The Maternal and Neo-natal Child Health (MNCH) initiative is a 4 year aid programme which operates alongside the PREINN program that focuses on strengthening routine immunization in four Northern Nigerian States. The MNCH programme aims to address the unacceptable high rates of poverty, maternal, child and newborn morbidity and mortality in the selected Northern Nigerian States. The programme is funded by the Norwegian government in partnership with the UK Department for International Development (DFID). It is operated by a consortium of three organizations, namely HealthPartners International UK, Save the Children, UK and GRID Consulting Nigeria.
The MNCH initiative aims to facilitate health reform agendas in support of the primary Health Care services (PHCs) at the state level in each of the programme operating states. This initiative operates alongside the PRRINN programme to add values to strengthening immunization with a special focus on improving MNCH outcomes. The joint programme collaborates with stakeholders in the health sector as well as civil societies to provide quantifiable improvements to the PHC systems in Northern Nigeria.
PRRINN/MNCH is managed by a team of internationally recruited professionals. Its programme activities are carried out in Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe and Zamfara with coordination from the programme’s head office in Kano. The programme has commenced operations but seeks to recruit more professionals to coordinate the administrative and technical activities at the state level. Thereby ensuring optimal management of its staff and available resources geared towards achieving the programme’s overall objectives.
STATE TEAM MANAGERS
Location: Jigawa and Katsina
Job Responsibility
The State Team Managers (STMs) will provide leadership within the programme at the Jigawa and Katsina operating offices. The STMs will take the lead in managing all technical and the administrative functions in line with the programme value within the State. She/he will work in close collaboration with other state counterparts, stakeholders in the ministries, health professionals, civil societies and other funding partners to jointly facilitate the planning and implementation of all technical activities aimed at reforming maternal, neonatal and child health and routine immunization services in the state. Additional technical responsibilities for this position include:
Design of annual state work-plans and budget on the advice of the Lead Technical Advisers and National Technical Advisers within the programme
Management of the working relationship with officials of the SNoH, representatives of aid agencies, CBOs and the private sector
Development of appropriate Teams of Reference (TORs) for short-term consultancy inputs;
Monitoring and supervision of consultancy inputs at the state level;
Provision of monitoring and support for the implementation of project activities by partners;
Preparation of progress reports and comprehensive quarterly and annual reports against annual work-plans and budgets to the National Programme Manager and State Supervisory Board;
Work with other funding partners to identify key problem areas in relation to the delivery of routine immunization and maternal, neonatal and child health services and develop proposals for reform activities to be supported by programme.
Qualification
Candidates must hold a post graduate qualification in Public Health, Epidemiology, Social Development, Health Management and other related disciplines. She/her must have a minimum of ten (10) years working experience in senior management. She/her must have a good understanding of the Health Development System within Nigeria (or Africa) with a sound knowledge of operations in the public sector and of PHCs. The ideal candidate must have proven experience in planning and management of RI activities, communities disease control, epidemiology, logistics, financial governance, strategic planning, effective use of data and social community mobilization. Additional skills required, include; strong leadership skills, staff management skills, advocacy skills, good facilitation and presentation skills, excellent communication skills. Previous working experience in a donor-funding environment will be an added advantage.
Terms of Employment
The appointments will be for a contract term of up 3 years, with a 6 months probationary period. The programme offers extremely competitive salary packages. However, local terms and conditions are applicable.
Applications
Interested candidates should send applications and electronic copies of their updated CVs including contract telephone numbers and email addresses as an attachment in a Microsoft word document to: prrinn@gridconsulting.net The subject line of your e-mail must contain the tile of the position applied for. Applications not sent in this format will not be processed. All applications must be received on or before 20th of October, 2009. Interview will commence soon after with a view to successful candidates commencing work sometime in November.