Malaria Consortium is one of the world’s leading non-profit organisations specialising in the comprehensive prevention, control and treatment of malaria and other communicable diseases among vulnerable and under privileged populations. We increasingly find our work on malaria can be effectively integrated with other similar public health interventions for greater impact and therefore expanded our remit to include child health and neglected tropical disease interventions.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

 

Job Title: Senior Health Systems Strengthening Advisor

 

Location: Abuja, Nigeria 

Grade: 11 

Role type: National 

Travel involved: Up to 40% 

Department: Technical Length of contract: Five years 

Reporting to: Line manager: Team Leader, SUNMAP2 

Direct reports: Supply Chain expert, Budgeting and financial management 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 Health Systems Strengthening Expert will provide technical leadership on all aspects of health systems to improve the quality of service delivery in both the public and private health sectors using malaria as the entry point into the health system at Federal and State levels.

He/she will lead the design and oversight of interventions which use the WHO Health Systems framework and Malaria Consortium’s approach to health systems strengthening to facilitate changes required to embed and institutionalise SUNMAP2 into the Nigeria Health system at Federal, State and LGA levels.

The position holder will work closely with the project team and Short Term Technical Assistance (STTA) 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 how malaria can be used to strengthen health systems including providing technical support to NMEP, SMEP and other key stakeholders.

He/She will supervise a team of two experts and support them to implement work plans in a coherent and harmonised manner.

 

Scope of Work:

The position holder will lead the development, working with the project team and STTA, of SUNMAP2’s strategy on health systems strengthening using malaria as an entry point into the health system at Federal, State and LGA levels.

He/She will be the focal point for the DFID health systems programme to ensure coordination and harmonisation.

He/She will harness and coordinate expert inputs from STTA into strategy development, oversight and implementation. He/she will support project team members to adapt the strategy into all streams of work and build capacity of project teams and implementing partners to deliver the projects health systems strengthening strategy.

He/She will provide and coordinate HSS technical assistance to the National and State Ministries of Health, including their Malaria Elimination Programmes. This will require them to identify gaps which can be addressed through technical assistance.

He/She will support NMEP in its efforts in harmonisation, partner coordination and donor alignment.

He/she will also look to engage with broader health issues such as the sustainable goals for development.

The position holder will lead the projects efforts towards the institutionalisation of specific malaria control interventions such as seasonal malaria chemoprevention and integrated community case management.

He/She will represent the programme on relevant technical working groups, such as the Capacity Building working group under the Programme Management subcommittee.

 

Qualifications and Experience:

Essential:

Postgraduate degree in Public Health or Development related fields, with a focus on health systems strengthening approaches

At least 8 years working in technical role with an excellent understanding of health systems

Significant experience in intervention design and implementation of large-scale health projects

Familiarity with the challenges and opportunities of strengthening health systems in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA)

Experience with value-for-money measurements

Familiarity with the Nigerian health system, including government planning and budgeting processes at Federal and State levels.

 

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 health services delivery

 

Work-based skills: 

Essential:

Excellent skills in public health, 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 

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

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€ï¿½learning 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 other’s underlying needs, concerns and motivations and communicates effectively in sensitive situations

Resolves intra-team and inter-team conflicts effectively

 

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.

 

Application Closing Date

13th September, 2019; 23:59

 

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should:

Click here to apply online

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