State Team Lead at Jhpiego – John Hopkins University

Overview

• Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, is a global health organization dedicated to improving the health of women and families.
• Jhpiego works with governments, health professionals and communities to strengthen health systems and expand access to quality, lifesaving healthcare.
• Jhpiego seeks a qualified State Team Lead for the Gates Foundation-funded PRIME Project, led by Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
• The project seeks to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes through early identification of high-risk pregnancies, improved antenatal care, appropriate pregnancy dating, modified Fetal Medicine Foundation (mFMF) preeclampsia risk stratification, timely preventive interventions and stronger referral and emergency obstetric care systems.
• The State Team Lead will provide overall leadership and coordination of PRIME implementation in Ogun State, working closely with the State Ministry of Health, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Hospitals Management Board, OAU, participating health facilities and other partners.
• The position will oversee facility readiness, workforce capacity building, clinical service integration, community mobilisation, quality improvement, monitoring, accountability and sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Lead state implementation planning, development of detailed workplans and budgets, activity coordination, performance tracking and timely achievement of PRIME milestones and deliverables.
• Maintain effective collaboration with state and LGA health authorities, professional associations, facility leadership, community structures and relevant technical working groups to strengthen government ownership and programme integration.
• Coordinate facility mapping, baseline and readiness assessments, site activation and resolution of identified gaps in staffing, ANC services, equipment, ultrasound access, medicines, digital tools, referral networks and emergency obstetric readiness.
• Also serve as MNH advisor and oversee integration of early ANC booking, pregnancy dating, blood pressure assessment, mFMF risk stratification, aspirin prophylaxis for eligible pregnant women, differentiated follow-up and referral into routine maternal healthcare services.
• Coordinate provider training, competency assessment, mentorship, supportive supervision and continuous quality improvement, including implementation of PRIME-associated TEAM-OB/NEO interventions for maternal and newborn emergency preparedness and response.
• Supervise implementation of community engagement and CARMNIS activities to improve early identification of pregnant women, first-trimester ANC attendance, continuity of care, referral completion and community-facility linkages.
• Strengthen commodity and equipment planning, including availability and appropriate use of low-dose aspirin, blood pressure monitoring equipment, pregnancy dating services and other essential ANC screening inputs.
• Coordinate routine programme monitoring, data quality assessments, performance reviews, documentation of implementation learning and timely submission of accurate technical and financial reports.
• Promote alignment with complementary maternal health investments, including PATH4AIPOCUS where appropriate, while avoiding parallel implementation structures and ensuring adherence to PRIME-specific protocols and responsibilities.
• Provide day-to-day supervision of project personnel and consultants, ensure compliance with Jhpiego policies, donor requirements, safeguarding standards and approved protocols, and support government-led transition and sustainability planning.
• Regular travel to participating LGAs, health facilities and project coordination meetings

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, Health Management or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree in Public Health is an added advantage
• A medical or clinical background with relevant postgraduate training is an advantage.
• Minimum of 7-8 years of progressively responsible experience in maternal, newborn and reproductive health programme implementation, including at least 3 years in programme management or state-level technical leadership.
• Demonstrated experience working with State Ministries of Health, SPHCDAs, secondary and tertiary facilities, LGAs and community health structures in Nigeria.
• Strong understanding of antenatal care, pre-eclampsia screening and prevention, maternal and newborn emergency care, referral systems, health systems strengthening and quality improvement.
• Experience managing donor-funded programmes, multidisciplinary teams, budgets, implementation plans and performance reporting.
• Familiarity with DHIS2, programme monitoring, data-driven decision-making and implementation research.
• Excellent communication, coordination, problem-solving and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Knowledge of the State’s health system and experience implementing maternal health interventions at PHC and referral facility levels are desirable.