Senior Program Officers - Child Survival at Nutrition International

About the Role

• Nutrition International (NI) works as a government ally supporting over 60 countries in Africa including Nigeria and Asia to deliver high impact and cost-effective child survival interventions. NI partners with governments in strengthening health systems to unlock their potential in delivering lifesaving interventions targeting the most vulnerable and marginalized children. Nutrition International nourishes people to nourish life.
• NI Nigeria will support the Nigerian government in target states to improve the quality and coverage of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) as part of the twice-yearly Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Weeks (MNCHW). NI support will focus on coordinating MNCHW campaigns to increase access to essential services for mothers and children, while also ensuring follow-up and post-campaign support to sustain impact. Through these efforts, NI will strengthen state- and LGA-level service delivery and improve community uptake of key health interventions.
• In line with Nutrition International's strategic objectives in Africa, and, in partnership with key stakeholders in Nigeria, the Senior Program Officer (SPO) will provide technical support at the state- and LGA-levels in Katsina and Jigawa. The position is responsible for planning, implementation, and monitoring of the program to ensure VAS activities are successfully implemented every six months, and high coverage is achieved and sustained in Katsina and Jigawa states.

Key Responsibilities

Project Development

With the support and guidance of relevant members of the NI technical team, the Program Director, the Country Director, and in collaboration with the other Nigeria Child Survival SPOs:

• Ensure a regularly updated landscape analysis is available on Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) programs in Northern Nigeria states, in particular, Katsina and Jigawa states.
• Develop and plan projects in collaboration with key stakeholders and partners that respond to programming gaps and bottlenecks identified throughout the implementation of the project.
• Develop project budgets and agree on financial commitments with country leadership and ensure appropriate inputs are made and updated in NI's NICOR system.
• Be alert to opportunities for NI engagement in child survival.

 Project Implementation and Management

• Coordinating with the Program Director, lead the management of VAS programming in Jigawa and Katsina states and any other child survival projects that may be assigned.
• Manage a team of LGA level Coordinators, including overseeing the development of their workplans, engaging them in regular check-ins, and monitoring progress, performance and provide regular feedback and guidance.
• Troubleshoot and recommend corrective actions drawing on internal NI expertise across the portfolio and in the Nigeria and Regional Offices.
• Ensure regular coordination for VAS programming with key government and community stakeholders to ensure NI funding for these interventions are being used cost-effectively.
• Ensure the NICOR system is regularly updated, in line with NI contract management procedures.
• Participate in regular coordination meetings with NI team members, to make sure that guidance to the State is cohesive and contribute technical guidance, capacity building and support as relevant.
• Ensure close monitoring and tracking of the implementation of the planned project activities and results for VAS programming through regular online check-ins and field visits with LGA and State levels NI staff to ensure value for money.
• Prepare and share high quality periodic and annual project updates and reports as necessary.

 Program Research and Evaluation

• Participate in the design of research and evaluation activities and work closely with researchers and external evaluators to ensure research and evaluations exercises are feasible, responds to NI, stakeholders and government needs and is effectively disseminated in timely fashion.
• In collaboration with NI child Survival support team and researchers, facilitate engagement with key stakeholders including relevant State and LGA level government entities for facilitating relevant clearances and authorizations for research and evaluation activities when necessary.
• Support the dissemination of research and program evaluation findings in Nigeria and elsewhere with the view to inform available new information and improved practices.

 External Relations

• Build and maintain good collaborative relations with Ministry of Health, other government agencies, UN agencies, and NGOs, as appropriate at national and state levels.
• Contribute to knowledge translation documents such as policy briefs, summary briefs, blogs, and case studies relevant to child survival.
• Participate in national and sub-national fora relevant to child survival to share lessons learnt with other stakeholders.
• Keep up to date with developments in child survival intervention areas.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The incumbent will supervise:

• 20+ Local Government Area Coordinators in Jigawa and Katsina
• 2 State Coordinators (Jigawa and Katsina)

Requirements

Education

• Postgraduate level degree, masters (at a minimum), from a recognized university in nutrition or public health (with emphasis on nutrition). Other relevant disciplines will be considered with significant relevant experience.
• Training in epidemiology, data analysis and research methodologies is desirable.
• Post graduate certificate in project management is an added advantage.

 Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in programs relating to child survival, health and nutrition, and/or in low- and middle-income countries or low resource settings, including at least 3 years of field experience.
• Experience with gender responsive (nutrition or public health) program design and implementation is an asset.
• Significant experience managing grant funded health and nutrition programs especially in northern Nigeria.
• Relevant experience working with local community actors in Katsina and/or Jigawa States.
• Good understanding of the health systems and local community structures in northwestern Nigeria, and specifically in Katsina and/or Jigawa State is required.
• Experience and sound understanding of Nigerian health systems.
• Proven experience in leading, motivating, and managing cross-functional teams to achieve organizational goals.
• Past experience working within the national and/or state government health system is an added advantage.
• Relevant experience working in conflict or hard to reach communities is desired.

