Fresh Vacancies at Malaria Consortium

Grade: 8
Department: Technical Length of contract: Five years
Length of contract: 10 Years
Reporting to: Team Leader, SUNMAP2/
Dotted line manager: Country Technical Coordinator
Direct reports: Market systems development specialist, Diagnostics specialist, SBCC specialist

Country and Project Packground  
Malaria is highly endemic in Nigeria and it remains one of the leading causes of childhood and maternal morbidity and mortality in the country. Nigeria is deeply committed to making progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and it recognizes the fact that, without firm efforts to control malaria, achievement of the targets related to child mortality, maternal mortality, and reducing the burden of communicable disease will not be possible. Malaria therefore constitutes a significant development challenge for Nigeria. Interventions for reducing malaria burden in the country are documented in the national malaria strategic plan with Government taking the lead in its implementation with the support of all the RBM partners.

The DFID funded and Malaria Consortium led malaria programme, SUNMAP, provided technical assistance and other support to the Nigeria National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) covering the period 2008 to 2016. The anticipated follow on project, SUNMAP2 has been designed to strengthen the management and technical capacity of NMEP, State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) and their stakeholders to drive the implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan, 2014 to 2020 and achieve its ambitious targets.

This will include short term technical assistance and technical assistance embedded in NMEP in key areas of programme management, evidence generation and use, and capacity building across all project outputs and ultimately reducing Nigeria’s malaria burden and strengthening the Government of Nigeria’s health systems capacity to ensure long term programme and impact sustainability.
 
Job Purpose

• The Senior Malaria Specialist will provide technical leadership on all aspects of malaria control to the project and working closely with the project team to implement evidence-based approaches to achieve the projects outcomes.
• The position holder will serve as a resource for up-to-date technical information on malaria control and elimination including providing technical support to NMEP, SMEP and other key stakeholders.
• He/She will supervise a team of three specialists and support them to implement work plans in a coherent and harmonised manner.

Scope of Work:

• Provide technical oversight for the project and take direct a lead in implementing malaria initiatives such as severe malaria case management and seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC).
• The position holder line manages four technical specialists.
• He/She will support the team to adapt the project strategies to their settings and see that they are revised periodically based on learnings (both internal and external to the project).
• He/She will provide technical assistance and capacity building to NMEP and SMEP especially within a paradigm of changing malaria epidemiology along the malaria elimination continuum.
• He/She will represent the programme on relevant technical working groups.

Key Working Relationships:

• The Senior Malaria Specialist will mobilise and coordinate with a broad range of stakeholders to deliver the project.
• They will work closely with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, State Malaria Elimination Programmes in the six SUNMAP2 supported states, public and private sector actors in the malaria control landscape and Malaria Consortium’s team of global technical specialists.
• Along with the Team Leader he/she will liaise periodically with DFID Nigeria.
• He/She will be a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) of the project.

Key Accountabilities (Percentage level of effort)
Strategic contributions (10%) :

• Contribute to development of project strategy papers, in particular those directly related to malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
• Contribute to the development and improvements in the projects value-for-money approach, in particular related to effectiveness and impact optimisation.
• Lead the development and facilitate the use of a framework for technical quality improvement for the project
• Provide strategic technical support to the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), include support in the harmonisation of tools and approaches.

Technical leadership and Oversight (40%):

• Provide technical support to the project’s technical team in relation to WHO’s Global Technical Strategy for malaria, the National Malaria Strategic Plan, 2014 to 2020 and the technical approaches comprising SUNMAP2.
• Oversee malaria interventions implementation from intervention design to quality assurance of implementation
• Oversee data-driven adaptation of malaria intervention implementation to achieve project output and outcome targets. This will require working closely with other teams within the project and collaboration with partners and other organisations.
• Periodically carry out statistical analysis of survey and other epidemiological data, working with the Senior MEAL Specialist in this regard.
• Provide technical support in other aspects of the project such as Surveillance and Operational Research. This includes community-based services such as integrated community case management (iCCM) and community distribution of LLINs.
• Work with the Team Leader and the Senior Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Specialist to embed malaria control activities into the broader health systems to improve programme and impact sustainability.
• Remain abreast of technical developments in malaria control and share them with the project team and with NMEP
• Facilitate the use of data and experiential learning to inform quality improvement of project implementation and technical assistance
• Contribute to the use of information management tools such as dashboards to support decisionmakers at national and state levels to make better use of data, include data from SUNMAP2
• Line manage four technical specialists, and in so doing provide them with inspiring technical leadership

