Programme Manager - NIG PM at Malaria Consortium

Malaria Consortium is one of the world’s leading non-profit organisations specialising in the comprehensive prevention, control and treatment of malaria and other communicable diseases among vulnerable and under privileged populations. We increasingly find our work on malaria can be effectively integrated with other similar public health interventions for greater impact and therefore expanded our remit to include child health and neglected tropical disease interventions.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: NIG PM - Programme Manager

Location: Niger
Department: Management
Job Type: Fixed Term
Length of Contract: 4 years
Grade: 10
Travel Involved: In-country travel (50%)
Child Safeguarding Level: TBC
Reporting to: Nigeria Country Director
Direct reports: Technical Officer, M&E Officer, Finance Officer & Admin Officer

Country and Project Background
In Nigeria, many women of child bearing age (44,000) and children under-five (940,000) die annually from preventable and treatable causes (UNICEF/WHO 2012). While the trends show that Nigeria has made progress since the 1990s in reducing under-five and maternal mortality rates, the country remains the second largest contributor to under-five and maternal deaths in the world (UNICEF 2018).

Niger State Government is committed to improving her health sector and articulated this in the state health plan and adoption of ‘primary health care under one roof’ policy to reduce fragmentation of services and to bring their management under one authority. The state leadership is also committed to increasing the number of primary health care centres in compliance with the national standards by having a focal health centre per ward.

Niger State Government has also entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to strengthen its primary health care (PHC) system. The BMGF component of the MoU is delivered through technical assistance (TA) grants implemented by other partners with a focus on strengthening leadership and governance of health services, health care financing, human-resources for health, health information management, access to affordable medical products, service delivery and community engagement in health service delivery.

Malaria Consortium has recently received a BMGF four (4) year grant to provide ‘wraparound’ technical assistance for implementation of the community based health service delivery component of the state plan through harmonizing and integration of the various health service interventions at the community level including maternal and child health services.

Job Purpose

• The Project Manager will work closely with the state, and s/he will support the coordination and timely delivery of all project activities
• The job holder will interact with government actors, BMGF partners, community representatives and structures who should be involved in key decision making and implementation
• S/he will take the lead in liaising with other TA partners and government at all levels in strengthening the support of health systems for Community Health Influencers, Promoters and Services (CHIPS) programme
• The job holder will steer project implementation through the SMoH and State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) ensuring value-for-money. S/he will provide oversight for programme management, project team, its leadership as well and support to
• State Ministry of Health (SMoH) and its implementing partners.

Scope of Work

• The job holder will work with the SMoH to bring together key decision makers, development partners (including other BMGF grantees), relevant multi-sectorial stakeholders and community representatives to inform the organization of activities under the CHIPS programme and its implementation
• S/he will be responsible for programme management systems and tools for efficient running of the programme, working closely with SMoH and the SPHCDAs
• S/he will work with Niger SMoH to develop and use a sustainability framework to map the different governmental, community, development partner stakeholder interactions and actions needed to sustain the CHIPS programme beyond this grant
• The position holder will ensure that the work plans are prepared and approved in a timely manner, and implemented to meet targets
• S/he will ensure strong project cycle management through a value-for-money framework
• The Project Manager will support the Niger State Government, who will provide leadership from the inception of the project, to reach consensus and include activities for state community-based primary healthcare in the state annual operational plan (AOP), guided by the signed MoU with BMGF
• The position holder will ensure that state implementation complies with BMGF regulations and Malaria Consortium policies and procedures
• S/he will serve as the first level of quality assurance for narrative project donor reports from the team.

Key Working Relationships:

• Nigeria Country Director as Line Manager
• Provide strategic, programmatic and management oversight to the project team
• Focal contact for all partners, SMoH, SPHCDA and BMGF
• BMGF Nigeria representation at the state.

Key Accountabilities (Percentage level of effort)
Programme Management (80%):

• Provide technical support for the strategic plan for the project; in addition to finalizing the design of the CHIPS programme in Niger state, and introducing the programme and actively supporting its implementation in the state
• Liaise with stakeholders to review and agree on the appropriate state structures to oversee the CHIPS programme roll-out and ensure there is alignment and harmonization
• Provide support to the state on partners’ mapping for the community-based PHC programme
• Provide TA to the SMOH/SPHCDA for the adaptation and development of tools for CHIPS strategy roll-out, including training, implementation, supervision and QA tools
• Coordinate the organization and identification of technical assistance for appropriate capacity building activities as required by the project
• Support the development and finalization of a multi-year costed implementation plan linked to the State AOP from which an annual workplan for CHIPS programme is drawn;
• Actively contribute to the review of the AOP and workplan
• Provide support to the SMOH, SPHCDA and LGAs to define the composition of the community service delivery units at both levels in terms of the number, qualification and skills of health workers
• Work with state counterparts to adapt a decision tree model to support selection of a package of interventions and support system for the CHIPS programme
• Provide TA inputs to development and strengthening of required support systems for CHIPS through active participation in the relevant TWG
• Provide technical support to the SMoH and support them to draw on international best practices to guide the programme development decisions for the various components and processes of the CHIPS programme, whilst taking into account the various contextual complexities of implementing the programme within the local service delivery system
• Support the project to identify how the different components of the CHIPS programme such as training of human resources, supply chain management, supervision, health information management will operate in a coherent way, by defining the inter-relations of the different components of the program and how they will fit into the state’s PHC system
• Oversee project partners’ inputs and subcontractors’ activities to deliver harmonized, aligned and effective outputs
• Ensure monitoring systems are in place and that project reviews/audits are carried out periodically with key stakeholders and project implementing partners
• Proactively identify, manage and document potential risks for the project using appropriate MC tools.

