Project Director (Global Fund) at Malaria Consortium

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: Project Director (Global Fund)

Location: Abuja
Donor title:  Project Director
Role type: National Grade: 11
Department: Management Length of contract: 2 years
Travel involved: In-country, and possible for international
Reporting to: West & Central Africa Programmes Director
Direct reports: Senior Programme Manager Senior LLIN campaign Manager Senior Technical Specialist

Country and Project Background

• The Nigeria Country Office in Abuja, started operations in 2008, through the DFID/UKaid funded Support to National Malaria Programme, SuNMaP (2008 - 2016).
• The office had presence in 23 states of the country and has managed at various times, about 15 programmes and projects. It follows the mandate of the parent organization in Nigeria and has been working specifically in the following areas:
  • Malaria control/elimination
  • Integrated community case management (iCCM) for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea
  • Nutrition
  • Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)

Malaria Consortium has recently become a sub-recipient for the new grant of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GF) under the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and Catholic Relief Services as the principal recipients. 

The goal of the grant is to contribute towards reducing the malaria burden to pre-elimination levels and bringing malaria-related mortality to zero by 2020 in Nigeria.

This project aims to achieve seven objectives while delivering high quality malaria services in 14 states (MC implementing in 7 of the states - Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Niger, Yobe, Gombe; iCCM only in Kebbi and Niger; SMC in Katsina and Yobe States and LLIN campaign in Yobe state) through improved service delivery mechanisms, demand creation and health system strengthening strategies:

• To ensure at least 80% of targeted population utilizes appropriate preventive measures by 2020 
• To test all care-seeking persons with suspected malaria using RDT or microscopy by 2020 
• To treat all individuals with confirmed malaria seen in private or public facilities with effective anti-malarial drug by 2020 
• To provide adequate information to all Nigerians such that at least 80% of the populace habitually takes appropriate malaria preventive and treatment measures as necessary by 2020 
• To ensure the timely availability of appropriate antimalarial medicines and commodities required for prevention and treatment of malaria in Nigeria wherever they are needed by 2018 
• At least 80% of health facilities in all LGAs report routinely on malaria by 2020 
• To strengthen governance and coordination of all stakeholders for effective program implementation towards an “A” rating by 2018 on a standardized scorecard

Job Purpose

• The Project Director will provide overall programme oversight to the project.
• He/she will be the focal point for engagement with GF and representation at National level.
• He/she will lead the Global Fund Senior Management Team (SMT).
• The post holder will be responsible for the development and monitoring of a sustainability plan working closely with other members of the SMT. 

Scope of Work:

• The Programme Director will lead a project team that includes experienced technical and programme management specialists and oversee the provision of short term technical assistance from GF grant to NMEP and SMEPs and other key stakeholders.
• He/She will work to keep GF grant on course to achieve its targets and fully compliance with GF, PR and MC policies, guideline and code of conduct.

Key Working Relationships:

• Serve as contact for all GF funded activities managed by MC. 
• Line management by the West & Central Africa Programmes Director.
• Country Technical Coordinator for coordination of short-term technical assistance.

Key Accountabilities
Strategic planning, management and governance (20%):

• Ensure regular communications are maintained between the different teams particularly between zonal/state teams and with the Abuja office.
• Be responsible for the project risk register. Work with the team members of the SMT in the identification, tracking, prevention and management of key programme risks especially those related to performance and fiduciary management.
• Be liaison between the project, NMEP, the PR - CRS and the donor - GF.

Programme (Routine, LLIN Campaign and SMC distribution) management (50%):

• Develop and implement work plans, ensuring that campaign and routine programming work plans are integrated into an overall consolidated programme work plan.
• Work closely with the Country Technical Coordinator to see that work plans are aligned with best technical approaches.
• Perform strategic oversight on the overall delivery of the LLINs campaign in Yobe State. 
• Perform oversight with the project team to ensure successful implementation the 2019 and 2020 mass drug administration (MDA) for SMC in Katsina and Yobe states.
• Ensure monitoring systems are in place and that project reviews/audits are carried out periodically in conjunction with the project team, key stakeholders and PR.
• Travel to the field as necessary to provide support and oversight to the zonal and state teams.
• Ensure all relevant authorities and stakeholders are included in the planning and implementation of the project as appropriate.
• Work with the Country Technical Coordinator to:
  • Adapt MC technical quality standard for the project and ensure its compliance 
  • See that project lessons and experiences are documented.
• Work with the SMT to see that programme improvement is data-driven.  

Logistics, finance and administration (10%):

• Ensure the project is efficiently and accurately managed within allowable line item flexibility and there is full accountability of resources.
• Ensure familiarity and compliance of staff and stakeholders with/to Malaria Consortium and GF compliance issues.
• Work with team members to prepare projected project expenditures.
• Work with the finance team (both at the country office and GF project based) to monitor expenditure and budget compliance on a regular basis, report any concerns to the WCAPD and develop plans to mitigate any under or over expenditure.
• Closely monitor project budget spending and burn rates.
• Work closely with the finance team to ensure timely financial reporting and assistance at audits for the project. 

Human Resource Management (10%):

• Work with the HR manager to ensure the project is roles are filled with quality staff and their performance continuously improve throughout the project implementation period.
• Line manage members of the staff using performance-based management approaches.

Representation (10%):

• Represent MC in all GF activities.
• Other representations as might be delegated by MC management team.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience
Essential: 

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, International Development or related discipline.
• Senior management level experience on large sized health projects in Africa.
• At least 15 years working experience in international projects. 
• At least 5 years of those spent in projects in developing countries lasting more than 2 years and managing teams of 10 or more including local and international staff.
• Experience managing at least one project for an external government client for at least 2 years.
• Experience working with performance-based contracts.
• Experience in project and financial management with a proven track record of timely submission of high quality project deliverables.

Desirable:

• Experience managing donor grants or contracts such as DFID, GFATM or USAID/PMI.
• Experience working on malaria, maternal and child health programmes, including community health delivery.
• Familiar with the Nigeria health system.

Work-based Skills
Essential:

• Strategic thinking.
• Ability to manage and inspire high performing teams.
• Excellent programme management skills, with proven ability to implement high quality projects on time and within budget.
• Strong negotiation skills, particularly in engaging government health officials at all levels.
• Good influencing and persuasion skills and ability to remain compliant with organisational and donor policies.
• Ability to manage and prioritize high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Excellent problem solving skills.
• Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written.
• Capable of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• A team player, with a friendly attitude.
• Proactive and takes initiative as required.
• Results-oriented work ethic.

Desirable:

• Good capacity building skills especially mentoring and coaching.
• Conversant with the basic epidemiology of malaria in Nigeria.
• Data-driven decision making mentality.
• Excellent advocacy skills, and comfortable being a strong advocate for malaria control.

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 lesson-learning with self and wider team
• Analyses the significance of external events and situations for Malaria Consortium

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 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 a new situation

Living the values:
LEVEL C - Supports others to live Malaria Consortium’s values:

• Demonstrates personal integrity by using position responsibly and fairly
• Cultivates an open culture within the wider team, promoting accountability, responsibility and respect for individual differences

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
18th April, 2019.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click Here for More Information (PDF)