Job Openings at Helen Keller International

Helen Keller International is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition and diseases of poverty.  Cofounded by Helen Keller – and guided by her fierce optimism and belief in human potential – the organization delivers life-changing health solutions to vulnerable families where the need is great but access to care is limited.  In the US, Africa, and Asia, Helen Keller’s proven, science-based programs empower people to create opportunities in their own lives and build lasting change.

Helen Keller Nigeria is seeking a driver (Adamawa & Katsina).  This position reports to the Finance and Admin Officers/HR & Admin Coordinator, who is responsible for vehicle management.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Safely operate vehicles to ensure the safety of all passengers, pedestrians, other drivers and the vehicle in town and on field visits.
• Conduct vehicle checks (daily, weekly, monthly and before/after trips to field), and notify the staff person responsible for vehicle management of any vehicle problems.
• Deliver and pick up passengers and materials/ documents at airports, offices, businesses, etc. in a professional and courteous manner.
• Ensure that vehicles have the appropriate tools to enable users to perform minor maintenance and repairs in the field.
• Clean the vehicle inside and outside when necessary.
• Manage vehicles with care and use them with respect. Drive Helen Keller vehicles in a safe and secure manner in accordance with local law and the policies of the organization.
• Respect local traffic laws and drive within established speed limits.
• Understand the basic operations and maintenance requirements of Helen Keller vehicles. Perform minor maintenance and repair as required.
• Secure the vehicles when not in use.
• Provide support to Helen Keller field office staff and visitors in transporting materials to project sites, including loading and unloading Helen Keller vehicles as required.
• Fill in Vehicle Logbook after each trip with complete information and Fuel Log.
• Accept shifts/schedules as assigned, including weekend and after hours by rotation.

Other duties as assigned.

Specific Responsibilities:

Vehicle Driving:

• Possess a valid local driver’s license.
• Read and understand Helen Keller’s Vehicle Management policies and procedures related to vehicle management and driving protocols.
• Respect local traffic laws and drive within established speed limits.
• Deliver and pick up materials and documents at offices and businesses in a professional and courteous manner.

Vehicle Management & Maintenance:

• Conduct vehicle checks (daily, weekly, monthly and for trips), and signal any actual or potential problems to the staff person responsible for vehicle management;
• Ensure that vehicles have the appropriate tools and equipment on board to enable users to perform minor maintenance and repairs in the field.
• Understand the basic operations and maintenance requirements of Helen Keller vehicles. Perform minor maintenance and repair as required.
• Carefully assess surroundings before parking, particularly at night.  It is the driver’s responsibility to be attentive to potential threats.
• Clean the vehicle inside and outside when necessary.
• Provide support to Helen Keller staff and visitors in transporting materials to project sites, including loading and unloading Helen Keller vehicles as required;
• Fill in log sheets after each trip with complete information and Fuel Logbook.

Vehicle Safety:

• Manage vehicles with care and use them with respect. Drive Helen Keller vehicles in a safe and secure manner in accordance with local law and the policies of Helen Keller.
• Do not accept unknown parcels, baggage or other questionable loads into the vehicles.
• Do not accept unknown riders - particularly individuals carrying weapons, wearing military uniforms, or those linked to conflicts - inside Helen Keller vehicles.
• Verify that passengers riding in Helen Keller vehicles wear seat belts at all times.  Drivers are responsible for enforcing this rule in their vehicles.
• Yield the right-of-way to other drivers, pedestrians, bicycle and motorcycle riders, even if progress is slowed.
• Provide contact location to staff when in the field.
• Notify the staff person responsible for vehicle management of any movement of any vehicle from the office, any deviation from the planned route of travel, or changes of schedule.
• Inform the staff person responsible for vehicle management or Country Director of any danger – immediate or potential – to the security of Helen Keller staff or equipment due to demonstrations / riots in town, roadblocks, requisitions of vehicles by armed persons, shooting, etc. in order to alert staff.
• Ensure the safety and comfort of passengers at all times.

Qualifications: 

• Secondary-level diploma.
• 5 years’ experience driving professionally; experience in mechanics desired.
• Valid, current driving license with a clean driving record (no accidents).
• Verifiable references.
• Professional, courteous and punctual.
• Willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• Good working knowledge of all major local road networks and city streets.
• English language skills highly desired.

Terms & Conditions

This is a local posting in Nigeria, and as such, is subject to local terms and conditions.

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Location: Adamawa and Katsina

Reports To: M&E Specialist      

Job Responsibilities:

The success of the NTDs project depends largely on accurate, complete and timely reporting of achievements to donor. Achievement of set targets is of utmost importance. Hence, the objective of the M&E Officer position is to provide technical leadership in the roll-out of the M&E plan in the states and generating strategic data for program management, reporting and documentation of best practices.

