Program Manager, CORE Group Polio Project

Program Manager, CORE Group Polio Project in Niger

Background:

The CORE Group Partnership Project (CGPP) is a multi-country, multi-partner initiative providing financial support, on-the-ground technical assistance and guidance to strengthen host country efforts to eradicate polio and strengthen immunization systems. The premise of this project is to work through existing networks of international and local NGOs with established child survival activities in hard-to-reach areas with poor immunization coverage. A country-level Secretariat coordinates the work of CORE group members in a manner that complements the work of other implementing partners. The work of all CORE Group members is in support of the national action plan for polio eradication, COVID-19 prevention and vaccination, Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) consistent with national goals.

Job Summary:

The Program Manager (PM) provides technical and programmatic support to implement the CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP) in the Niger Republic under the guidance of the Secretariat Director and Chief of Party of the CGPP Secretariat, which is based in Nigeria, with support from Secretariat team members. The position holder is also expected to work with CGPP’s Global Chief of Party on high level matters. She/he will work directly with Save the Children Niger, the Implementing Partner (IP), and the Local Partner to implement the project in Diffa and Maradi regions. This will also include working with Government and other critical stakeholders in the Health and Humanitarian space. She/he will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and continuously work towards increasing program impact. The PM will serve as CGPP’s primary point-of-contact in Niger for communications with USAID’s Mission in Niger and with stakeholders.

The PM will be hired as a World Vision-US contractor to be fully based in Niamey, Niger.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary point-of-contact for USAID’s Mission in Niger and polio partners.
• Share relevant information, announcements, and major events related to polio eradication to the CGPP Secretariat in Nigeria and to the headquarters.
• Advice the project team on safety and security related matters.
• Work closely with Save The Children Niger (STC) to ensure all program and related reports are collated, reviewed and are of high-quality for submission to the CGPP Nigeria Secretariat weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually.
• Make sure guidance from USAID’s Mission in Niger is properly applied within the project.
• Provide support to capture and share success stories, case studies, and lessons from the project.
• With guidance from the Secretariat Director, develop strategies to ensure that the regions achieve project targets as approved in the activity MEL plan.
• Actively monitor project performance using the project’s performance tracking system.
• Monitor and track the implementation of planned activities in the approved workplan.
• Monitor and track expenses to ensure burn rate is optimal to avoid over-spending or underspending.
• Conduct supervisory visits to regions and districts to ensure high-quality activities are conducted across the communities up to the hard-to-reach and international border communities.
• Monitor and mentor the program teams and volunteers to ensure they reach program participants in mapped out areas, working together with Save the Children Niger and the local partner.
• Represent the project at high-level government stakeholder’s meetings on health, be a member of the polio and immunization related technical working groups such as social mobilization, surveillance, and, the Niger Polio Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
• Build and maintain healthy relationships with the government and polio and immunization actors to ensure coordination and the implementation of polio and immunization strengthening activities.
• Report timely information from all meetings as may impact and/or affect the project.
• Work closely with UNICEF on community engagement activities and service delivery at health facilities.
• Engage with the IP to develop program strategies to increase project performance using the SIA calendar and annual and quarterly work plans with close guidance from CGPP Nigeria Secretariat.
• Ensure the program priorities are understood and promote buy-in from partners.
• Provide the technical oversight to conduct training on AFP surveillance, immunization system strengthening, MEAL, and social mobilization, working with the IP to determine the training needs under the guidance of the Secretariat.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Health or Social Science. Master’s Degree in a health-related field is desired.
• At least 5 – 7 years of professional experience with at least 3 years working in Public Health involving immunization programs and community-level work with significant program management responsibilities.
• Basic computer and software skills.
• Professional level understanding of program monitoring and evaluation, immunization data analytics.
• Experience in polio programming will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrate ability to manage a public health project, including working with government authorities.
• Proven experience working with and through partner organizations, including the public sector.
• Working knowledge of and experience with UN, USG or GF projects will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of the local terrain in the Diffa and Maradi regions will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrate understanding of and commitment to promoting gender equity and the interests of vulnerable people.
• Experience with and a demonstrated commitment to a community-based approach to development.
• Ability to interface with multiple stakeholders, representatives, and partners in a professional manner.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and French is mandatory. Ability to speak Hausa is an added advantage.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French.
• Ability to Speak Hausa.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to detect and report inconsistencies.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Capacity to work with minimal supervision.
• Must be a team player with good problem-solving skills.
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Ability to multitask and deliver work to tight deadlines.
• Willingness to travel up to 50 % of the time and stay in difficult environment is mandatory.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with USAID and UN donor regulations is a plus.
• Proficient in Excel and experience with Word and PowerPoint. Knowledge of financial reporting software a plus.
• Females are encouraged to apply.

Supervisory Responsibilities (none)

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: CGPP Nigeria Secretariat Director/Chief of Party, CGPP Nigeria Deputy Secretariat Director/Deputy Chief of Party, CGPP Global Chief of Party, STC program staff, MEAL Manager, Communication Lead, Global Health Security Project Manager, and other Secretariat team members.
• External: Ministry of Health, USAID, WHO, UNICEF, CDC, GAVI and other state actors

Duration of consultancy contract: Consultancy contract will be for one year, with the possibility of extension.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.