Logistics, Finance and Administration (10%):

• Ensure the project is efficiently and accurately managed within allowable line item flexibility and there is full accountability of resources
• Ensure team is familiar with Malaria Consortium and BMGF compliance issues, ensuring all TAs and partners in the state are compliant with these also (as appropriate)
• Work with the state-based team to prepare projected project expenditures
• Closely monitor state-related project budget spending and burn rates
• Work closely with the finance team to ensure timely financial reporting and assistance at audits for the project
• Work closely with the logistics team to ensure that all items required for the state-based activities are procured in a timely manner and in line with donor requirements.

Human Resource Management (5%):

• Work with the HR team in the recruitment of State-based staff for the project
• Line manage team using performance-based management approaches, in line with relevant policies in Malaria Consortium

Representation (5%):

• FMoH/SMoH/SPHCDA Programme Management Sub-committee
• BMGF Nigeria representation at the state
• Relevant national events to be well-informed, contribute to relevant policy and programme development, and showcase the project’s achievements.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience
Essential:

• Master's Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, International Development or related discipline
• Senior-level management experience on large sized health projects in Nigeria,
• Over 7 years working experience in international projects
• Experience working on maternal and child health programmes, including community health delivery
• Experience managing at least one project for an external government client
• At least three years experience managing teams
• Experience using value-for-money frameworks and/or working on performance-based contracts
• Experience in project and financial management with a proven track record of timely submission of high quality project deliverables
• Familiar with the Nigeria health system

Desirable:

• Experience in delivering TA-focused projects
• Experience managing donor grants or contracts such as BMGF, DFID, GFATM or USAID/PMI.

Work-based Skills
Essential:

• Strategic thinking
• Ability to manage and inspire high performing teams
• Excellent programme management skills, with proven ability to implement high quality projects on time and within budget
• Familiar with value-for-money principles
• Good capacity building skills especially mentoring and coaching
• Strong negotiation skills, particularly in engaging government health officials at all levels
• Good influencing and persuasion skills and ability to remain compliant with organisational and donor policies
• Ability to manage and prioritize high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
• Excellent problem solving skills
• Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written
• Capable of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel
• Excellent presentation skills
• A team player, with a friendly attitude
• Proactive and takes initiative as required
• Results-oriented work ethic

Desirable:

• Conversant with the basic epidemiology of public health cases in Nigeria
• Resource mobilisation skills including an understanding of state and national public health and malaria networks
• Data-driven decision making mentality
• Excellent advocacy skills, and comfortable being a strong advocate for malaria control

Core Competencies
Delivering Results: LEVEL C - Supports others to achieve results:

• Displays a positive and enthusiastic approach and is not deterred by setbacks, finding alternative ways to reach goals or targets.
• Supports others to plan and deliver results
• Supports others to manage and cope with setbacks.

Analysis and use of Information: LEVEL C - Works confidently with complex data to support work:

• Interprets complex written information
• Works confidently with data before making decisions: for example, interpreting trends, issues and risks
• Acquainted with the validity, relevance and limitations of different sources of evidence

Interpersonal and Communications: LEVEL C - Adapts communications effectively:

• Tailors communication (content, style and medium) to diverse audiences
• Communicates equally effectively at all organisational levels
• Understands others’ underlying needs, concerns and motivations and communicates effectively in sensitive situations
• Resolves intra-team and inter-team conflicts effectively

Collaboration and Partnering: LEVEL C - Builds strong networks internally and participates actively in external networks and think tanks:

• Builds strong networks internally
• Participates actively in external networks and/or think tanks
• Engages with relevant experts to gather and evaluate evidence
• Shares and implements good practice with internal and external peers

Leading and Motivating People: LEVEL C - Effectively leads and motivates others or direct reports:

• Gives regular, timely and appropriate feedback
• Acknowledges good performance and deals with issues concerning poor performance
• Carries out staff assessment and development activities conscientiously and effectively
• Develop the skills and competence of others through the development and application of skills
• Coaches and supports team members when they have difficulties

Flexibility/Adaptability: LEVEL C - Supports others to cope with pressure:

• Responds positively to change, embracing and using new practices or values to accomplish goals and solve problems and supports others to do the same
• Adapts team approach, goals, and methods to achieve solutions and results in dynamic situations
• Sets realistic deadlines and goals for self or team

Living the Values: LEVEL D - Acts as a role model in promoting Malaria Consortium’s values:

• Champions and takes ownership of corporate decisions, values and standards and ensures team members implement them in a positive manner
• Acts as role model internally and externally in promoting Malaria Consortium’s values
• Is accountable for ensuring that cultural awareness is demonstrated across the area (s) they manage
• Strategic Planning and Thinking and Sector Awareness
• LEVEL C - Keeps up to date with the internal and external environment
• Takes into account economic, political and other business factors when drawing up medium and long-term plans, covering both public and private sectors
• Looks beyond the immediate operations to prospects for new business
• Engages with appropriate internal and external sources to establish major influences on future plans.

Salary
Competitive

Application Closing Date
28th January, 2019.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click Here for More Information (PDF)