Country Director at the Management Sciences for Health (MSH)

The Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health nonprofit organization, uses proven approaches developed over 40 years to help leaders, health managers, and communities in developing nations build stronger health systems for greater health impact. We work to save lives by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.

We are currently recruiting qualified candidates to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Country Director

Ref No: R309
Location: Abuja
Job Type: Full time

Details

• MSH seeks candidates for the position of Country Director for the USAID-funded U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative for States (PMI-S) project.
• The goal of the project is to support the Government of Nigeria to deliver high quality malaria services in public and private health facilities and build capacity of stakeholders at the LGA, state, and national level to develop and implement effective policy that will lead to malaria control and elimination.
• The PMI-S Project is acting as a resource and a catalyst to the Federal Ministry of Health and state teams to help achieve the targets and goals agreed upon within the National Strategic Plan for Malaria. At both the federal and state levels, the project is focusing on improving malaria case management; surveillance, monitoring and evaluation; drug-based prevention of malaria; and strengthening capacity of NMEP and SMEPs in eight states to plan, manage and monitor malaria service delivery. In addition, the project will strengthen health systems and the governance of NMEP and SMEP to effectively coordinate the malaria response at their respective levels.

Job Objective

• The PMI-S Project is an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with 4 task orders: Task Order 1 was for establishment of the project office in Abuja; Task Order 2 is a five-year contract to provide support at the NMEP and the federal ministry of health; Task Order 3 is a five-year contract to support delivery of malaria services in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi and Oyo states; and Task Order 4 is also a five-year contract to support delivery of malaria services in Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Zamfara States.
• The Country Director leads and manages the IDIQ and the four task order contracts. S/he is accountable for the project deliverables and results, with full accountability and authority for the development, execution, and monitoring of the project, including:
  • Vision and technical strategy;
  • Project management; (3) documentation and communication;
  • Client(s) and stakeholder(s) relationships; and
  • Coordination and synergy with other MSH projects and collaboration with the MSH Portfolio Director.
• In the role of Country Director, s/he ensures that the Program has a strategic vision of success, and deploys all resources – financial, technical, and human - in support of these strategies and plans.
• S/he is aware of and adheres to MSH’s Procurement Integrity standards and procedures in all project management responsibilities.

Specific Responsibilities

• The Country Director takes lead in setting up the overall strategic direction, management systems and monitoring systems for the project to ensure that the four task orders align with the IDIQ goals and objectives.
• The CD leads the recruitment and management of Task Order 2 personnel who provide technical and financial/operational direction and support to Task Order 3 and Task Order 4 project staff. In addition, the CD recruits and manages the Directors who directly manage the Task Order 3 and 4 program planning, implementation and reporting.
• The CD supervises and appraises the following eight positions on the project: the SMTA/DCOP, the Senior M&E Advisor, the Director Finance and Administration, the directors for TO3 and TO4, 2 compliance officers, and the regional communications officer.
• S/he leads the establishment and implementation of a project management structure that enables all the 126 project staff on the three task orders to effectively engage with one another and exchange the learning.
• S/he serves as the primary project liaison from MSH to the donor and is accountable for the achievement of results, ensuring quality of services is maintained at the highest standard, and that all project objectives and deliverables are met.
• The Country Director oversees implementation of program activities and provides high quality strategic leadership, managerial oversight, and administration of the project.
• S/he adapts and implements management systems with standard operating procedures to administer all activities funded by the agreement, ensuring sufficient financial staff for disbursing all local costs under this project, monitoring and tracking expenditures, and preparing financial reports of project expenditures for submission to USAID.
• S/he prepares the project for internal and external project evaluations: Provides strategic direction to the SME team on development of the AMELPS, project database, compilation and storage of evidence of project work/deliverables accomplished.
• Links with donor and DEVTECH to ensure timely SME reporting on the MONITOR.
• Leads establishment and implementation of a system for timely delivery of quality project deliverables, particularly the annual work plans, and quarterly and annual reports for each task order and the IDIQ.
• The Country Director collaborates with partners, donor, and stakeholder representatives, particularly the PMI/Nigeria partners –GHSC-PSM, BA-N, VectorLink, and WRAIR building and maintaining productive relationships.
• Manage the PMI-S consortium partnership - NIFAA, ThinkWell and Banyan Global to align their SOW with project deliverables, timely implementation and reporting.
• S/he communicates, implements, and assures adherence to MSH and project policies, guidelines and values; develops staff skills and knowledge; and facilitates supervisee success and professional development whenever possible.
• The Country Director serves as the primary liaison for communication with USAID/Nigeria, US Government representatives, partners, civil society organizations, appropriate officials from the Government of Nigeria and representatives from other donor and development agencies.
• Together with other MSH projects in Nigeria, the CD is a member of the MSH Nigeria Accountable Leadership Team and is required to actively participate in MSH activities that promote a good image of the organization.

Minimum Requirements

• A Master’s degree in Public Health, international development, or another related field;
• Demonstrated progressive experience in public health and working with development agencies and organizations, government officials, civil society leaders, community leaders, project beneficiaries and project staff;
• Strong technical, health program and financial management background, ability to negotiate, collaborate and coordinate with a range of stakeholders in context of complex and shifting priorities;
• Excellent organizational, leadership, analytical, supervisory and team-buildings skills;
• Experience building organizational capacity and service delivery.

Desired Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of project management experience (of which at least half is in a senior management position) in large, multi-year international health sector development programs.
• Demonstrated subject-matter expertise in malaria and two or more of the following areas: health service delivery, service quality improvement, malaria prevention, malaria treatment and diagnosis, behavior change communications, capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in public health in developing and/or transitional countries managing the operational and organizational aspects of similar health projects including staff supervision and oversight of operational procedures and policies; preference given to those with experience in Nigeria.
• Experience managing large complex projects, preferable managing contracts and/or large malaria or integrated health programs.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Track record of strong commitment to sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives, and sharing credit. Outstanding interpersonal, communication, cross-cultural, collaboration and negotiation skills are essential.
• Ability to delegate effectively with demonstrated ability to make timely effective decisions.
• Willingness to travel within project areas as needed.
• Excellent written communication in English is required.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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