State Team Director (Task Order 4)

Project Overview

PMI-S is a five-year PMI/USAID flagship malaria project implemented through a consortium led by MSH. The project is supporting the Government of Nigeria through its agencies at the federal, state, LGA and community levels to reduce under-five and maternal mortality by delivering quality services for management of malaria, its complications, and prevention. PMI-S project focuses on strengthening the capacity of the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) and State Malaria Elimination Programs (SMEPs) for the implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2014-2020

Job Objective

MSH seeks a candidate for the position of Task Order 04 Director for USAID funded for malaria services in four target states: Benue, Nasarawa, Zamfara and Plateau. The project will focus on supporting malaria services through key technical interventions including, prevention, case management (diagnosis and treatment), health systems strengthening, improving health information systems, and private sector engagement. This position is based at the MSH central office in Abuja. This position is a key position and candidate will be subject to donor approval.

The Task Order 04 Director is a senior-level position responsible for designing the PMI-S strategy for working with the four states, LGAs and communities to plan, implement, monitor and report on malaria elimination services. In addition, the position provides TA to state and LGA coordination structures and platforms to own malaria control programming, increase domestic resourcing for malaria and steward efforts to address health system bottlenecks.

Specific Responsibilities

• The Task Order 04 Director will manage and supervise 4 State Coordinators and ensure activities within the targeted states are meeting PMI-S task order goals and objectives; in alignment with USAID/PMI strategic objectives and NMEP Strategic Plan.
• In collaboration with the Senior Malaria Technical Advisor (SMTA)/Deputy Project Director (DPD), take lead in coordinating development of PMI-S state-specific plans ensuring adequate participation of relevant state and federal level stakeholders. While the SMTA)/DPD will provide malaria technical direction and assurance of quality of malaria services, the Task Order 04 Director will lead overall state-level coordination and alignment between technical program – Surveillance Monitoring and Evaluation (SME) – Financing/Administration – and Learning Communication and Reporting.
• As a member of the senior project management team, the Task Order 04 Director will participate in federal level activities to identify and leverage strategic involvement of NMEP and other federal level actors in state malaria programming.
• Define specific, quantifiable performance indicators and targets for programs and reporting results. Work with the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor to assess activity progress and ensure that the project maintains close adherence to work plans and meets designated milestones, deliverables, and benchmarks.
• Document emerging good practices and/or best practices across states malaria programs to promote sustainable practices that lead to direct impact.
• With the Director Finance and Administration, adapt and implement management systems with standard operating procedures to administer all activities funded by the task order. Ensure there is sufficient financial staff for disbursing all local costs under this project, monitoring and tracking expenditures, and preparing financial reports of project expenditures for submission to USAID.
• With the Project Director and State Coordinators, ensure that the program has adequate staff to carry out high-quality work and that staff are recruited and hired in accordance with state-level, federal-level, donor, and MSH requirements.
• As a member of the PMI-S senior management team, meet with USAID and other stakeholders to share progress, accomplishments, and challenges.
• Supervise staff as assigned. Supervisory responsibilities include, but are not limited to, regular meetings with supervisees to discuss issues, track work progress, provide guidance and support, and ensure consistent quality of work performed; conducting Performance Plan and Reviews; communicating, implementing, and ensuring adherence to MSH policies, guidelines, and values; developing staff skills and knowledge; approving timesheets; and facilitating supervisee success whenever possible.
• other duties as assigned by the Project Director.

Qualifications and Experience

• Post-graduate degree in public health, public administration or management, or a combination of equivalent relevant experience and education.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience managing donor projects, five of which in Malaria Projects or integrated health projects in a developing country. Direct experience managing professional and financial resources on a similar scale amid the constraints of developing country health systems will be an advantage.
• Familiarity with and understanding of US Government regulations and administrative procedures including, an in-depth understanding of The US President’s’ Malaria Initiative (PMI) goals and objectives globally and within Nigeria to help the projects reach targets is preferred.
• Substantial experience working at the federal and state level in more than 3 geographic zones of Nigeria is an advantage.
• Demonstrated competence in assessing priorities and in managing a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment, and in meeting deadlines with attention to detail and quality.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a technical and managerial team to meet project objectives in multiple country sites and across multiple technical areas.
• Direct senior staff supervision experience is required, with proven ability to communicate well, motivate, guide, and direct all staff.
• Proven record of aligning diverse, multi-states teams with project mission and vision.
• Demonstrated strategic agility, diplomacy, conflict management, team building, written and oral communication, and negotiation skills. Sensitivity to local cultures and traditions.
• Fluency in English, including reading, understanding, and speaking, with the ability to conduct business in English; excellent skills in drafting business correspondence.
• Willingness and ability to travel within Nigeria at least 50% time.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.