State Technical Director - Nigeria IHP at Palladium Group

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical expertise in high impact reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health, nutrition 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 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 contribute 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:

• An experienced Clinician (preferably A medical doctor or Nurse Midwife); with specialization in Public Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pediatrics or related field. (An MPH, Phd or other advanced degree in related area would be an advantage).
• Significant experience in donor-funded implementing projects (preferably with USAID)
• Significant project management experience in complex, fast-paced implementation environment with track record of demonstrable results
• Experience providing Health System Strengthening and support across the 6 WHO building blocks and improving healthcare access
•  Minimum of 10 years working experience in the areas of RMNCH+NM
• Familiarity with the FMOH, SMOH, NPHCDA, or SPHCDA structures and functions
• Demonstrated expertise in working directly with host-country senior government officials and policy makers 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 providing training to improve service delivery, advocacy and resource mobilization for expanding RMNCH+NM.
• Strong verbal, listening, writing, and intrapersonal skills essential for effective coordination among several institutions and staff involved in a broad range of activities
• Strong ability to multi-task will be highly desirable.
• Fluent in English, (written and oral communication)
• Willingness to travel throughout Nigeria as necessary.