Job Openings at the Management Sciences for Health (MSH)

Ref No: R222

Job Description

• The Project Human Resources Specialist implements practices and activities of the Project Human Resources Management (HRM), providing a full spectrum of HR services at program level linked to organizational needs and objectives.
• The Project HR Specialist serves as a resource person with respect to MSH/USAID regulations.
• Under the direct supervision of the Country HR Manager, S/he works closely with the MSH Country Human Resources Manager in Nigeria and the Regional HR Partner, and the Project Leadership Team to support the achievement of organizational and country mission, goals, and objectives through the development, implementation, and management of HR activities.

Recruitment and placement:

• Ensure all MSH/Donor recruitment policies and procedures are adhered to and recommend improvements.
• In collaboration with PD, DFA and Country HRM, review and prepare recruitment materials including job descriptions, job specifications, adverts and interview questions for positions to be filled.
• Carry out short listing, coordinate & participate in interviews.
• Conduct and manage biodata forms and antiterrorist and reference checks.
• Manage all new hire employment forms.
• Maintains an active and organized data bank of applicants for various positions.
• Plan and conduct/coordinate new employee orientation including provision of information about policies, job duties, working conditions, wages, and opportunities for promotion and employee benefits etc.

Salary and employee benefits management:

• Contributes and ensures that the MSH Nigeria benefits package are evaluated and revised as necessary. Communicate any changes to the project staff.
• Gives input to payroll administration by provision of relevant project human resources information.
• Conduct salary negotiations for new and existing staff. Review all offers to selected candidates, ensuring equity within the different projects.
• Ensure that all promotions are properly justified both technically and in terms of compensation.
• Support initiatives geared towards creation of a safe, healthy and happy workplace such as open-door policy, One MSH policy, trainings and safeguards that promote safety and security at workplace.

Performance management:

• Work with Supervisors/Managers to ensure that all new staff have set objectives for the probation period, manage due dates and decisions to confirm further employment.
• Manage the full cycle performance review process at project level and ensure that deadlines are met. Conduct training during performance review process.
• Assist Supervisors/Mangers I the project with managing performance issues.
• Manage disputes and grievances effectively.
• Plan and conduct various PPRD & supervisors’ training.
• Assist Supervisors/Managers with Development Plans for staff.

HR Information systems:

• Responsible for managing information in the Workday system – accurate and timely submissions.
• Maintain records and compile statistical reports concerning personnel-related data.
• Assist in analyzing statistical data and reports to support appropriate decision making.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of appropriate mechanisms to share ideas i.e. HR database, open discussions, employee-management meetings etc.
• Provision of various HR Information reports to Home office i.e. employee issues reports, HR Information reports necessary for budgeting and data validation.

Employee services:

• Management of staff exits, including conducting of exit interviews.
• Supervision of HR Associate/Coordinator and HR Intern /Associate (if applicable).
• Assist DFA/ Lead to conduct regular and thorough risk assessments in country, and to monitor success of risk mitigation and risk control activities. 
• Ensure compliance with global HR systems in country to and guide staff

Qualifications
Education:

• A BA degree with at least 7 years of experience in human resources management, including recruitment and personnel management is required; or a MA degree with at least 6 years of experience; or Doctorate with at least 5 years of experience.

Knowledge and skills:

• Must have demonstrated understanding of Nigeria Labor laws, Company Act, NGO Act and other relevant laws.
• Experience of managing HR functions in USG funded projects will be preferred.
• Experience managing HR functions in the NGO health sector is an added advantage
• Demonstrated ability to gain the trust and confidence of colleagues and to handle confidential matters discreetly and have experience in conflict resolution.
• Ability to competently assess priorities; manage a variety of complex activities simultaneously in a time-sensitive environment, and meet competing deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally and linguistically diverse staff, clients, and consultants.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully coordinate activities with senior project management staff and proven ability to work successfully on a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. 
• Demonstrated computer proficiencies, including Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint and database management.

