“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: RMNCH Senior Technical Advisor
Position Reports To: Project Lead, MCGL QoC Project
Location: Abuja
Position Overview:
The Senior Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) Technical Adviser will be responsible for providing technical leadership in strengthening the RMNCH quality service delivery for upcoming Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) Quality of Care (QoC) project in Nigeria. He/She will provide technical leadership and support to the National and State/LGA RMNCAEH+N Quality of Care Technical Working Groups across Nigeria including USAID Implementing Partners on quality of care activities and initiatives. This quality of care RMNCH health project aims to contribute to reductions in maternal and child morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, and to increase the capacity of health systems to sustainably support quality health care services. The project will operate for an approximately 3-year period.
Responsibilities:
· Provide technical lead and expertise on high impact reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCAEH+N) services that is sound, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of project states and at the National level as identified.
· Provide advice on the integration of these services into established service delivery systems at different levels of care in the State.
· Collaborate with other stakeholders at the National and State level to apply lessons learned, innovations and quality methods to ensure evidence-based practices are translated to improved implementation of quality of care interventions..
· Provide technical leadership to the building of national and local capacity using proven training approaches and quality improvement methodologies.
· Provide trainings (providers and training of trainers) as well as follow-up support and clinical mentoring as necessary for RMNCH.
· Lead the provision of technical support to States on basic maternal health (MH) continuum of care (including antenatal through postpartum care, FP integration, birth planning and birth preparedness) for their – public and private health facilities State sites.
· Provide technical support to key stakeholders at the national and State level including review of technical documents and provide input to relevant policies and strategies.
· Provide technical leadership to the FMoH and members of the National QoC TWG in the development of QoC strategies that reduce maternal morbidity and moratlity.
· Supervise all other technical advisors, program managers and officers and other officers as appropriate under the MCGL QoC project.
· Coordinate closely with other development partner programs at the national and state level.
· Contribute to and coordinate with the program’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) team on activities to ensure that the program meets set targets in accordance with national and donor standards.
· Represent program at national and state level stakeholder meetings and technical working groups in relation to RMNCAEH+N and related technical areas.
Management
· Contribute to annual work planning, training plans and quarterly reports and other required technical reports.
· Provide technical leadership on the timely, accurate and appropriate reporting of program activities and results.
· Advocate and eensure quality program implementation consistent with FMOH RMNCH and WHOGuidelines and strategic directions, global best practices including advice on relevant latest health developments & publications.
· Coordinate the evaluation of program progress against deliverables on a quarterly basis.
· With the consortium partners, Project lead, SIOs and other program staff, oversee program design, implementation, quality assurance and monitoring of work plan.
· Coordinate with the other members of the technical team and partners to develop and implement feasible national and state-based approaches.
· Perform other duties as assigned by the Project lead which contribute to the achievement of program goals.
Required Qualification:
The Senior RMNCH Technical Advisor must be a proven technical leader in the field of international RMNCH with some management experience in public health programs. S/he must be familiar with the reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) community in Nigeria. The Senior RMNCH Technical Advisor must be intimately familiar with the context in Nigeria and have in-country experience with donor programs. Additional qualifications include:
· A Medical doctor or Experienced Nurse or Midwife or any other closely related health care professional; specialization in obstetrics and gynecology or Public Health and other health related courses (e.g. PhD, MPH, and MSc in international health, Social sciences or other relevant degree) will be an advantage.
· Minimum of 10 years working experience in the areas of RMNCH, Nutrition, and family planning.
· Previous experience working on an international donor funded project will be an added advantage.
· Familiarity with the FMOH, SMOH structures and functions especially as it relates to MNCH is highly desirable.
· Demonstrated expertise in working directly with host-country government officials and policy makers in maternal health.
· Experience working with host-country partners, organizations, and institutions.
· Strong skills in technical issues, design, implementation and monitoring of program components; e.g. services, training, quality improvement, advocacy and coordination.
· Demonstrated capacity to work with African experts and partners in developing technical materials and providing training to improve service delivery, advocacy and resource mobilization for expanding RMNCH.
· Strong verbal, listening, writing, and intrapersonal skills essential for effective coordination among several institutions and staff involved in a broad range of activities
· Strong ability to multi-task will be highly desirable.
· Fluent in English, (written and oral communication) and any local language.
· Willingness to travel throughout Nigeria as necessary.
How to apply
Method of Application:
Interested and qualified candidates should send their updated CV to [email protected] using “RMNCH Senior Technical 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