Learning, Sharing and Positioning (25%):

• Work with the Senior MEAL Specialist to spearhead the use of a learning agenda approach including accountability within the project and amongst key stakeholders such as NMEP and SMEP.
• Help to operationalise the learning agenda approach, results measurement and documentation
• Develop guidance documents on how malaria interventions should be implemented and monitored using the project results measurement framework. This may require checklists, SOPs or guidance instructions.
• Work with the Senior MEAL Specialist to lead the documentation of experiences and lessons learnt from the project including production of learning briefs, learning papers and general documentation (e.g. narrative reports, infographics)
• Disseminate lessons learned to national and global audiences through conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and technical reports
• Work with NMEP to periodically refresh the national agenda for malaria research

Technical quality and continuous improvement (10%):

• Facilitate the regular use of project and other information for technical quality improvement
• Contribute to the development and embedding of standards of malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment

Capacity building and institutional strengthening (10%):

• Lead in building project capacity in malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment such as writing of capacity building tools and work guidance documents.
• Organise periodic technical strategy meetings to update the project team on new developments and current trends in malaria control in Nigeria, in the region and globally.
• Work closely with long term technical assistance (LTTA) to NMEP to strengthen its institutional capacity to use evidence for decision-making and to capture learning.
• Lead capacity building efforts to strengthen both individual and institutional technical capacities within the National Malaria Elimination Programme, and State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) and LGA levels working with State Malaria Service Delivery Specialist.
• In liaison with the Country Technical Coordinator and Technical Director, support capacity building initiatives of the project’s technical team and contribute to Malaria Consortium’s strategic objectives

External Representation (5%):

• Participate in national or regional technical working groups as relevant
• Make presentations at national, regional or global conferences showcasing the malaria control approaches we are using in the project

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience
Essential:

• Postgraduate Degree in Epidemiology or Public Health with a focus on malaria control/elimination
• At least 8 years working in technical role with an excellent understanding of malaria control/elimination approaches
• Significant experience in intervention design and implementation of large-scale malaria control projects
• Familiarity with the challenges and opportunities of malaria control Sub Saharan Africa (SSA)
• Experience in setting up standards of technical quality as well as internal quality assurance mechanisms 
• Experience with value-for-money measurements
• Familiarity with the Nigerian health system

Desirable:

• Significant knowledge in communicable diseases control
• Experience of supporting development of learning processes and structures, ideally in an NGO context
• Experience working with private sector actors involved in malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment

Work-Based Skills
Essential:

• Excellent skills in public health and or disease control, and in particular related to malaria
• Strong analytical ability
• Excellent writing and presentation skills 
• Management of high performing teams, including ability to delegate efficiently and technically support teams
• Mentoring and coaching skills with respect to junior staff 
• Strong skills in negotiating with and engaging Ministry of Health Officials at all levels of the health system
• Ability to work in a multicultural team
• Results-oriented attitude to work
• Excellent time management skills
• Ability to work independently with little support 
• Expert competency level in reviewing, understanding and synthesising data for sharing with wider audiences
• Practical organisational skills with the ability to manage a fluctuating workload, prioritise and reprioritise when necessary and meet tight deadlines
• Able to travel to SUNMAP2 supported states for up to one week at a time to oversee implementation activities
• Attention to detail
• Problem solving mind-set
• Positive work attitude; a team player

Desirable:

• Excellent project management and planning skills
• Excellent statistical analysis skills including familiarity with software such as STATA, R or Statgraphics
• Demonstrable publication writing skills include peer reviewed publications
• Advocacy skills

Core Competencies
Delivering Results:

LEVEL D - Inspires wider teams to achieve outstanding results and to manage risks:

• Proactively improves effectiveness and performance of other senior staff to increase ability to meet objectives, acquiring new skills when appropriate
• Encourages mitigating risks amongst the teams/ groups they work with/ manage
• Ensures the quality of all internal/ external work of own and others

Analysis and use of information:
LEVEL D - Analyses the external environment confidently:

• Generates a range of policy options and appraises them based on the internal and external evidence
• Develops ways of applying new knowledge and ensures lessonâ€learning with self and wider team
• Analyses the significance of external events and situations for

Malaria Consortium Interpersonal and communications:
LEVEL C - Adapts communications effectively:

