Deputy Project Director (DPD) & Technical Director at 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 recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Deputy Project Director (DPD) & Technical Director

Job Requisition ID: R4830
Location: Abuja
Job type: Full time

Main Purpose of the Job

• The Deputy Project Director is the technical lead for the project and is responsible for coordinating and managing all activities for this project.
• S/he shall be accountable and responsible for the development, regular update and implementation of the work plan and budget to ensure attainment of the program goals and objectives.
• S/he will lead the project implementation and oversight in line with the project’s goal, objectives and approaches, to contribute to the strategic goals of the project in Nigeria, working in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders including Government of Nigeria (and its agencies) and development partners.
• S/he will serve as the primary liaison between the project, government counterparts, stakeholders, and partners involved in health financing and/or implementing related programs in the country.
• The Deputy Project Director is accountable for the management and supervision of the project team, provides strategic and technical guidance and works closely with the Country Representative, donor and other technical and operational staff to ensure that Project plans and activities effectively address set goals and objectives.
• As the head of the country project team, he or she ensures the timely and quality delivery of project products and activities and supervises in-country project staff.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Assume the responsibilities of the Project Director in the absence of the Project Director.
• Coordinate among MCF and key stakeholders and other implementing partners and interact with numerous Government of Nigeria (GON) institutions and representatives, at the national and county-levels in implementation of program activities.
• Provide strategic technical leadership and ensure the quality and sustainability of HRH interventions of implementation at National and County level.
• Provide technical assistance (TA) in HRH, quality improvement, advocacy and community health systems policy, strategies, standards and regulations, implementation, including dissemination, distribution and customization in collaboration with stakeholders including MOH, Governors Forum, States, Faith Based Organizations, funder community implementing development/humanitarian work and partners.
• Engage and work with Ministry of Health (MOH), Governors Forum, ALGON, States, LGA and Implementing Partners (IPs) to strengthen health workforce performance management, enhance use of HRH performance monitoring including HRH supervision to track contribution of HRH interventions to service delivery outcomes.
• Provide TA to enhance workplace councils and engagements between employers and employees’ representatives to ensure regular, meaningful worker-employer engagements contributing to an improved workplace environment with innovative approaches to mitigate health workforce labor disputes.
• Establish donor supported health workforce transition plans with each focus Communities in collaboration with service delivery partners in line with established guidelines.
• Support the strengthening and scale up of the cHIS systems for completeness, accuracy, and capacity on data use. And coordinate peer to peer support.
• Participate in monitoring, evaluations, assessments and reviews based on an agreed framework with identified partners (e.g GON, service delivery partners, regulatory authorities and training institutions) and actively lead the evaluation process utilizing approved tools and methods as may serve the needs of the overall project from time to time.
• Engagement with partner programs at the Country level to identify possible links/collaborations in strengthening the HRH management systems.
• Provide leadership to the project technical team in annual work planning, budgeting, milestones delivery monitoring and regular reporting and documentation of best practices for the project in collaboration with the donor.
• Represent MSH and the program’s progress, achievements and lessons learned to donors, other key stakeholders, and through meetings, conferences, and presentations.
• Contribute to the supervision, mentoring, and managing of a team of highly qualified staff and align their efforts to ensure rapid and sustainable results.
• Support the gender inclusion & safeguarding strategy of the project.
• Contribute to internal and external stakeholder communications, knowledge sharing, and knowledge transfer process.
• Make responsible decisions that result in time and cost containment and clear accountability.
• Participate in multiple teams, adopt team spirit, take responsibility for action items assigned and provide feedback as needed.
• Multi-task and be able to manage competing priorities in order to meet program and/or organizational objectives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Public Health, Health Management, Administration or Social sciences or related field from a recognized University. PhD in Public Health is an added advantage.
• Twelve (12) years’ experience managing at a similar or senior level in a program of similar scope and magnitude.
• Ten (10) years’ experience working in strengthening health systems/ service delivery.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in programming, financial planning and management, human resources, and procurement, among other management support areas/functions
• In-depth knowledge of Community Health Workforce regulations, compliance and reporting
• Proven ability to facilitate teams using a stakeholder consensus building approach.
• Excellent understanding of the Ministry of Health and Medical training institutions operations, especially on Human Resources for Health (HRH) Management and training processes.
• A good understanding of health service delivery and HRH in devolved system and the roles of national and county governments and related constitutional institutions with a mandate on HRH.
• Ability to interact with established networks of senior level international health professionals, donors, universities and other implementing partners
• Previous direct supervisory experience of project technical and operational staff
• Excellent analytical, oral presentation, report writing, and interpersonal skills.
• Computer literacy, particularly in the use of SPSS and MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access
• Individuals with the following experience will have an added advantage:
  • Working with MOH health systems at National and Sub-National Level
  • Working experience in Donor-funded projects

Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent technical and leadership skills
• Excellent organizational skills, detail-oriented and high degree of accuracy; strong analytical skills and sound judgment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively interact with all levels of staff, project beneficiaries and stakeholders.
• Be cooperative, hardworking, flexible and dependable.
• Pleasant, warm and outgoing personality.
• Be of high integrity and have a sense of confidentiality.
• Be willing to take on extra responsibilities in order to achieve the goals/objectives set by the organization.
• Capacity to develop and implement effective strategies and tactics for accomplishing assigned duties.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Be self-motivated, proactive and have a positive attitude to work requiring minimum supervision

Competencies:

• Functional expert: has knowledge of processes and products.
• Influencer: relates to people, builds relationships, and effectively presents arguments.
• Results seeker: meets deadlines, identifies actions, and achieves goals.
• Innovator: thinks creatively, anticipates changes, and produces solutions.
• Adaptor: stays calm under pressure and handles criticism well.
• Complier: follows procedures and encourages others to do as well.
• Navigating the Environment: Managing through Systems, Peer Relationships, and Political Savvy
• Ensuring Delivery of Results: Action Oriented, Business Acumen, Drive for Results, Information Sharing, Managing and Measuring work, Negotiating, Priority setting, Problem-Solving
• Leading with Credibility: Decision Quality, Functional/Technical skills, Listening, Managerial Courage, Time Management, Presentation skills, Motivating others, Conflict Management, Delegation, Developing Direct Reports, and Others
• Core Personal Competencies: Ethics and Values, Integrity and Trust, Interpersonal Savvy,
• Core MSH competencies: Adaptability, Communication, Problem-Solving, Creativity and Innovation, Quality and Timeliness of Work, Quality of work and Team Relationships, Resource Utilization

Application Closing Date
4th August, 2025.

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