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About the Role

• Nutrition International (NI) works as a government ally supporting over 60 countries in Africa including Nigeria and Asia to deliver high impact and cost-effective child survival interventions. NI partners with governments in strengthening health systems to unlock their potential in delivering lifesaving interventions targeting the most vulnerable and marginalized children. Nutrition International nourishes people to nourish life.
• NI Nigeria will support the Nigerian government in target states to improve the quality and coverage of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) as part of the twice-yearly Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Weeks (MNCHW). NI support will focus on coordinating MNCHW campaigns to increase access to essential services for mothers and children, while also ensuring follow-up and post-campaign support to sustain impact. Through these efforts, NI will strengthen state- and LGA-level service delivery and improve community uptake of key health interventions.
• In line with Nutrition International's strategic objectives in Africa, and, in partnership with key stakeholders in Nigeria, the Senior Program Officer (SPO) will provide technical support at the state- and LGA-levels in Katsina and Jigawa. The position is responsible for planning, implementation, and monitoring of the program to ensure VAS activities are successfully implemented every six months, and high coverage is achieved and sustained in Katsina and Jigawa states.

Key Responsibilities

Project Development

With the support and guidance of relevant members of the NI technical team, the Program Director, the Country Director, and in collaboration with the other Nigeria Child Survival SPOs:

• Ensure a regularly updated landscape analysis is available on Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) programs in Northern Nigeria states, in particular, Katsina and Jigawa states.
• Develop and plan projects in collaboration with key stakeholders and partners that respond to programming gaps and bottlenecks identified throughout the implementation of the project.
• Develop project budgets and agree on financial commitments with country leadership and ensure appropriate inputs are made and updated in NI's NICOR system.
• Be alert to opportunities for NI engagement in child survival.

 Project Implementation and Management

• Coordinating with the Program Director, lead the management of VAS programming in Jigawa and Katsina states and any other child survival projects that may be assigned.
• Manage a team of LGA level Coordinators, including overseeing the development of their workplans, engaging them in regular check-ins, and monitoring progress, performance and provide regular feedback and guidance.
• Troubleshoot and recommend corrective actions drawing on internal NI expertise across the portfolio and in the Nigeria and Regional Offices.
• Ensure regular coordination for VAS programming with key government and community stakeholders to ensure NI funding for these interventions are being used cost-effectively.
• Ensure the NICOR system is regularly updated, in line with NI contract management procedures.
• Participate in regular coordination meetings with NI team members, to make sure that guidance to the State is cohesive and contribute technical guidance, capacity building and support as relevant.
• Ensure close monitoring and tracking of the implementation of the planned project activities and results for VAS programming through regular online check-ins and field visits with LGA and State levels NI staff to ensure value for money.
• Prepare and share high quality periodic and annual project updates and reports as necessary.

 Program Research and Evaluation

• Participate in the design of research and evaluation activities and work closely with researchers and external evaluators to ensure research and evaluations exercises are feasible, responds to NI, stakeholders and government needs and is effectively disseminated in timely fashion.
• In collaboration with NI child Survival support team and researchers, facilitate engagement with key stakeholders including relevant State and LGA level government entities for facilitating relevant clearances and authorizations for research and evaluation activities when necessary.
• Support the dissemination of research and program evaluation findings in Nigeria and elsewhere with the view to inform available new information and improved practices.

 External Relations

• Build and maintain good collaborative relations with Ministry of Health, other government agencies, UN agencies, and NGOs, as appropriate at national and state levels.
• Contribute to knowledge translation documents such as policy briefs, summary briefs, blogs, and case studies relevant to child survival.
• Participate in national and sub-national fora relevant to child survival to share lessons learnt with other stakeholders.
• Keep up to date with developments in child survival intervention areas.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The incumbent will supervise:

• 20+ Local Government Area Coordinators in Jigawa and Katsina
• 2 State Coordinators (Jigawa and Katsina)

Requirements

Education

• Postgraduate level degree, masters (at a minimum), from a recognized university in nutrition or public health (with emphasis on nutrition). Other relevant disciplines will be considered with significant relevant experience.
• Training in epidemiology, data analysis and research methodologies is desirable.
• Post graduate certificate in project management is an added advantage.

 Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in programs relating to child survival, health and nutrition, and/or in low- and middle-income countries or low resource settings, including at least 3 years of field experience.
• Experience with gender responsive (nutrition or public health) program design and implementation is an asset.
• Significant experience managing grant funded health and nutrition programs especially in northern Nigeria.
• Relevant experience working with local community actors in Katsina and/or Jigawa States.
• Good understanding of the health systems and local community structures in northwestern Nigeria, and specifically in Katsina and/or Jigawa State is required.
• Experience and sound understanding of Nigerian health systems.
• Proven experience in leading, motivating, and managing cross-functional teams to achieve organizational goals.
• Past experience working within the national and/or state government health system is an added advantage.
• Relevant experience working in conflict or hard to reach communities is desired.