• Tailors communication (content, style and medium) to diverse audiences
• Communicates equally effectively at all organisational levels
• Understands others’ underlying needs, concerns and motivations and communicates effectively in sensitive situations
• Resolves intra-team and inter-team conflicts effectively

Collaboration and partnering:
LEVEL D - Develops external networks to increase internal thinking/ learning:

• Actively develops partnerships with relevant organisations, think tanks and individuals
• Takes initiative to establish a network or partnership where one does not exist
• Ensures any external learning is effectively brought in-house

Leading and motivating people:
LEVEL C - Effectively leads and motivates others or direct reports:

• Gives regular, timely and appropriate feedback
• Acknowledges good performance and deals with issues concerning poor performance
• Carries out staff assessment and development activities conscientiously and effectively
• Develop the skills and competence of others through the development and application of skills
• Coaches and supports team members when they have difficulties

Flexibility/ Adaptability
LEVEL D - Clarifies priorities and ensures learning from experience:

• Clarifies priorities when leading change
• Sees and shows others the benefits of strategic change.
• Helps colleagues/ team members to practise stress management through prioritisation of workloads and modelling of appropriate self-management and care
• Makes time to learn from experience and feedback, and apply the lessons to new situations

Living the Values:
LEVEL D - Acts as a role model in promoting Malaria Consortium’s values:

• Champions and takes ownership of corporate decisions, values and standards and ensures team members implement them in a positive manner
• Acts as role model internally and externally in promoting Malaria Consortium’s values 
• Is accountable for ensuring that cultural awareness is demonstrated across the area (s) they manage

Strategic planning and thinking and sector awareness:
LEVEL C - Keeps up to date with the internal and external environment:

• Takes into account economic, political and other business factors when drawing up medium and long-term plans, covering both public and private sectors
• Looks beyond the immediate operations to prospects for new business
• Engages with appropriate internal and external sources to establish major influences on future plans

Salary
Competitive.

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Donor Title: Social Behavioural Change Communications (SBCC) Expert
Department: Technical
Length of contract: 5-years
Role type: National
Grade: 10
Travel involved: In-country
Child safeguarding level: TBC
Reporting to: Senior Malaria Expert

Country and Project Background

• Malaria is highly endemic in Nigeria and it remains one of the leading causes of childhood and maternal morbidity and mortality in the country. Nigeria is deeply committed to making progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and it recognizes the fact that, without firm efforts to control malaria, achievement of the targets related to child mortality, maternal mortality, and reducing the burden of communicable disease will not be possible. Malaria therefore constitutes a significant development challenge for Nigeria. Interventions for reducing malaria burden in the country are documented in the national malaria strategic plan with Government taking the lead in its implementation with the support of all the RBM partners.
• The DFID funded and Malaria Consortium led malaria programme, SUNMAP, provided technical assistance and other support to the Nigeria National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) covering the period 2008 to 2016. The anticipated follow on project, SUNMAP2 has been designed to strengthen the management and technical capacity of NMEP, State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) and their stakeholders to drive the implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan, 2014 to 2020 and achieve its ambitious targets. This will include short term technical assistance and technical assistance embedded in NMEP in key areas of programme management, evidence generation and use, and capacity building across all project outputs and ultimately reducing Nigeria’s malaria burden and strengthening the Government of Nigeria’s health systems capacity to ensure long term programme and impact sustainability.

Job Purpose

• The SBCC Specialist will operate with a national scope as a member of the core team and will report to the Senior Malaria Expert. S/he will provide expertise (guidance and technical support, training, coaching and management) support to the programme team on social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) interventions, and other areas where the expertise in strategic communication is required on the SUNMAP2 programme.

Scope of Work:

• The SBCC Specialist will provide technical leadership and guidance to the SuNMaP 2 programme by supporting establishment of standards and quality of SBC activities.
• The position holder will lead the design and implement SBCC, identify innovative approaches including results measurements, to show achievement of programme targets.
• An important aspect of the role is to build the SuNMaP 2 programme capacity in social mobilisation and behaviour change communications and to advise the commercial market partners on the generic marketing and ensure synergy with the updated NMEP ACSM strategy.
• The position holder will lead, quality assure and contribute to development, roll-out, and evaluation of SBCC strategies and plan; including advocacy for resource mobilisation, programme communication, community dialogues, gender and equity.
• S/he will lead /coordinate formative research and other studies which are relevant for effective SBCC, will contribute to continuous programme improvement through experiential learning, contribute to the evidence base for SBCC, and support peer-reviewed publications, knowledge management products, technical reports, conferences and presentations.
• In addition, the SBCC Specialist will contribute to improvement of approaches, assure and document value for money (vfm) for SBCC component.
• He/she will work with partner to also initiate and carry out relevant capacity strengthening of our key stakeholders such as Ministries of Health, national partners in SuNMaP2, media and others related to SBCC. Institutional strengthening of the national and state malaria elimination programmes is of particular importance as part of SuNMaP2’s sustainability approach.

