Jobs at Malaria Consortium

Malaria Consortium is recruiting for a State Programme Manager to join our team in Kebbi, Nigeria.

The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall management, coordination and harmonisation of the Nigeria component of this multi-country multi-donor project. Lead project implementation activities ensuring consistency with the overall multi-country programme’s performance framework, and in line with Malaria Consortium’s core values. S/he will lead the project team in the states and liaise closely with the Zonal Programme Manager, keeping the West Africa Programmes Director in the loop.

The Project Manager (PM) will provide management leadership to the State level staff on the project. S/he will be responsible for delivery and achievements of the project goal and objectives ensure that reports are completed in a timely manner and shared with relevant stakeholders and stored to enable effective decision-making. S/he will lead the development and periodic review of relevant systems for the project in line with the organization policies.

The PM will travel to field offices and represent the country office, nationally and internationally where relevant. 

The PM will be a member of the Country Management Team (CMT) and will report to the Zonal Programme Manager. The PM will supervise directly a team of staff with input into the performance objectives and reviews of these staff. The PM will work with the Country Technical Coordinator, Country Finance Manager and other Project managers on similar projects in delivering the objectives of the project.

Project Management:

• Work with other members of the country team and the Zonal Programme Manager (ZPM) to coordinate State-level activities for smooth project start up and project planning
• Lead with support from the ZPM and CTC, the definition of project scope and deliverables, technical and program management needs and subsequently develop and resource quarterly support plans
• Responsible for coordinating overall project implementation and ensure activities are carried out on a time and within budget
• Develop, cost and monitor annual, quarterly and (during four-month SMC delivery period) monthly activity plans to ensure that deliverables are met and milestones achieved on time
• Actively oversee management of project budget, including compliance with established cost categories, monthly review and correction of transaction lists, analysis of monthly budget verses actual reports, and quarterly financial forecasting
• Support ZPM to liaise with key stakeholders (National Malaria Elimination Programme, Ministry of Health, PMI, UNICEF, other organisations carrying out SMC, community health workers, community leaders) to ensure coordination of SMC delivery and timely resolution of problems
• Closely liaise with NAFDAC in related activities on pharmacovigilance,
• Lead in producing biannual narrative and financial reports, as well as more frequent activity reporting as requested
• Lead the development of any additional country project documentation that may be requested by the West Africa Programmes Director, or Project Director
• Ensure transparent and accountable management and reporting of SMC drugs through provision of technical assistance to government actors and regular field visits
• Work with Country Communications Manager to develop and roll out BCC campaign to ensure mobilisation of caregivers and improve SMC uptake
• Contribute to the development of the communication plan and the implementation of the SMC community and health facility mobilization plan
• Ensure that the process of project implementation and lessons are comprehensively documented, including production of case studies and other documentation for internal and external dissemination
• Work closely with the Country Technical Coordinator, Senior Technical Specialist and the Regional Epidemiologist to prepare and implement a country project monitoring and evaluation framework
• Work closely with the ZPM and the Project Director to regularly update and implement a risk management plan
• Be responsible for building functional partner relationships in country among the project’s stakeholders
• Be responsible for supervising country staff as assigned
• Work with the relevant country personnel and the ZPM to prepare and implement an exit strategy to see the smooth end of the project

Technical contributions:

• Work with the country project teams and the Country Technical Coordinator to determine technical support needs that are needed to implement the project effectively and with high quality
• Liaise with the ZPM to ensure that appropriate and quality technical support is provided in response to the project’s needs
• Contribute to the development and production of dissemination documents to allow wider sharing of Malaria Consortium’s experiences, lessons and successes
• Actively participate as a member of Malaria Consortium Nigeria’s Technical Team through regular attendance and active participation at Technical Team Meetings; with defined inputs to other Malaria Consortium Nigeria projects when necessary, and input into needs assessments and the development of project proposals, as requested

Technical performance management and quality assurance:

• Implement project deliverables using the Country Technical Quality Assurance System as a guide to assure the quality of the work
• Work with the project team to see that there is a project learning cycle, which is able to use on a monthly basis, the project monitoring data and other data, to understand project implementation and inform any changes
• Monitor project progress using the appropriate templates for reporting on achievements against targets quarterly
• Keep abreast with evidence and best practices that are related to the project

Representation:

• Identify strategic opportunities at national and sub-national level to share project experiences and learning to further the objectives of the project
• Represent MC at the SMC Technical Working Group within NMEP
• Work with the West Africa Programmes Director and Country Programme Manager to see that Malaria Consortium is purposefully represented at national level platforms
• Work with the West Africa Programmes Director and Country Programme Manager to keep relevant national stakeholders abreast with the project.

Qualifications and Experience:        

Essential:

• 7 – 10 years’ post-qualification in medicine or any other public health-related field
• 3 –5 years’ experience in project management, with a preference for health projects management
• Significant operational and supply chain management experience in a developing country
• Strong management skills, demonstrated ability to supervise the performance of others to meet high quality and timely project deliverables
• Ability to work in English (speaking and writing)
• Experience in project, budget and financial management 

Desirable:

• Previous experience in coordination or management of mass drug administration or pharmaceutical supply chain management in northern Nigeria.