Competencies:

• Demonstrated success and familiarity experience in Nigeria is particularly relevant.
• Demonstrated by ability to work both independently and within a team, assess priorities, and manage a variety of activities with attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully coordinate activities with senior project management staff and proven ability to work successfully on a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Integrity and friendly approachability.
• Able to maintain high level of confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to gain the trust and confidence of colleagues and to handle confidential matters discreetly and have experience in conflict resolution.

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Ref. No.: R220

Background

• The US President’s Malaria Initiative for States (PMI-S) project is a five-year USAID flagship malaria project managed by Management Sciences for Health (MSH) with consortium partners ThinkWell, Banyan Global, and the Nigeria Interfaith Action Association (NIFAA).
• The project goal supports the Government of Nigeria through its agencies at the federal, state, local government area (LGA), and community levels to reduce malaria-related mortality by delivering quality services for management of malaria and its complications, and prevention of malaria during pregnancy and in children under five. PMI-S is an indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract with several task orders.
• Task Order 04 (TO 04) supports the SMEPs in Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Zamfara States to lead the response to malaria through four core interventions: (1) malaria case management, including malaria diagnosis and treatment for uncomplicated and severe malaria, including integrated community case management (iCCM); (2) surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation (SME); (3) drug-based prevention and treatment approaches, including IPTp and SMC; and (4) health systems strengthening, including State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) planning, management, and program monitoring.

Overview of Consultancy:

• MSH seeks the services of a short-term consultant to lead the development of the TO 04 Year 1 (October 1, 2020 – September 30, 2021) workplan.
• The work plan is due to USAID no later than September 27, 2020. The consultant must be based in Abuja, Nigeria and will work remotely with the PMI-S staff, SMEP counterparts and other stakeholders.
• He / she may be asked to have in-person meetings in Abuja and travel to Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau to meet with stakeholders.
• The consultant will also be required to hold virtual meetings with the Zamfara SMEP/SMOH to gather information for the work plan.
• S / he will follow all MSH rules regarding COVID-19 and would only do any in-person work if / when MSH policies allow it.

The Consultant will to carry out the following:

• Contribute to the development, and manage a detailed timeline for all TO 04 work plan development activities. The timeline must include specific tasks, due dates and responsible parties.
• Convene and chair regular progress meetings (daily huddles, as needed) regarding work plan development. Meetings to include PMI-S Nigeria staff (Abuja and field) as well as Home Office staff as needed.
• Contribute to development of templates for Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) and narrative, using existing formats.
• Gather all inputs, compile, edit and present a DIP for each of the 4 states.
• Prepare a well-edited and concise joint TO4 DIP and work plan narrative from the four individual state DIPs and narratives.
• Work with F&A Director to develop budget inputs for activity budget projections.
• Receive and incorporate feedback from reviewers, and prepare final version.
• Prepare a slide deck for PMI-S to present work plan to USAID.
• Incorporate USAID feedback, and work with the PMI-S Country Director to finalize all pieces of the work plan for submission to USAID.

Deliverables:

• Work Plan development timeline.
• DIP and narrative templates.
• Action items from meetings.
• A DIP draft for each of Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Zamfara States
• A final joint TO 04 DIP and work plan narrative.
• Slide deck for presentation to USAID.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree and postgraduate qualification in a relevant field is a must, and at least 5 years post qualification experience working on health development programs.
• Proven experience leading development of strategic or annual program work plans for government and NGOs in Nigeria is required. Experience developing work plans for USAID-funded organizations is desirable.
• Familiarity with the Malaria Program in Central and Northern States of Nigeria.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, Microsoft Excel and Word computer packages.

