improved coverage of integrated essential health services and health emergency preparedness (SDG 3.8 and SDG 3.d); and (3) Improved access to sexual and reproductive health services (SDG 3.7)
• Output 1: Strengthened governance for the delivery of integrated health and nutrition services
• Output 2: Strengthened health financing, including use of Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and innovative financing approaches.
• Output 3: Strengthened health workforce and health information systems, including use of data for decision-making.
• Output 4: Improved health security through a One Health approach, including response to emergencies.
• Output 5: Improved access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including strengthened access and demand in north-east Nigeria, and support to accelerate the demographic transition.
• Lafiya will be delivered at federal level, as well as with a focus on targeted states (Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Yobe) with activities tailored for each specific state instead of a “one size fits all” approach. T
• he State Team Lead (Kaduna) has overall programmatic management responsibility for the delivery of the Lafiya programme in the State.
• The role works closely with and manages the team of technical and administrative Consultant in xx State ensuring that programme objectives and deliverables are met in accordance with the client reporting requirements and programme TORs. 
• The State Team Lead (Kaduna) will be a member of the Lafiya Senior Leadership Team.
• Location: The State Team Lead will be based in Kaduna State

Primary Duties and Responsibilities
The State Team Lead (Kaduna)  will be responsible for:
Programme delivery and oversight:

• Provide programme technical and related budgeting and financial management oversight and accountability of the implementation of all the activities and results under each of the three programme outcomes.
• Lead the preparation of state annual strategic plans; technical and operational work plans and budgets; staffing plans; performance improvement plans and other plans as required.
• Assume overall responsibility for the effective implementation of state work plans and ensures delivery is on time, within budget, meets client and stakeholder expectations and is contractually compliant.
• Monitor state implementation progress and progress towards milestones; maintains up to date logs of issues and risks; works to resolve issues, manages and mitigates risks; and escalates material issues and risks as appropriate.
• Ensure the team and activities in the state provide and demonstrate good value for money;
• Responsible for forecast management in the state including working with the state team to minimise monthly forecast variance and annual budget variance;

Team Management and Leadership:

• Assume overall responsibility for the effective and professional management of the state team;
• Lead, guide, mentor and manage the performance of technical and administrative direct reports and ensure appropriate leadership, guidance, mentorship and management of consultants;
• Participate as required in HR management including but not limited to recruitment and contracting, performance management, disciplinary and grievance proceedings, and learning and development;
• Ensure consistent implementation of company Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Guidelines, Security Protocols.

Stakeholder management:

• Provide strategic and technical representation of the programme at key state level fora, meetings and coordination platforms.
• Establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with other FCDO programmes, State Ministry of Health, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, State Social Health Insurance Scheme, State Ministry of Finance, State Ministry of Budget and Planning and other key government ministries, departments and agencies; and key stakeholders including civil society, community structures and development partners.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or higher in Public Health, Policy and Governance, Health Economics, or other relevant field required.
• Progressive years of experience in a Senior Programme Management capacity including experience designing, implementing, and managing or evaluating complex health programme.
• Proven technical experience in health systems strengthening; health financing; health management information systems, health sector policy and strategies, working with the private sector, advocacy and accountability and family planning
• Demonstrated technical depth and understanding of the health policy environment and governance in Nigeria, particularly in the Northern regions preferred.
• Experience in coordination and collaboration of stakeholders including government agencies, host country governments and counterparts, and international donor agencies.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills in English required, working knowledge of Hausa and other local languages preferred
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Demonstrated problem solving, analytic, financial, and evaluative skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to effectively and efficiently perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities often within a required timeframe.