Work Based Skills and Competencies:

Essential:

• Demonstrated understanding of procurement procedures
• Ability to communicate and negotiate with people from different back grounds and professions 
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to make complex information understandable to diverse different audiences
• Flexible and able to adapt to a quickly changing environment by applying knowledge and experience to solve unforeseen and unexpected problems
• Strong representational skills
• Experience developing donor-funded projects, including strong writing skills.

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Malaria Consortium is recruiting for a Project Director to join our team in Abuja Nigeria 

Job purpose

The Project Director will provide overall programme oversight to the project. He/she will be the focal point for engagement with GF and representation at National level. He/she will lead the Global Fund Senior Management Team (SMT). The post holder will be responsible for the development and monitoring of a sustainability plan working closely with other members of the SMT.

Scope of work

The Programme Director will lead a project team that includes experienced technical and programme management specialists and oversee the provision of short term technical assistance from GF grant to NMEP and SMEPs and other key stakeholders. He/She will work to keep GF grant on course to achieve its targets and fully compliance with GF, PR and MC policies, guideline and code of conduct.

Key working relationships

• Serve as contact for all GF funded activities managed by MC.
• Line management by the West & Central Africa Programmes Director.
• Works with the Senior Country Technical Coordinator for Technical Assistance Quality Assurance of the grant.

Key accountabilities

Strategic planning, management and governance (20%)

• Ensure regular communications are maintained between the different teams particularly between zonal/state teams and with the Abuja office.
• Be responsible for the project risk register. Work with the team members of the SMT in the identification, tracking, prevention and management of key programme risks especially those related to performance and fiduciary management.
• Be liaison between the project, NMEP, the PR - CRS and the donor - GF.

Programme (Routine, LLIN Campaign and SMC distribution) management (50%)

• Develop and implement work plans, ensuring that campaign and routine programming work plans are integrated into an overall consolidated programme work plan.
• Work closely with the Country Technical Coordinator to see that work plans are aligned with best technical approaches.
• Perform strategic oversight on the overall delivery of the LLINs campaign in Yobe State.
• Perform oversight with the project team to ensure successful implementation the 2021, 2021 and 2022 mass drug administration (MDA) for SMC in Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa and Niger states; and LLIN campaign in Jigawa and Yobe States.
• Ensure monitoring systems are in place and that project reviews/audits are carried out periodically in conjunction with the project team, key stakeholders and PR.
• Travel to the field as necessary to provide support and oversight to the zonal and state teams.
• Ensure all relevant authorities and stakeholders are included in the planning and implementation of the project as appropriate.
• Work with the Country Technical Coordinator to;
  • Adapt MC technical quality standard for the project and ensure its compliance
  • See that project lessons and experiences are documented.
• Work with the SMT to see that programme improvement is data-driven.

Logistics, finance and administration (10%)

• Ensure the project is efficiently and accurately managed within allowable line item flexibility and there is full accountability of resources.
• Ensure familiarity and compliance of staff and stakeholders with/to Malaria Consortium and GF compliance issues.
• Work with team members to prepare projected project expenditures.
• Work with the finance team (both at the country office and GF project based) to monitor expenditure and budget compliance on a regular basis, report any concerns to the WCAPD and develop plans to mitigate any under or over expenditure.
• Closely monitor project budget spending and burn rates.
• Work closely with the finance team to ensure timely financial reporting and assistance at audits for the project.

Human Resource Management (10%)

• Work with the HR manager to ensure the project is roles are filled with quality staff and their performance continuously improve throughout the project implementation period.
• Line manage members of the staff using performance-based management approaches.

Representation (10%)

• Represent MC in all GF activities.
• Other representations as might be delegated by MC management team.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience:

Essential

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, International Development or related discipline.
• Senior management level experience on large sized health projects in Africa.
• At least 15 years working experience in international projects.
• At least 5 years of those spent in projects in developing countries lasting more than 2 years and managing teams of 10 or more including local and international staff.
• Experience managing at least one project for an external government client for at least 2 years.
• Experience working with performance-based contracts.
• Experience in project and financial management with a proven track record of timely submission of high quality project deliverables.

Desirable

• Experience managing donor grants or contracts such as DFID, GFATM or USAID/PMI.
• Experience working on malaria, maternal and child health programmes, including community health delivery.
• Familiar with the Nigeria health system.

Work-based skills:

Essential

• Strategic thinking.
• Ability to manage and inspire high performing teams.
• Excellent programme management skills, with proven ability to implement high quality projects on time and within budget.
• Strong negotiation skills, particularly in engaging government health officials at all levels.
• Good influencing and persuasion skills and ability to remain compliant with organisational and donor policies.
• Ability to manage and prioritize high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Excellent problem solving skills.
• Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written.
• Capable of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• A team player, with a friendly attitude.
• Proactive and takes initiative as required.
• Results-oriented work ethic.

Desirable

• Good capacity building skills especially mentoring and coaching.
• Conversant with the basic epidemiology of malaria in Nigeria.
• Data-driven decision making mentality.
• Excellent advocacy skills, and comfortable being a strong advocate for malaria control.