State Technical Director - Nigeria IHP at Palladium Group

Ref No: req12329

Project Overview and Role

• The purpose of Task Order 7 is to implement priority primary health interventions in the FCT state to strengthen the state-local area council (LAC) and ward level health systems. The objectives of the program are a) strengthen systems supporting primary health care (PHC) services b) improve access to PHC services, and c) increase quality of PHC services. Strong engagement and collaboration with the state government are expected throughout the program.
• Task Order 7 will coordinate closely with other USAID activities and other development partner programs in the state. USAID will intentionally overlay this activity with another Mission programming to increase Government of Nigeria (GON) resources for PHC services, increase demand for PHC services, and improve access to essential commodities. The activity is expected to collaborate closely with those other implementing partners and will not undertake any activities already implemented by other USAID programs.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical expertise in high impact reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health, nutrition and malaria (RMNCH+NM) services that is sound, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of the State and USAID.
• Provide advice on the integration of these services into established service delivery systems at different levels of care in the State.
• Collaborate with other stakeholders, including other IHP states to apply lessons learned, innovations and quality methods to ensure evidence-based practices are translated to improved implementation of interventions.
• Provide technical advice on the integration of RMNCH+NM into established service delivery systems at different levels of care
• Collaborate with other stakeholders, including other IHP states, to apply lessons learned, innovations, and cutting-edge quality improvement methods to translate best practices into the improved implementation of interventions
• Provide technical leadership to the building of local capacity using proven training approaches and quality improvement methodologies.
• Provide technical support to key stakeholders including review of technical documents and provide input to relevant policies and strategies.
• Provide technical leadership in the development of primary health care strategies for the reduction of maternal, newborn and child morbidity and mortality.
• Identify evidence-based innovative approaches to strengthen health systems strengthening interventions including service delivery
• Provide technical assistance to key stakeholders including review of technical documents, and provide input to relevant policies and strategies
• Provide technical assistance and advice on the relevant latest health developments, publications, and other information generation activities being undertaken both in Nigeria and globally
• Supervise Technical Advisors as needed.
• Coordinate closely with other USAID activities and development partner programs in the State.
• Contribute to and coordinate with the program’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) team on activities to ensure that the program meets set targets in accordance with national and USG standards.
• Represent program at state level stakeholder meetings and technical working groups in relation to RMNCH+NM and related technical areas.

Management:

• Contribute to annual work planning, training plans and quarterly reports and other required technical reports.
• Provide leadership on the timely, accurate and appropriate reporting of program activities and results.
• Advocate and ensure quality program implementation consistent with MOH Nigerian Guidelines, global best practices and USAID Nigerian Strategic Directions including advice on relevant latest health developments & publications.
• Coordinate the evaluation of program progress against deliverables on a quarterly basis.
• With the Integrated Primary Health Care Advisors, oversee program design, implementation, quality assurance and monitoring of work plan.
• Coordinate with the other members of the technical team and NGO partners to develop and implement feasible facility and community-based approaches.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor which contributes to the achievement of program goals.
• All other duties and tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• The State Technical Director must be a proven leader in the field of RMNCH+NM with senior-level management experience in public health programs.
• S/he must be well recognized by the reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health, nutrition, malaria (RMNCH+NM) community in Nigeria. The Technical Director must be intimately familiar with the primary health care context in Nigeria and have in-country experience with USAID programs. Additional qualifications include:
• A Medical Doctor, Nurse or any other closely related health care professional; specialization in obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics or Public Health and other health-related courses (e.g., MPH, MSC in international health, social sciences or other relevant degrees) will be an advantage.
• Minimum of 10 years of working experience in the areas of RMNCH+NM.
• Previous experience working on a USAID funded project will be an added advantage.
• Familiarity with the FMOH, SMOH, NPHCDA, or SPHCDA structures and functions
• Demonstrated expertise in working directly with host-country senior government officials and policymakers in health.
• Strong skills in leadership, design, implementation and monitoring of program components; e.g., services, training, quality improvement, advocacy and coordination.
• Demonstrated capacity to develop technical materials and provide training to improve service delivery, advocacy and resource mobilization for expanding RMNCH+NM.
• Strong verbal, listening, writing, and intrapersonal skills are essential for effective coordination among several institutions and staff involved in a broad range of activities
• A strong ability to multi-task will be highly desirable.
• Fluent in English, (written and oral communication)
• Willingness to travel throughout Nigeria as necessary.