Specific Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the M&E Specialist, the M&E Officer will:

• Provide technical input in the development of an integrated State NTDs project plan in collaboration with the Head of NTDs Programs and M&E Specialist.
• Take lead in the implementation of NTDs state M&E plan and reporting formats for indicators and targets in collaboration with the M&E Specialist. 
• Establish system for flow of information from service-delivery points to the central data base and ensure timely M&E technical support to all implementing health facilities.
• Take lead in building the capacity of health units’ M&E staff and relevant health and community workers in collection, summarization, analysis and presentation of M&E data.
• Manage the roll-out of the project M&E data quality assurance system including quarterly data quality audits.
• Assist the M&E Specialist to coordinate the establishment/strengthening of one state M&E system that informs policy and practice.
• Ensure state-of-the art database management practice at the state.
• Analyze M&E data on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis and flag action areas to the project management.
• Work with M&E Specialist/Head of Nutrition Programs to document and publish best practices.
• Guide staff and implementing partners in preparing their progress reports. Together, analyze these reports in terms of problems and actions needed. Prepare consolidated progress reports for project management to submit to the relevant bodies, in accordance with approved reporting formats and timing.
• Prepare monitoring reports, analyze them for impact evaluation and identify the causes of potential bottlenecks in project implementation.
• Guide the regular sharing of the outputs of M&E findings with project staff, implementing partners and primary stakeholders.
• Make regular reports to the project team highlighting areas of concern and preparing the documentation for review at meetings.

Program Monitoring & Evaluation

• In collaboration with M&E Specialist and NTDs Program Officer, assist with the implementation and development of Monitoring and Evaluation tools according to Helen Keller, FMOH and donor standards;
• Ensure that the project deliverables are on time, within budget and at the required level of international standards as set by FMOH, Helen Keller and donor.
• Internally and when requested, support external evaluations on the outcomes of the project as established during the planning phase of the project and as required.
• Support the dissemination of findings from assessment/evaluations to support organizational learning and contribute to policy processing or development.
• Advocacy and Strategic Alliances
• Assist in building and maintaining working relationships with both government and key project stakeholders at all levels in order to strengthen opportunities for advocacy and higher visibility.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Successful implementation of the projects based on:
• Effective tracking and reporting of program indicators
• Implementation of M&E plans in collaboration with other project staff and government stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in Sciences, Statistics, Epidemiology or related field with focus on monitoring and evaluation and/or Biostatistics.
• At least 2 years hand-on-experience in monitoring and evaluation with very good analytical, presentation, communication and reporting skills.
• Significant experience in developing monitoring plans and/or management information systems 2 years of which spent working with NGOs in an African setting.
• Excellent inter-personal, multi-cultural and team building skills.
• Strong computer skills particularly in spreadsheets, database and statistical applications.
• Significant experience working in NTD, HIV/AIDS or Nutrition program in Nigeria.
• Excellent writing skills, oral and written communication skills and fluency in English

Terms & Conditions

This is a local posting in Nigeria, and as such, is subject to local terms and conditions.

go to method of application »

Location: Adamawa, Borno and Katsina

Reports to: State Team Lead

Job Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the State Team Lead, the NTDs Program Officer assists with the formulation, execution, monitoring and evaluation of NTDs program in the State. He/she ensures consistency with the project set priorities and outcomes in the state.

Essential Functions

Program Planning

• In collaboration with the state Team Lead/NHP, facilitate the creation and implementation of a detailed annual work-plan, which identifies sequences of activities needed to successfully implement the project in the most cost-effective manner and ensure project objectives are met in line with national policies, Helen Keller’s goals and those of the donor.
• In collaboration with key stakeholders, facilitate the development and roll out of detailed implementation plans (DIP) to scale up Mass drug Administration (MDA) in endemic LGAs with the view to eliminate and control NTDs
• Review the project schedule with Helen Keller State Team Lead/HNP and all other staff that will be affected by the project activities; revise and regularly review the schedule as required.

Program Management

• In collaboration with the other stakeholders, ensure Helen Keller program partners execute the project according to their respective project plans;
• Document project activities and ensure that all project data is appropriately secured;
• Monitor the progress of the project implementation and make adjustments as necessary to ensure the project remains on track and is successfully implemented.
• Establish a communication schedule to update stakeholders including appropriate staff in the organization on the progress of the project;
• In collaboration with the Helen Keller finance officer and other project staff, ensure project funds are utilized and retired according to established accounting policies and procedures

Program Monitoring & Evaluation

• In collaboration with M&E officer, assist with the implementation and development of Monitoring and Evaluation tools according to Helen Keller, FMOH and donor standards;
• Ensure that the project deliverables are on time, within budget and at the required level of international standards as set by FMOH, Helen Keller and donor.
• Internally and when requested, support external evaluations on the outcomes of the project as established during the planning phase of the project and as required.
• Disseminate findings from assessment/evaluations to support organizational learning and contribute to policy processing or development;

Advocacy and Strategic Alliances

• Build and maintain working relationships with both government and key project stakeholders at all levels in order to strengthen opportunities for advocacy and higher visibility;
• Represent Helen Keller towards local partners and at other appropriate fora;

Key Performance Indicators:

• Successful implementation of the projects based on:
• Effective tracking and reporting of program indicators
• Implementation of annual work plans in collaboration with other project staff and government stakeholders

Required minimum education/experience/skills:

• Graduate degree in public health, public administration, management or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Postgraduate degree in related field preferred
• At least 3 years’ working experience in managing a community eye health or neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) program.
• Willingness to travel within the state and other parts of the country as needed
• Basic technical knowledge of PCT/IDM NTDs and Trachoma SAFE Strategy is preferable;
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Computer skills: Windows applications for word processing and spreadsheet software
• Extraordinary verbal and written communication skills to manage project communications and disseminate project information are required
• Demonstrates technical knowledge pertaining to the job requirements
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills;
• Able to work under pressure with minimal supervision and able to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated excellent personal integrity and confidentially

Terms & Conditions

This is a local posting in Nigeria, and as such, is subject to local terms and conditions.