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Ref. No.: R219

Background

• The US President’s Malaria Initiative for States (PMI-S) project is a five-year USAID flagship malaria project managed by Management Sciences for Health (MSH) with consortium partners Thinkwell, Banyan Global and the Nigeria Interfaith Action Association (NIFAA).
• The project supports the Government of Nigeria through its agencies at the federal, state, local government areas (LGA) and community levels to reduce under-five and maternal mortality by delivering quality services for the prevention and management of malaria and its complications.
• PMI-S is an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with several task orders. MSH began implementing PMI-S Task Order (TO) 03 on January 10, 2020 in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi and Oyo States.
• The objectives of TO 03 are to: (i) Improve the quality of and access to comprehensive malaria case management services, including iCCM; (ii) improve data quality, interpretation and use; (iii) improve drug-based prevention and treatment approaches (mainly intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy); and (iv) strengthen existing health systems and improve State Malaria Elimination Program (SMEP) management.

Overview of Consultancy:

• Nigeria adopted the integrated community case management (iCCM) strategy in 2012, aimed at expanding access to life-saving interventions to under-five children.
• The focus is to contribute to improving access to quality healthcare services to children under-five in the target communities. ICCM is an equity-focused strategy that provides timely treatment for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea at the community level for populations with limited access to facility-based health care providers. This strategy is delivered by community-level health providers who are trained, regularly supervised, and have access to uninterrupted supplies of commodities.
• However, in Nigeria, iCCM currently depends heavily on donor support, compromising its sustainability. PMI-S plans to support Ebonyi State to implement iCCM using a sustainable approach as part of efforts to improve access to quality health services for children at the community level.
• PMI-S will adopt relevant national guidelines and protocols as well as leveraging on lessons learned from iCCM projects implemented in Nigeria. In view of the above, PMI-S seeks the services of a consultant who will conduct an assessment of iCCM interventions implemented in Nigeria, to help understand best practices, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned to inform the project on planning its support for iCCM in states, specifically in Ebonyi.  
• In addition, the consultant will conduct key Informant interviews with SMOH, SPHCDA and LGA Officials, WDCs and community leaders to identify underserved LGAs and communities that will benefit from iCCM interventions.

Specific Tasks
The Consultant is expected to carry out the following:

• Task 1: Conduct a desk review of iCCM interventions implemented in Nigeria, to identify strategies, best practices, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned.
• Task 2: Conduct an additional state-specific desk review of iCCM implementation in Ebonyi state to identify strategies, best practices, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned and how these are aligned with general findings across Nigeria.
• Task 3: Gather relevant data on the distribution of the malaria burden (by geography and age groups) and access to health facility-based malaria services in Ebonyi State and information on previous iCCM interventions to inform and guide the selection of LGAs /communities where iCCM may be implemented in Ebonyi state.
• Task 4: Conduct key Informant interviews with Key SMOH officers, (Director of Public Health, Director of Pharmaceutical Services, SMEP Manager, and IMCI focal person), Executive Secretary SPHCDA, LGA health managers (PHC Coordinators, LGA malaria and IMCI focal persons), WDC officials and community leaders to identify underserved LGAs and communities that will benefit from iCCM interventions.
• Task 5: Make recommendations on sustainable iCCM approaches in Nigeria and Ebonyi state based on the findings of the assessment.

Deliverables:

• Submission of the protocol / guide for the desk review and key informant interviews (KIIs) for approval by PMI-S.
• A comprehensive report of the desk review of iCCM implementation in Nigeria to identify strategies, best practices, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned including the Ebonyi State specific iCCM assessment report.
• A report of the KIIs showing the communities/LGAS that would benefit most from the iCCM intervention for bigger impact on malaria burden.
• A  list of relevant management/coordination structures or contacts/stakeholders in Ebonyi that can support iCCM implementation in Ebonyi PowerPoint presentation of key activities and findings

Qualifications

• A postgraduate degree in Public Health or related field.
• Experience working with the Federal Ministry of Health and or State Ministries of Health.
• Familiarity with the Nigeria health system and National iCCM guidelines.
• Must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience with ICCM implementation in Nigeria. Experience with iCCM implementation in Ebonyi state will be an added advantage.
• Previous experience in carrying out similar assignments in Nigeria.