Deputy Project Director at the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI)

The Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) is a five year (2009 - 2014) project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that aims to increase the use of modern family planning (FP) methods among the urban poor in the six cities of Abuja FCT, Ibadan, Kaduna, Ilorin, Benin City, and Zaria by at least 20 percentage points. NURHI is part of a broader Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (other sites include India, Kenya, and Senegal).

The Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) Phase 2 seeks applications from qualified individuals to contribute to improved maternal health and reduced child mortality through increased modem contraceptive use in selected sites for the Phase 2 Project in Nigeria:

Job Title: Deputy Project Director

Location: Abuja

Job Description

• The Deputy Project Director (DPD) will support the Project Director (PD) to ensure successful implementation of the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative Phase 2.
• The DPD will assist the PD in the Management and Operations oversight of all program elements ensuring that all components are well integrated to meet the desired goals.
• This position requires strong leadership, managerial skills, a high level of independent action, and a focus innovation and strategic direction.
• The DPD will have a deep understanding of behavior change communication (demand generation) related to family planning and reproductive health, with a strong grasp of the key technical elements that go into increasing use of modem contraceptives (CPR).
• He/She will have the ability to respond swiftly to the demands of working within a challenging environment with multitasking skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist to provide technical leadership and oversight for the overall project management and operations
• Assist to ensure program elements are integrated and synergistic
• Ensure the sound programmatic and fiscal health of the project
• Represent NURHI Phase 2 at the National and International level
• Other duties as assigned by the Project Director

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• The DPD will report to the PD whilst working closely with the PD to provide leadership to all project staff.
• The DPD will oversee the smooth management of the program and will ensure technical coordination across project components.
• The DPD will also provide oversight and guidance to the NURHI Project State Team Leaders, the demand generation Advisor and other Technical Advisors on need basis.
• The DPD will assist the PD to provide supervision in cooperation with the Sub-Contracted Partner Organizations and other partnerships with government, donors, and stakeholders when the need arises.

Education and/or Experience

• Master’s degree (M.Sc.) or equivalent; with fifteen years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• MSC or MPH with extensive experience in behavior change communications programming and in reproductive health.
• Experienced project manager with over 15 years’ experience in technical, financial and administrative oversight.
• Skilled manager with ability to oversee and motivate staff for sound, effective, results based programming. Experience with management of evidence and result based programming. Experience with programs rapidly going to scale will be an added advantage.

Competencies and Specific Skills Required:

• Ability to work in fast-paced dynamic environment with multiple partners in both demand and supply related interventions.
• Flexible and independent.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel. MS PowerPoint, and other standard software.

Language Skills:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, governmental regulations, Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and general public.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.
• The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• Specific vision abilities may be required.

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The DPD will travel to multiple cities and slum areas by airplanes and cars, and will be expected to travel internationally.

Application Closing Date
22nd November, 2015.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their applications and CV's to: [email protected] with the title of the "Position and preferred city" indicated in the application or in the subject line of the e- mail.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.