Job Vacancies at University Research Co

Overview:  

• URC is searching for an experienced Chief of Party for the anticipated USAID Integrated Health Program (IHP) Activity in Nigeria.
• The IHP Activity will support USAID’s approaches to health systems strengthening (HSS) and reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH.)
•  It will  improve the capacity of the Federal and State Ministry of Health (F/SMOH), local organizations, and communities to deliver quality, integrated health services.  

Responsibilities:  
The Chief of Party leads the Senior Management Team and is responsible for the strategic and technical leadership, financial, management and administrative oversight of the Activity ensuring an integrated vision among different components and actors and focusing on achieving the results defined in the project’s scope of work. 

Specific roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Provide overall strategic vision and technical leadership for the Activity;
• Provide an appropriate balance of technical, managerial, and interpersonal skills to coordinate effective implementation of program activities, including development of a dynamic learning agenda and adaptive management approach;
• Ensure that project objectives, outcomes, and deliverables are met and that financial, operational, and USAID reporting requirements are followed;
• Make programmatic decisions and troubleshoot implementation challenges; oversee program data quality compliance, including development of data tracking and monitoring systems USG or donor funding audit standards; and oversee sub-grant development, including compliance with programmatic objectives and URC\donor financial and administrative regulations;
• Serve as spokesperson and advocate, representing the Activity to the donor, central and local government officials, private sector leaders, and other stakeholders; will represent the Activity and URC at local, regional, and international fora;
• Serve as a key point of contact for USAID/Nigeria, the Government of Nigeria and all other stakeholders;
• Directly supervise members of the Senior Management Team. 

Qualifications: 

Required Experience and Qualifications   

• Master’s Degree in public health, health management, medicine, or a related field;
• Minimum of 10-15 years of experience designing, implementing, and managing large, complex USAID or other donor funded health programs in Nigeria or relevant context;
• Senior leadership experience on USAID projects required;
• Technical experience and background in integrated health; programming with demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas: health systems strengthening, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, reproductive health/family planning, and nutrition;
• At least 10 years of relevant experience managing, designing and implementing similar, international, multi-million, donor- funded programs;
• Experience and expertise in maternal, newborn and child Health (MNCH) required;
• Experience in Northern Nigeria, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Bauchi strongly preferred;
• Experience and knowledge of the Nigeria healthcare system required;
• Experience working with Nigeria local government officials strongly preferred;
• Supervisory experience involving leadership and team building of professional and support staff; oversight and evaluation of staff performance and deliverables, and contract management;
• Experience collaborating with senior policymakers, host-country entities, including central and local governments, development partners, and civil society organizations to foster innovation and locally-led public health initiatives and activities, including adapting or developing standards, guidelines, and strategies and working with local/regional health authorities and communities to institutionalize activities;
• Demonstrated ability to provide support to and oversight of local capacity development efforts;
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English required;   
• Experience working with the private sector is a plus;
• Commitment to diversity, equity, social inclusion and accessibility. 

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Overview:  

• URC is searching for an experienced Deputy Chief of Party for the anticipated USAID Integrated Health Program (IHP) Activity in Nigeria. The IHP Activity will support USAID’s approaches to health systems strengthening (HSS) and reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) and improve the capacity of the Federal and State Ministry of Health (F/SMOH), local organizations, and communities to deliver quality, integrated health services.   

Responsibilities:  

• As a member of the Senior Management Team, reporting to the Chief of Party, the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) is responsible for providing high level strategic leadership, guidance, oversight and supervision of the design, implementation, monitoring of project-supported high quality, high-impact interventions to support the implementation of activities.  

Specific roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Lead and manage the technical team responsible for the implementation of the Activity components;
• Coordinate technical assistance from the Activity with key project counterparts including Government of Nigeria, URC home office staff and other implementing partners in Nigeria;
• Lead the team that offers technical guidance on the targeted capacity building efforts to provide safe, timely, quality, equitable, and effective healthcare services;
• Build alliances and capacity of the private sector across the continuum of healthcare and of local organizations and marginalized groups to hold health systems accountable;
• Support establishment of the monitoring and evaluation system to track compliance, strengthen, and recognize the quality of health care services;
• Contribute to the writing and submission of technical reports, quarterly and annual reports and communicate the activity’s successes, best practices, and lessons learned;
• Directly supervise team of senior technical experts/leads and build culture of teamwork and collaboration;
• Coordinate development of knowledge management products including success stories, technical briefs and abstracts for national and international conferences;
• Serve as Acting Chief of Party when they are away on annual leave or other engagements as requested, including oversight for other departments. 

Qualifications: 

Required Experience and Qualifications   

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Public Administration, Medicine, or a related field;
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively increasing responsibility, working on large-scale, complex international development and public health programs;
• Senior leadership experience on USAID programs of similar size and complexity is required. Previous DCOP experience preferred;  
• At least 10 years of relevant experience working in Nigeria or within the region, on health systems strengthening, family planning/reproductive health, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, , or nutrition programs. Experience and expertise in Maternal Child Health (MNCH) required;
• Experience in Northern Nigeria, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Bauchi strongly preferred;
• Experience and knowledge of the Nigeria healthcare system required;
• Experience working with Nigeria local government officials strongly preferred;
• Supervisory experience involving leadership and team building of professional and support staff; oversight and evaluation of staff performance and deliverables, and contract management;
• Experience in managing USAID and donor-funded projects and reporting requirements;
• Demonstrated ability to provide oversight of local capacity development efforts. 
• Experience supervising and mentoring staff; 
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English required; 
• Commitment to diversity, equity, social inclusion, and accessibility.