Health Specialist at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Health Specialist (Health Systems Strengthening / Partnerships / Implementation Science and Emergency Response)

Job Number: 532906
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Work Type: Temporary Appointment

How Can You Make a Difference

• Under the guidance of the Chief of Health and HIV, provide technical support to the survive and thrive agenda across the health portfolio with a focus on implementation and delivery science, partnerships including in the context of emergency under the overarching health systems strengthening program.
• The COVID 19 health emergency presents an unprecedented crisis and has resulted in a major response led by the health sector in the country. Given the nature of the emergency, the multi-sectoral, multi-layered service delivery, it is critical to work with diverse partnerships, build in the implementation and delivery science component and ensure linkages and synergy with development programming for sustainability.

Summary of Key Functions / Accountabilities
The Specialist will carry out the following activities related to the child survival and well-being program within the overarching health systems strengthening component of the health and HIV portfolio in Nigeria:

• Work closely with the FMOH, NPHCDA, NCDC, NACA and partners at federal and State levels towards building a portfolio of implementation and delivery science learnings towards fast-tracking results for women and children and informing policy and programming including the COVID 19 health emergency;
• Serve as the focal point for coordinating specific COVID 19 response at federal level and support States at subnational levels;
• Provide technical support towards improving health systems for quality delivery of PHC programs with a focus on leveraging learnings through delivery science and data incorporating outbreak preparedness and emergency response;
• Participate and provide technical expertise in related health systems strengthening forums and committees at federal level particularly implementation science and emergency health response forums;
• Build a body of evidence documenting and linking investments to results outlining innovative interventions for improving child survival and well-being;
• Participate and provide technical expertise for assessing progress in MNCAH results at federal and sub-national levels understanding partnerships and investments;
• Support conceptualization, development and implementation of implementation and delivery science leveraging networks of academia, professional bodies, civil society and other institutions.

Job Requirements
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

• An Advanced University Degree in Medicine is required for this post. A public health degree will be an added advantage.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in public health programs with experience with research and data is needed.
• Experience with emergency programming including the COVID 19 response will be an added advantage.
• Relevant experience in health development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate:

• UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The core competencies required for this post are:

• Leading and supervising (I)
• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Analyzing (III)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Deciding and Initiating action (II)
• Applying technical expertise (III)

The functional competencies required for this post are:

• Analyzing (3)
• Deciding and Initiating Action (2)
• Applying Technical Expertise (3)

View our competency framework here  Competency Framework - 2020.pdf

Application Closing Date
6th August, 2020; 23:55:00 GMT+0100 (West Africa Standard Time).

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here for more information (PDF)

Note

• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
• UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
• Remarks: This is a re-advertisement in order to expand the candidate pool. There have been amendments to the Vacancy Announcement (VA). Previous applicants need not reapply as their original application will be duly considered. The VA is open to all Nigerian nationals (internal and external candidates).
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• Candidates who applied previously do not need to reapply