“What are we aiming at?” That’s the question our first president, Daniel Coit Gilman, asked at his inauguration in 1876. What is this place all about, exactly? His answer: “The encouragement of research . . . and the advancement of individual scholars, who by their excellence will advance the sciences they pursue, and the society where they dwell.” Gilman believed that teaching and research go hand in hand-that success in one depends on success in the other-and that a modern university must do both well. He also believed that sharing our knowledge and discoveries would help make the world a better place. After 140 years, we haven’t strayed from that vision. This is still a destination for excellent, ambitious scholars and a world leader in teaching and research. Distinguished professors mentor students in the arts and music, humanities, social and natural sciences, engineering, international studies, education, business, and the health professions. Those same faculty members, and their colleagues at the university’s Applied Physics Laboratory, have made us the nation’s leader in federal research and development funding every year since 1979. That’s a fitting distinction for America’s first research university, a place that revolutionized higher education in America.
Position Name: Strategic Information Advisor (MERL)
Position Reports To: Project Lead
Location: Abuja
Position Overview:
The Strategic Information Advisor (MERL) will lead the Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL), Quality of Care (QoC) project on all SI related implementation, research and data management. S/he will provide technical assistance and capacity building to the PRS department of the FMoH and counterparts at the State level and its stakeholders in the development of and implementation of RMNCAEH+N data analysis, use, and dissemination strategy. S/he will additionally design strategy and activities to improve capacity on triangulating data from multiple data sources to inform policy and decision-making. S/he will contribute to the design of robust, user-friendly, high-quality interfaces for data visualization and data dissemination to enhance state-led and nationally supported evidence-based programming for improved understanding of RMNCH quality of care interventions in relation to the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Plan developed by the national RMNCH QoC Technical Working Group (TWG). S/he will additionally provide technical assistance to design of implementation research and implement strategy to build capacity of M&E systems to oversee data quality and data use for decision making (including capacity building of M&E staff).
Responsibilities:
· Provides technical support for the collection, analysis, triangulation and interpretation of RMNCH and MPDSR data and the calculation of programmatic, surveillance, demographic and epidemiological indicators;
· Oversee real-time data use including weekly, monthly and quarterly data review meetings; implement remediation efforts that address identified gaps and challenges for project overall and at national and state level.
· Oversee the development of learning questions for research implementation in partnership with consortium partners and the National QoC TWG.
· Oversee the engagement of six academic institutions from the six geopolitical zones that will conduct the agreed learning questions including coordinating the design of the research protocols, tools, IRB process, recruitment of data collectors, data collection and analysis and final reports working in partnership with the academic institutions and the QoC technical working group.
· Strengthen the use of data at the national and state level for program monitoring and improvement.
· Support the process of validation and triangulation of data between multiple data sources.
· Participates in the organization and facilitation of national M&E subcommittee, MPDSR committee performance meetings of the QoC TWG.
· Support the provision of training, supervision and mentorship to strengthen for M&E/SI and data quality improvement at national and State level in partnership with the FMoH, PRS department.
· Participate in the organization and facilitation of seminars, brainstorming workshops and workshops within their field of competence, whenever this is required;
· Prepares periodic reports of activities, donor reports, QoC TWG reports; and
· Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Qualification:
- Master’s degree in Public Health, Statistics, Epidemiology and other related fields with a minimum of 8 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation in international development.
- Familiarity with USAID/RMNCH programs, Nigerian public sector health system and RMNCH response programs.
- Core Strategic Information experience, conversant with MER indicators, data collection, analysis and data visualization using DHIS, NDR, LAMIS, PowerBI etc.
- Demonstrated ability to be the technical specialist and as the lead subject matter expert in monitoring and evaluation.
- Demonstrated ability to perform complex data analytics utilizing Microsoft Excel, SPSS, STATA, Epi Info and/or other analytic software and to provide evidence-based recommendations accordingly.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the use of GIS and other tools to support geo-spatial display of data to target program interventions and resources.
Competencies:
- Demonstrated ability to perform robust data extraction from internal and external information systems and involvement in research implementation.
- Familiarity with Nigerian public health sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated ability to portray complex data sets in easy to understand formats including visualizations.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of Nigerian health and social service information systems and monitoring and evaluation processes as it relates to data collection for performance-based reporting and use of data.
- Previous experience in building capacity for generation and use of SI.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and manage meetings with International partners (NGOs), consultants and Government partners etc.
- Demonstrated written, presentation, communication and organizational skills in English
- Ability and willingness to travel within Nigeria.
How to apply
Method of Application:
Interested and qualified candidates should send their updated CV to [email protected] using “Strategic Information Advisor” as the subject of the email.
Application Closing date:
Close of Business Monday 1st November 2021
Note:
· CV and Cover Letter as ONE SINGLE WORD document
· The title/subject of your email and application should be the position you are applying for.
· Candidates that do not comply with the application instruction will be disqualified.
· We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found.
· Only shortlisted candidates will receive an invitation for an interview
· Any successful candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.
· There will be travel requirements and opportunities both within Nigeria.
· JHU is an Equal Opportunity Employer
For further information about Jhpiego, please visit our website at www.jhpiego.org
