Public Health Specialist

Malaria Consortium is recruiting for a Public Health Specialist to join our team in Abuja Nigeria.

Job purpose

The post holder will work closely with the Senior Country Technical Coordinator to support malaria programming, emerging priority public health issues and how it connects with the broader health system.

Scope of work

The Public Health Specialist will work closely with the Senior Country Technical Coordinator (SCTC) to provide technical support to the malaria programme and priority public health issues in design, planning, interpretation of result frameworks, implementation and epidemiological field activities. The specialist will also provide technical support to MCN’s efforts in connecting malaria programming & priority public health issues (NTD, Nutrition, Immunization) with the broader health system, including gender, governance, malaria private sector (market system), and subnational tailoring (SNT).

In addition to engagement on malaria programming, s/he will actively contribute to M&E, knowledge management and internal capacity building for MC staff. The post holder will provide technical inputs in development of protocols, data management, interpretation of findings and writing of progress and scientific reports.

Key working relationships

The Public Health Specialist will work closely with relevant members of MCN Technical and Project Management Team, including project Technical Officers/Specialists, Country Commodity Manager, Country MEL Manager, and Research & Knowledge Specialist under the mentorship of the SCTC.  S/he will need to liaise with stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Health, National Malaria Elimination Programmes, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, State Ministry of Health, State Primary Health Care Development Board and State Malaria Elimination Programmes.

Key accountabilities

Technical contributions (60%)

• As part of the Senior Country Technical Team, work in collaboration with SCTC to provide technical support to the portfolio of selected MCN projects to ensure global best practices are utilized in programme design and roll out.
• Lead strategic projects related to health system strengthening, immunization, private sector engagement, nutrition and planning.
• Contribute to the planning of field activities  and development of standard operating procedures
• Work with the MCN MEL manager to complement support to projects in the development / strengthening of routine and supplementary disease surveillance systems
• Work with the MCN MEL manager in the planning, design, and implementation of health-related surveillance systems or epidemiologic studies
• Participate in the development and field testing of innovative tools and approaches in surveys, rapid assessments, routine data collection and surveillance
• Liaise with the National Malaria Elimination Programme and other health service departments/agencies responsible for health programme implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation and Health Management Information System at all levels
• Support the Research and Knowledge Management Specialist to contribute to MC Knowledge Management content and strategy at national, regional and global levels
• Contribute to ongoing operational research work across the Nigeria portfolio of projects
• Support the identification of efficiency gaps in programme implementation and suggest innovation digital solutions to address the gaps

Strategic contributions (20%)

• Support the institutionalization of MCN’s guidance for Programme Technical Quality Assurance
• Work with SCTC in strengthening and expanding the internal learning platforms within MCN and support capacity building for relevant technical staff across MC’s Nigerian portfolio on public health and disease epidemiology
• Ensure regular planning and implementation of the quarterly cross-learning forum

Programme management (15%)

• Work as part of the Nigerian Technical team to provide technical assistance to country requests
• Provide technical support to project managers to draft and review consultancy and donor reports in compliance with MC’s technical standards
• Organize and participate in technical update meetings between projects and the SCTC and follow up of actions
• Support SCTC to collate periodic Technical Assistance Forecasts from projects to develop TA forecast for the CO

1. Communication and advocacy (5%)

• Draft manuscripts as identified by the technical team for peer-reviewed journals
• Contribute to documentation of lessons learnt from the organization’s work including production of learning briefs, learning papers, general documentation and contribution to publications. S/he would also contribute to development and dissemination of project findings during sub-national, national and global meetings.

Person specification

Qualifications and experience:

Essential

• Postgraduate degree in public health with focus on epidemiology/biostatistics or demography in addition to a medical degree;
• A minimum of 12 years’ post-graduate working experience in public health;
• Substantial experience in the development, implementation, monitoring, review, documentation, reporting and dissemination of public health interventions.
• Mid-level management experience in planning and implementing large sized health projects in Nigeria or sub-Saharan Africa.
• Experience managing donor grants or contracts such as Gates Foundation, FCDO, GFATM or USAID/PMI
• Extensive experience on malaria programming especially on subnational tailoring.
• Substantial experience working on maternal and child health programmes (including community health delivery, immunization, nutrition), with the private sector and malaria planning

• Extensive experience in research design and implementation
• Excellent writing and presentation skills
• Flexibility and ability to work independently
• Full professional proficiency in English (written and spoken)
• Commitment to Malaria Consortium’s mission and values

Desirable

• Experience working closing with national and sub-national government MDAs – Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Development Agency/Board, National Malaria Elimination Program etc.
• Demonstrable skills in manuscript writing for peer-reviewed journals

Work-based skills:

Essential

• Significant knowledge in communicable disease control and child health
• Good technical knowledge of malaria control
• Excellent programme management skills, with proven ability to implement high quality projects on time and within budget
• Ability to remain compliant with organisational and donor policies
• Ability to manage and prioritise high workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines
• Expert user of data analysis and geospatial mapping software, including STATA, R, SPSS, QGIS etc
• Familiarity with DHIS2
• Data management expertise
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English
• Excellent problem solving skills
• Capable of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel
• A team player, with a friendly attitude
• Proactive and takes initiative
• Results-oriented work ethic

Desirable

• Excellent advocacy skills and comfort being a strong advocate for the programme

Due to the nature of this role we will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and the role might be filled and closed before the closing date. Early applications are encouraged.

Qualified female candidates are strongly advised to apply.

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