State Immunization Technical Officer (SITO), USAID M-Rite Project at John Snow, Incorporated (JSI)

John Snow, Incorporated (JSI) - We are public health care and health systems consultants and researchers driven by a passion to improve health services and health outcomes for all.

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Job Title: State Immunization Technical Officer (SITO)

Location: Nigeria
Project: USAID MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity Project/Nigeria

General Information
The USAID’s MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity (M-RITE) aims to sustainably strengthen routine immunization (RI) programs to overcome the entrenched obstacles contributing to stagnating and declining immunization rates; and address the barriers to reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children with lifesaving vaccines and other health services. M-RITE is a consortium of global leaders in immunization system strengthening approaches, integrated management and service delivery, health system strengthening (HSS), financing, data and learning, social and behavior change (SBC), strategic partnerships, gender, and human-centered design (HCD). Led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), along with PATH, Results for Development (R4D), Accenture Development Partnerships (ADP), CORE Group, and The Manoff Group, the consortium has extensive experience in shaping global strategies and collaborating with local partners to improve immunization outcomes and build on past learning and accomplishments.

The project’s mandate is to strengthen the capacity of USAID partner countries to overcome entrenched obstacles to equitable immunization coverage. Additionally, M-RITE contributes to ongoing global efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on immunization services and supports countries to prepare for and introduce COVID-19 vaccines. The project’s combination of expertise and perspectives is critical to addressing the complex problems that have contributed to the stagnation and decline of vaccination coverage in many countries, exacerbated by immunization service disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These disruptions have increased the risk of countries experiencing outbreaks of measles, polio, and other vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).

Summary

• Under the supervision of M-RITE’s State Team Lead (STL), the State Immunization Technical Officer (SITO) will serve as core member of M-RITE’s technical team in the state. Each SITO will work both with M-RITE’s broader team, and as an extension of the State’s technical team, to support the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) or State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB) to implement its RI Annual Operation Plan (AOP). 
• This will require intensive collaboration and coordination with numerous public and private partners. M-RITE will also support the State in implementing the “Primary Health Care under One Roof” policy in the context of RI system strengthening. M-RITE’s SITO will be assigned to collectively provide full geographic coverage of program assistance across all Wards and Local Government Areas (LGAs).  
• Seen as an extension of the State’s routine immunizationI strengthening team, each State SITO will be expected to help champion collaboration, creative thinking, and resource-efficient approaches. This will include supporting collective efforts to identify early successes for RI to achieve rapid and sustainable increases in coverage by the end of the program’s assistance, while ensuring a maintained focus on sustained and targeted 
• investment; support the delivery of dependable, regular, high-quality immunization services; promote continued state ownership, financing and accountability for primary health care, including immunization; encourage a move away from unsuccessful polio/COVID-19-driven approaches to strengthening the RI system; ensure the RI system’s readiness to support the identification and vaccination of zero doses; introduction of new vaccines; and, where appropriate, pilot and/or scale up new incentives and disincentives that stimulate improved RI performance.   
• In close collaboration with other implementing partners, including those at the LGA, ward, health facility, and community levels, the SITO will help drive M-RITE’s technical support efforts in State, operationalize components of Nigeria’s Reaching Every Ward (REW) approach in consultation with the SPHCDA, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), and RI Working Group. 

