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 Malaria Specialist

 

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Grade: 10

Role type: National

Department: Technical

Length of contract: Five years

Reporting to: Team Leader, SUNMAP2/ Project Director

Travel involved: Up to 40%

Dotted line manager: Country Technical Coordinator

Direct reports: Market systems development specialist, Diagnostics specialist, SBCC specialist 

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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€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 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

$72,865 Annually.

 

Application Closing Date

9th September, 2019.

 

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should:

Click here to apply online

Click Here for More Information (PDF)