Key Working Relationships:

• The SBCC Specialist will work with members of SuNMaP2 team.
• He/she will work closely Malaria Consortium’s SBCC Specialist to develop a coherent and effective SBCC strategy and monitor results of its implementation.
• He/she will be a member of Malaria Consortium’s Public Health Communications Community of Practice, and collaborate with the External Relations team.
• Selective inputs will be sought from members of the Senior Technical Team in the Nigeria country team of the Malaria Consortium including harnessing experiences from SuNMaP1 which are relevant for an effective SBCC approach in SuNMaP2.
• He/she will need to have regular communications with state project teams and national implementation partners, FOMWAN and NIFA.
• In the implementation of work on social mobilisation and demand creation they will need to collaborate and communicate with stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health, FOMWAN, NIFA, other organisations and subcontractors.
  

Key Accountabilities
Social and Behaviour Change Communications, SBCC (40%):

• Provide technical support, training and leadership in the development of social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) strategies and materials
• Advise the programme team, NMEP, & SMEP in adapting strategies, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SBCC interventions, including the generic marketing activities.
• Facilitate the uptake of effective SBCC practices in malaria among the programme team at national level and in programme states
• Lead the design and coordinate implementation of formative research, other studies and assessments on SBCC for the programme.
• Advise and provide technical guidance on innovative SBCC approaches which can expand use of existing and /or proven interventions. Use experiential learning during the programme to improve the effectiveness of SBCC approaches.
• Lead in building capacity in SBCC approaches and support development of materials such as SBCC tools, training modules and work guidance documents.
• Identify SBCC capability gaps amongst key partners, such as Ministry of Health, journalists implementing partners, and initiate relevant and targeted capacity building activities.
• Work closely with the MEAL Specialist/Expert in the monitoring and evaluation of project SBC, advocacy and EGeM component activities

Advocacy for Domestic Funding (20%):

• Work with government partners and advise them on evidence-based tools/package in support of advocacy for domestic funding for malaria programme.
• Lead the documentation and sharing of ‘advocacy harvests’ and other outputs as evidence of advocacy initiatives attributable to SuNMaP 2

Equity and Gender Mainstreaming, EGeM (15%):

• Advise on the monitoring and results measurement framework for equity and gender mainstreaming to ensure gender, poverty and social development issues are incorporated and implemented in all the malaria programme Advise on the collection, analysis, sharing and application of relevant and current data on EGeM; in close coordination with M&E officer.
• Provide inputs regarding EGeM for all training programs, both at programme and community levels.
• Maintain regular communication on EGeM in relation to malaria with relevant partners and stakeholders document and share relevant reports/outputs.

Learning and Documentation (15%):

• Lead the design and ensure the implementation the effective documentation of SBCC exercises such as story collection, publications, video, testimonials, and audios.
• Work closely with the External Relations team in ensuring national and international compliance with external communication outputs from SuNMaP2 including donor branding.
• Ensure the quality of the data, testimonies and pictures collected in the field and their appropriate label
• Support learning across the programme through preparation of relevant technical publications which support knowledge management: approach papers, research briefs, policy briefs, learning briefs, and best practice documentation
• Support disseminate of results and lessons learned to wider audiences through conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and other opportunistic fora for dissemination.

External Relations, Networking and Representation (15%):

• Participate in national and regional working groups, and other national and regional communities of practice on SBCC and others as relevant.
• Actively participate in the ACSM working group of NMEP coordination platform, and provide regular updates on group activities. Use the platform to share experiences from SuNMaP2 and to garner relevant experiences from other members of the ACSM working group which help to improve the effectiveness of SuNMaP2’s SBCC approaches.
• Facilitate the relationship with media representatives, national partners, malaria advocates and stakeholders’ in accordance with guidelines regarding media, social and community engagement
• Ensure compliance with branding policies of Malaria Consortium, and UK Aid in production of print, electronic and other materials/tools
• Work with project teams in country and MC/UK to provide content for dissemination on digital platforms such as website and social media.
• Work closely with the SuNMaP2 Team leader and the Senior Malaria Expert to handle community and public relation requests sent to SuNMaP 2.

