Chief of Party - Immunization Programme in Nigeria at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children is working in Nigeria because one in five children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday. About 40% of children miss out on school and have to work to survive while nearly 2 million children have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related disease.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Chief of Party - Immunization Programme in Nigeria

Job Identification: 1885
Location: Lagos
Job Schedule Full time
Job Category Programme Operations
Team / Programmer: Programme Operations

Child Safeguarding

• Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

Role Purpose

• The Chief of Party (COP) provides overall strategic leadership and managerial oversight for the administrative, programmatic, technical, research and operational aspects of the programme from inception to implementation.
• S/he will oversee the day-to­ day implementation of the program and will be accountable for the quality of interventions and for the effective financial and operational management including budgetary oversight, human resource management, timely implementation of activities, and effective stakeholder relationship management.
• S/he will also be responsible for developing and maintaining strong working relationships with the donor, government and partner agencies, operating across project locations.
• The COP will also serve as the primary liaison and program representative with government representatives, donors, partner agencies, academic institutions, and local institutions and communities.
• S/he will ensure that planning, budgeting, Implementation, monitoring and evaluation as well as donor reporting functions are executed efficiently and effectively to ensure that the project achieves its purposes and outputs.

Scope of the Role

• Reports to: Director of Programme Operations
• Internal relationship: Head of health, Health Technical Advisor, HQ team
• Dimensions: Matrix Reporting
• Staff directly reporting to this post: 7

Key Areas of Accountability

• Overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the programme.
• Attract, secure and maintain strong working relationship with partners. 
• Ensure representation by the programme on behalf of Save the Children, builds trust and influence with Government, donors and ocher key stakeholders, highlighting where effective practise can positively influence policy.
• Ensure the provision of high quality technical assistance by in-country and UK based technical advisers and external consultants (if appropriate).
• Lead the development of high quality programming, annual plans and budgeting processes for the programme, as and when necessary.
• Ensure that an effective monitoring system is in place for achieving agreed programme targets and sound financial management, as well as ensuring that value for money can be effectively demonstrated to the donor.
• Focus on and respond to requirements of scale-up through replicating and ensuring value for money on identified effective approaches and techniques.
• Oversee the programme's operational and analytical research, coordinate the publication and dissemination of results and ensure that research informs advocacy.
• Oversee the process of learning, evaluation, capturing and disseminating lessons from the programme for continuous improvement of programme performance and overall outcome
• Ensure that other technical sectors (e.g. Advocacy etc.) are coordinated, integrated and support each other to optimise the project purposes and objectives.
• Lead on the submission of quarterly and annual reports and submission of deliverables and payment SCUK;
• Actively participate in the inception activities and organize project kick-offs with relevant stakeholders in coordination with country office
• Inspire, lead and motivate the programme team to deliver project objectives, including technical advisors and consultants, and the finance and admin staff working on the project.
• Ensure that the project is appropriately staffed across Save the Children, including the appropriate combination of expertise across technical and operational areas, building capacity where needed;
• Identify and effectively manage all key risks related to the project, including compliance with donor transparency (IATI) and due diligence requirements.
• Demonstrate high levels of commitment to Save the Children and our vision, mission and values in order to ensure the objectives of your role and the country programme are met.
• Ensure the project and its team comply with the requirements of Save the Children's Child Safeguarding Policy to ensure maximum protection for children. 

Program Management and Implementation:

• Ensure the timely planning, implementation and reporting of all components of the immunization project to ensure programme quality and impact:
  • Oversee the development and successful implementation of workplans for the programme components.
  • Ensure the smooth running of all project components and locations using an integrated approach.
  • Work closely with the MEAL Team in Nigeria and SCUK to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation plans and with managers of technical components to ensure technical program objectives are met.
  • Ensure compliance with all grant provisions, and timely fulfilment of all program programmatic reporting requirements.
  • Develop and maintain partnership arrangements to assure successful implementation and trouble-free institutional relationships.
  • Lead the development of Award Action Plan (AAP), including Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP), procurement plan.
  • Oversee timely expenditure of approved budgets, avoiding both under spending and overspending on grant line items.

Human Resources Management and Administration:

• Supervise assigned project managers and specialists: maintain updated job descriptions for each position, conduct annual performance evaluations, identify staff skills development needs:
  • See that all staff and partners are aware of and understand SCI policies and procedures; take appropriate disciplinary measures as needed.
  • Assure the timely recruitment, orientation. and training of new programme staff as needed. Assess training needs to further develop the skills of program staff, partner NGOs and government counterparts
  • Ensure all administrative procedures are followed, such as those regarding vehicle use and procurement; ensure logistics/administrative staff provides sufficient and timely support to the team.
• Representation and Leadership:
  • Maintain good working relationships with government officials-FMOH, NPHCDA, SMOH and SPHCDs across target states
  • Represent SC and maintain good working relationships among the international and local NGO community, among community leadership structures and community-based organizations, and to visiting donor teams and other key contacts. Keep informed of NGO, government, and donor initiatives relevant to SC's work.
  • Ensure active participation in vaccine task force meetings and other health related TWGs at the nation and state level, and coordinate closely with country office technical teams
  • Maintain focus on SC programme principles.
  • Encourage teamwork, openness, and honesty among staff and between SC and its partners.
  • Represent SC and the health program in donor meetings.

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Qualifications and Experience

• A Postgraduate Degree in Public Health, Management or related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in programme management and administration, financial management, award contractual compliance, sub-award management, and tracking project performance and costs via specific funding streams. Five (5) of these years should be in child health, immunization or public health programs of similar complexity.
• At least 5 years of experience managing a programme that focus the following areas: prevention and treatment  of communicable childhood illnesses; routine immunization, health system research, social and behavioral change; quality improvement/quality assurance.
• Proven experience of managing large multi-million pound budgets and management of risk and proven track record for achieving expected results on projects in developing countries.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully fulfilling performance objectives, including the timely implementation and reporting of donor-funded program activities.
• Experience working in developing countries in the health sector and successfully managing a high-pace multi­ disciplinary team to achieve development results.
• Strong understanding of key principles of advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, child participation and accountability.
• Strong preference for prior experience as Chief of Party with demonstrated capacity to create and/or maintain systems and procedures for managing programs with multiple implementation sites, partners and beneficiaries.
• As demonstrated by experience, appropriate level of seniority to liaise with Government officials, Donor officials, University Professors and similar research leads, executives of NGOs, CSOs, the for-profit business community, and senior members of the Nigerian donor community.
• Demonstrated ability to manage, motivate, mentor and direct staff while creating a positive team environment.
• Sound understanding of different methodologies of M&E and operational research and experience in developing integrated M&E and Learning systems
• Ability to present results and products to the donor and other key stakeholders.
• Commitment to the values. missions. aims and policies of Save the Children.
• Excellent English writing skills.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principle

Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
Accountability: 

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving results together with children and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
• Creates a managerial environment in-country to lead, enable and maintain our culture of child safeguarding.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for self and team, takes responsibility for own personal development and encourages team to do the same.
• Widely shares personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future oriented, thinks strategically and on a global scale

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with own team, colleagues, members, donors and partners
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to 

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency
• Always acts in the best interests of children

Application Closing Date
27th June, 2023; 15:14