Job Opportunities at British High Commission

Roles and responsibilities:

• Coordinate the Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards (RCE) input to bi-lateral and multi-lateral activities as appropriate at Nigerian country level
• Maintain key stakeholder relationships  with junior and senior members of NCDC, MoH and staff from other organisations
• Provide in-person representation for relevant meetings, workshops, or ad-hoc events
• Provide technical input to the design, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of activities to strengthen chemical preparedness, surveillance, response and recovery capability in Nigeria, this may include, but is not limited to: 
• Supporting the establishment and effective functioning of the National Committee on Chemical Surveillance and Emergency System (NCCSES) and other relevant technical working groups
• Supporting the assessment of chemical laboratory capacity in Nigeria
• Supporting the development, testing, and validation of chemicals management policies, plans, and SOPs
• Supporting the establishment of poisons information service/centres (as indicated)
• Other tasks that contribute to IHR strengthening of Chemical Events core capacities in line with the Nigeria National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) and other relevant indicators including the WHO Benchmarking and State Party Self-Assessment Annual Reporting (SPAR)Tools
• To manage small projects and aspects of larger projects in a particular defined area, and to work within a project team under the guidance of more senior staff. This includes managing own time, other relevant resources, and liaising with stakeholders and other members of staff working on the project to ensure the timely and successful completion of work.
• To be able to receive, assimilate and analyse technical and scientific information relating to chemicals
• To prepare methodology documents, project reports and papers and sections of complex reports, including incorporating material prepared by others
• Maintain key in-country situational awareness and keep UK based RCE colleagues informed of relevant activity and opportunities

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual personal development plan.
• Attending relevant internal / external training events
• To participate in all mandatory training as required

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Degree qualification in a relevant science subject  in a chemical, environmental or public health field
• Familiarity with public health and environmental issues
• Demonstrable experience in chemical related public health risk assessment
• Ability to work across a wide range of stakeholders at senior level with strong relationship building, influencing, negotiating & interpersonal skills, including on operational issues as well as broader public health and global health security issues
• Familiarity with global aspects of chemical safety and the sound management of chemicals
• Demonstrable experience of good stakeholder management and working with government departments and agencies
• Knowledge of, and a keen interest in the health sector and cultural context in Nigeria
• Experience of delivering presentations, training and interactive workshops
• Understanding of and demonstrable experience of applying monitoring and evaluation principles to project delivery
• Understanding of global health including the health challenges of low- and middle-income countries and the international health architecture
• Demonstrable commitment to own Continued Professional Development (CPD)
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills on complex matters, often requiring persuasion and influence.
• Ability to analyse and interpret information and recommend appropriate actions.
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales.
• Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
• Excellent computer skills and proficiency in MS Office applications and other software relevant to the role
• A demonstrable commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Qualification or equivalent experience in the field of environmental public health or related disciplines
• Previous experience in similar role in public sector or with bilateral/multilateral organisations.
• Understanding of UKHSA

go to method of application »

This position's primary responsibility is to work with the Nigeria Country Lead/Senior Public Health Advisor and the Human Resource and Administration Heads at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to deliver on UK HSA’s and NCDC’s shared objectives for our collaboration on human resources, administration and workforce capacity building and strengthening.

The post-holder will provide expert HR/Admin/Workforce advice  to the NCDC and other relevant government Ministries/Departments/Agencies to ensure a holistic approach to improving IHR compliance which addresses priority HR/Admin/Workforce needs.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Leading the development and driving the implementation of relevant HR and Employee Relations and Workforce policies and strategies that take account of existing employment legislation, in collaboration with UK Workforce colleagues
• Working with UK based workforce colleagues, NCDC Directorates, senior management and their teams to ensure that workforce requirements are identified, with support planned and delivered in a timely manner supported by a good understanding of NCDC mission and strategy, as well as business plans
• Supporting the management of the HR interface with management, line managers and staff, providing advice and support on employee relations processes such as grievance, disciplinary, fair treatment and absence management procedures.
• Developing in collaboration with UK-based workforce development colleagues the people management capabilities of line managers facilitating opportunities that will help equip them with the knowledge and skills to handle staff management responsibilities in line with NCDC’s strategic direction
• Developing and actively supporting the delivery of organisational development interventions that support effective and efficient operational delivery
• Working in partnership with the Director of Administration and wider HR Team to develop interventions to address the leadership and management agenda within NCDC that promote cultural change and supports appropriate behaviours and values
• Supporting the management and improvement of the efficiency of Support Services and ensuring effective business management. This will include business planning and performance reporting, risk management, business continuity, change management, sustainable practices, HR processes for staff, and health and safety.
• Supporting the delivery of a workforce development strategy for NCDC, including ensuring sufficient resourcing for the work of staff, staff development and succession planning.
• Providing operational advice and support to NCDC DG and others for effective programme delivery.
• Taking a significant role in organisation wide long-term planning, including initiatives geared toward operational excellence, including development of long-range forecasts and maintenance of long-range organisational delivery plans.
• Ensure compliance with planning and reporting practice required for the IHR S_P project including achievement of project plans, milestones and evaluation

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Graduate / postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject or an equivalent level of relevant experience (Public Administration, Personnel Management, Human Resource Management, etc.)
• Experience of drafting HR/Admin policies
• Experience of devising, implementing and delivering HR/Workforce development projects within/across organisations
• Experience in an organisation with complex stakeholder interactions
• Experience of organising and managing organisational development initiatives
• A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable “can-do” attitude that can see way through challenges
• Knowledge of, and a keen interest in the public sector and context in Nigeria
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
• Excellent computer skills and proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Experience of business planning development, monitoring and reporting on performance
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written)
• Ability to nurture relationships, network and work in effective partnerships with complex stakeholders
• Innovative – ability to find solutions to challenging problems
• High level of organisational skills - able to organise, plan, prioritise and deal with conflicting demands and pressures in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative management style, with ability to understand differing perspectives
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace
• Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  
• Experience of partnership working - linking with staff across varied organisational functions to address inter-dependencies and ensure alignment
• Experience of managing projects with multiple partners
• Experience of leading change management

Required behaviours  

• Changing and Improving, Delivering at Pace, Working Together, Developing Self and Others