Person specification
Qualifications and Experience:

Essential

• Postgraduate degree or equivalent in Communication, Marketing, Public Health or related field
• A minimum of 7-years’ experience in SBC, health communication, health promotion, or related role in the health sector in Nigeria/ African Countries
• Good knowledge of public health principles in Nigeria and particularly in developing countries.
• Good Knowledge of ender and equity in public health programme
• Experience in advocacy for domestic funding
• Significant experience in applying a range of behaviour change theories in support of public health, the development and/ or private sector
• Experience measuring results of SBCC activities
• Demonstrable experience leading SBCC component of programmes in the health sector
• Demonstrable familiarity with socio- cultural and economic context of the different regions of Nigeria.

Desirable:

• Demonstrable experience in the use of new and emerging information and communication technologies to reach audiences effectively and at scale
• Experience providing technical support to project teams remotely and physically, while meeting high standards
• Knowledge in communicable disease control and in particular malaria
• Experience planning, facilitating and managing stakeholder engagement and consultation workshops

Work-based Skills
Essential:

• Excellent interpersonal, team building, problem solving skills
• Excellent intercultural skills
• Excellent writing and oral presentation skills
• Fluent in English Language
• Familiar with qualitative research methods
• Capacity building skills
• Capable of materials pretesting
• Ability to organise focus group discussions
• Results-oriented attitude to work
• Ability to work independently with little support
• Ability to manage a fluctuating workload, prioritise and re-prioritise when necessary and meet tight deadlines
• Able to travel to SuNMaP2-supported states for up to one week at a time (sometimes at short notice)

Desirable:

• Comfortable working with National and State Malaria Elimination Programmes
• Familiar with key actors in the private health care sector

Core competencies
Delivering Results:

LEVEL C - Supports others to achieve results:

• Displays a positive and enthusiastic approach and is not deterred by setbacks, finding alternative ways to reach goals or targets.
• Supports others to plan and deliver results
• Supports others to manage and cope with setbacks

Analysis and use of information:
LEVEL C - Works confidently with complex data to support work:

• Interprets complex written information
• Works confidently with data before making decisions: for example, interpreting trends, issues and risks
• Acquainted with the validity, relevance and limitations of different sources of evidence

Interpersonal and Communications:
LEVEL D - Communicates complex technical and/ or sensitive/ high risk information effectively:

• Communicates complex operational, technical and strategic issues clearly and credibly with widely varied audiences
• Uses varied communication to promote dialogue and shared understanding and consensus across a variety of audiences
• Influences internal and external audiences on specific issues
• Scans the internal and external environment for key information and messages to support communications strategies

Collaboration and Partnering:
LEVEL C - Builds strong networks internally and participates actively in external networks and think tanks:

• Builds strong networks internally
• Participates actively in external networks and/or think tanks.
• Engages with relevant experts to gather and evaluate evidence
• Shares and implements good practice with internal and external peers

Leading and Motivating People:
LEVEL C - Effectively leads and motivates others or direct reports:

• Gives regular, timely and appropriate feedback
• Acknowledges good performance and deals with issues concerning poor performance
• Carries out staff assessment and development activities conscientiously and effectively
• Develop the skills and competence of others through the development and application of skills
• Coaches and supports team members when they have difficulties

Flexibility/ Adaptability:
LEVEL C - Supports others to cope with pressure:

• Responds positively to change, embracing and using new practices or values to accomplish goals and solve problems and supports others to do the same
• Adapts team approach, goals and methods to achieve solutions and results in dynamic situations
• Sets realistic deadlines and goals for self or team

Living the values:
LEVEL D – Acts as a role model in promoting Malaria Consortium’s values:

• Champions and takes ownership of corporate decisions, values and standards and ensures team members implement them in a positive manner
• Acts as role model internally and externally in promoting Malaria Consortium’s values
• Is accountable for ensuring that cultural awareness is demonstrated across the area (s) they manage

Strategic planning and thinking and sector awareness:
LEVEL C – Keeps up to date with the internal and external environment:

• Takes into account economic, political and other business factors when drawing up medium and long-term plans, covering both public and private sectors
• Looks beyond the immediate operations to prospects for new business
• Engages with appropriate internal and external sources to establish major influences on future plans.

Salary
Competitive.