The West African Centre for Public Health and Development (WACPHD) is a non-governmental organization working on Improving health equity through sustained research, program delivery, technical assistance, and education and is providing technical support for the ACE project. To effectively reduce HIV, including HIV/TB co-infection, as well as institutionalize health system reforms, the United States Government (USG), through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), supports the Government of Nigeria (GON) to implement interventions, across the HIV/AIDS care continuum and strengthen the health system to deliver high-quality services. As part of the effort in this regard, the USAID/Nigeria office recently engaged a consortium to implement the Achieving HIV Epidemic Control in the several State of Nigeria. WACPHD, as part of the Consortium, will be implementing the Operations/ Implementation Research component of the ACE grant in lot 6-comprising Lagos, Edo and Bayelsa.
- Job Type: Full Time
- Qualification: MBA/MSc/MA , PhD/Fellowship
- Experience: 8 years
- Location: Abuja
- Job Field: Medical / Healthcare , NGO/Non-Profit
About Program
- We are seeking a highly skilled and passionate Health System Specialist to join our team in WACPHD.
- The successful candidate will play a crucial role in improving health outcomes by focusing on the health system and keeping the primary health care approach in mind.
- This position requires extensive experience in public health, particularly in health systems strengthening and assessment in low-resource settings, and a deep commitment to enhancing health services in underserved communities.
- Reporting to: Specialist / Senior Specialist – Systems will be reporting to the Country Coordinator WACPHD, based in Abuja.
- Travel Requirements: The position requires extensive travel within different states of Nigeria and other parts of Africa, as per need.
Job Description
- Specialist, Health systems will support health systems assessment and strengthening (HSS) work across various projects of WACPHD and work directly with health partners and government departments.
Key Responsibilities
- Health Systems Strengthening support – Support in developing and implementing strategies to strengthen the health system components:
- Human Resource System (HRH), including HRH policies, defining HRH norms, Human Resource Management System (HRMS), technical support for expediting government recruitment, setting up competency-based Systems, etc
- Supply chain/logistics processes
- PPP/Contract Management; Private sector strategy
- Behaviour Change Strategy
- Budgeting/planning processes; Payments/Financing processes
- Support the Digital Health team
- Support data use/M&E team
- Conduct comprehensive assessments of the health system to identify gaps and areas for improvement.
- Ensuring the integration of health services and systems to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the health system.
- Capacity Building:
- Provide technical assistance and training to healthcare providers and local partners.
- Develop and deliver capacity-building initiatives to strengthen local health systems and improve service delivery.
- Promote the adoption of best practices and innovative solutions in health system management.
- Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Establish and oversee monitoring and evaluation frameworks to measure program impact and effectiveness.
- Analyze data and report on health system performance, providing recommendations for continuous improvement.
- Ensure timely and accurate reporting to donors, partners and stakeholders.
- Advocacy and Partnership:
- Foster partnerships with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to advocate for health system-based approach in program designs
- Represent the organization in relevant forums and working groups, promoting best practices and innovations in HSS.
- Collaborate with government agencies, partners and donors to contribute towards development of national and sub national health plans and policies.
- Research and Development:
- Stay updated with the latest trends, technologies, and advancements in HSS and HSA to ensure the incorporation of evidence-based practices.
- Conduct research to inform health system strengthening initiatives and policy development.
Qualifications
Education:
- MBA / MPP / MPA / MPH / MSW / advanced degree in Public Health, Health System Management, Health Policy, or a similar degree from a reputed institute.
- PHD candidates will be desirable.
Work Experience:
- At least 8 years of experience in Public Health, working directly or indirectly with government, health partners, or funders; candidates with experience of at least 3 years of working with government health systems will be preferred
- At least 2 years of experience in one component of HSS – HRH, SC, Data/HIS, PPP/private sector, behaviour change, budgeting/financing, digital health.
Key Competencies:
- Knowledge of government systems
- Proven ability to conceptualize, analyze, innovate, plan and execute ideas
- Strong background and work experience in Financial Management and Administration
- Knowledge of government contract management
- Deep understanding of govt./non-govt. recruitment processes
- Demonstrates efficient decision-making and problem-solving skills
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills
- Ability to function effectively as a team member
- Fluency in English and knowledge of French is an advantage.
Benefits
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
- Comprehensive health insurance.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Supportive and collaborative work environment.
Method of Application
Note
- WACPHD considers equality for all to be a fundamental human right. We actively promote diversity and inclusion, while condemning all types of unlawful and unjust discrimination based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and motherhood, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.’
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
- Individuals blacklisted from implementing donor funded grants are not eligible to apply for any of the advertised positions.
