Management Sciences for Health, Nigeria: Senior Program Officer (Taraba State)

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is recognized globally for the technical excellence of its work and the professional integrity of its employees. We are proud of our staff and believe that they are the organization’s most valuable asset. The environment at MSH provides a stimulating experience that challenges individuals to develop and transfer innovative approaches to public health management. The importance of collegial collaboration among employees, mutual respect, and the development of shared goals constitute core principles at MSH. We are known for providing a stable, supportive, and flexible work setting that encourages continuous staff development. MSH offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package to all of its employees. Staff receive ample pay for holiday, sick, and vacation time, as well as contributions toward a company-funded pension plan. Eligible employees receive health, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance options, and employees who travel or work overseas are provided with medical evacuation coverage. MSH saves lives and improves health, especially, among the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people, by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health. We live our mission to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.

Grade: 5
Job ID: 11-055CHS
Center/Office: CHS - General

Overall Responsibilities

• The Zonal Coordinator/Senior Program Officer (SPO) will assist the Project’s Chief of Party (COP) in providing overall coordination of interventions for the Project in the state.
• The Zonal Coordinator manages all activities within the state and ensures coordination and collaboration with both state agencies and ministers as well as other implementing partners operating within the state.
• S/he ensures integration of project activities into a single strategic approach at the States, local government, and community levels.
• He or she assists the COP in providing oversight and technical direction to the Project and collaborates with the COP in the appropriateness and quality of interventions.
• He or She is responsible for coordinating all project activities in the states under his jurisdiction.
• S/he will be the driving force in grantee capacity building and grants management and will work closely with the technical advisors to address capacity gaps within the grantees.
• He will support the M&E specialist with ensuring data about all project activities are collected and submitted to the head office.
• The Zonal Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that NGOs in the state are mobilized to provide quality services to OVC through adherence to national standards and other approved tools of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. Along with the COP, he or she serves as a technical liaison between the State offices, and other donors and stakeholders operating in states within the zone.

Qualifications and Experience

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The suitable candidate will have a postgraduate degree in Social Sciences, Public Health, or related discipline with at least 3 years’ senior level work experience in health program management in developing countries.
• The candidate will have proven hands-on programmatic, technical and managerial expertise in provision of at least 4 community HIV/AIDS services and in developing and nurturing partnerships with local NGOs, FBOs and CBOs. Extensive experience working with networks of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is a MUST.
• The candidate will demonstrate excellent understanding of the continuum of care for HIV infected individuals and be willing to multi-task for several services.

Background Information
Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is a private, non-profit educational and scientific organization. Since 1971, MSH has worked with its worldwide partners to improve the management of and access to health services such as primary health care, child survival, maternal and child health, family planning, and reproductive health. The following position/s will provide technical Assistance aimed at improving the lives of children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in project state. The goal of this project is to deliver is to deliver care and support activities to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) as well as palliative care. Program intervention includes care and support for children affected by HIV/AIDS, paediatric home-base care, gender, stigma and discrimination and program related data collection and analysis. Note: There are no relocation allowances available for the position. Women are encouraged to apply Candidates living with HIV/AIDS will have an added advantage.

Notes
To apply for this position, please see the instructions below.
Apply for this job: https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/3536/job
Interested persons may send comprehensive resume with a brief cover letter as one MS Word Document to lmsnigeria@msh.org not later than two weeks from the date of this publication. Please specify the position for which you are applying in the subject line.

Application Due Date: 6th September, 2010