Responsibilities

• In close collaboration with the State and other RI partners in State, and under the direct supervision of the STL and technical oversight of the Senior Management Team in Abuja Office, the key responsibilities of the SITO will include: 
• Coordinate and work closely with the SSPHCDA/A and other RI partners daily to ensure effective implementation of the  RI/PHC AOP in State, with a focus on ensuring the timely, effective implementation of M-RITE’s technical assistance particularly at the LGA, health facility, ward, and community levels
• Provide targeted technical assistance and capacity building support at the LGA, health facility, ward, and/or community level for and through the implementation of REW; micro-planning; supportive supervision; encouraging the use of data for decision making at the operational levels; fostering community linkages; monitoring the timely release and use of RI funds at the LGA and health facility levels; and other ongoing activities
• Work with Senior MEL Advisor to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of all planned COVID-19 vaccination interventions,
• Capture state level COVID-19 vaccination data on available databases for analysis and reporting.
• Compile and submit weekly,, monthly and quarterly reports for the RI/COVID-19 vaccination project as per agreed reporting parameters to the management.
• Conduct monthly data verifications to ensure accuracy, completeness and produce the data verification report. Produce timely, accurate, complete, and consistent RI/COVID-19 vaccination project data.
• Follow up all identified data verification gaps for closure with support from project management.
• Ensure adequate supply of data collection and reporting tools at M-RITE supported RI/COVID-19 vaccination sites.
• Support capacity building initiatives and activities conducted by the MEL team; Monitor and keep track of the number of people trained on various RI/COVID-19 vaccination initiatives.
• Ensure proper filing of incoming and outgoing RI/COVID-19 vaccination MEL data reports and documents.
• Support information and knowledge sharing across project sites and partners, 
• Actively participate in meetings and activities convened by/through the SERRIC/State Task Force on Immunization (STFI), State RI Working Group and sub-working groups, and Emergency Operations Center (EOC), including during review and planning exercises 
• Represent M-RITE to the SPHCDA, EOC, SERRIC, STFI, and/or other RI partners through active participation in State-level meetings, technical advisory groups, working groups, and other coordinating forums 
• Champion and actively contribution to ongoing cross-learning efforts, in close collaboration with M-RITE’s technical team, the State, USG Agencies, and other partners at all operational levels, and across states as appropriate 
• Contribute to the development, adaptation, adoption, and dissemination of national guidelines and policies at the state, LGA, HF levels as appropriate
• Support RI- and PHC-related advocacy activities at the state, LGA, and Community levels, use evidence-based data on community knowledge, attitudes, and practices around RI 
• Support the implementation, analysis, and documentation of operations research to determine the costs of implementing RI programs at the LGA level 
• Contributeto the development, monitoring, and reporting of program (AMELP) and State RI/AOP  indicators, and improved use of data for decision making  
• Document meetings and share proceedings/minutes with other M-RITE colleagues in country, and with other State RI partners as appropriate, promoting the transparent, timely, and consistent flow of information and communications both internally and externally 
• Contribute to USAID technical progress reports, workplans, and other technical documents as required; actively participating in and contributing to State RI/PHC and M-RITE annual workplan development and reviews
• Participate in routine M-RITE team, technical, and other meetings as appropriate 
• Relateo LGA M-RITE Independent Monitors or any other structure put in place to improve RI/PHC services
• Mentor and Technical assistance to strengthen program management of RI/PHC services at the LGA levels.

Qualifications

• Health professional with a Bachelors (minimum) or higher degree in public health or related field 
• At least three years field work experience in public (including government) or private organizations supporting the implementation of public health (including routine immunization) programs. Work experience in RMNCHA-NMal/COVID-19 or vaccine preventable disease interventions will be an advantage.
• Proven technical capacity in supporting the implementation and supervision of RMNCHA-NMal services in Nigeria, including support to LGAs and health facilities. Related experience at the state level is highly desirable. State-specific experience and knowledge strongly preferred
• Knowledge of national- and state-level policies, strategies, programming landscape, and evidence relevant to RMNCHA-NMal and related health areas 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and demonstrated ability and poise in partnering and communicating with diverse groups of stakeholders 
• Dynamic and energetic team player, able to both represent one’s team in high-level settings and abilityto provide broad-ranging support to tasks great and small as needed (from technical to operational/administrative)  
• Creative thinker, motivated to advocate for innovative approaches to strengthen RMNCHA-NMal, and motivated to encourage collaboration and healthy competition at operational levels  
• Demonstrated experience supporting the development and tracking of activity budgets 
• Strong computer literacy, including in Microsoft Office applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 
• Knowledge of statistics and data management applications an asset 
• Previous work experience with USAID-funded programs a strong asset
• Articulate, professional and able to communicate in a clear, positive fashion with clients and staff
• Must be able to read, write, and speak fluent English; fluent in local language as appropriate
• Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization
• Proficiency with database management software and on-line search tools required
• Has sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of the political, contextual, and ethical issues in assigned areas

Remuneration

• JSI offers competitive salary and benefits.

Application Closing Date
25th January, 2023.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their CV and Cover Letter in English and a list of three referees with contact details to: [email protected] with the subject line being the Job Title e.g. "State Immunization Technical Officer (SITO), USAID M-Rite Project".

Note

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
• Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.