Project Director at Jhpiego Nigeria

Jhpiego, an Affiliate of Johns Hopkins University is a global leader in improving healthcare services for women and their families.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Director

Location: Abuja

Overview

• Project Director needs to provide vision, leadership and direction to ensure the strategic, programmatic, technical, and financial integrity of an upcoming MOMENTUM field support – MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) to help address the following major contributors to maternal mortality and morbidity in Nigeria namely: and prevention and mitigation of the consequences of violence against women and girls (VAW/G) with a particular focus on intimate partner violence, reduction in child early and forced marriage, delayed acceptance of family planning and access to antenatal services.
• USAID Nigeria is also very interested in building and enhancing the local capacity of new and underutilized partners through this mechanism. This it is anticipated that MCGL will support laws, policies, guidelines, and strategies to prevent obstetric complications and will contribute to the Agency’s New Partnership Initiative (NPI) by providing targeted technical and capacity development assistance to federal, state and local government entities and local organizations in-country (to be determined by the initial assessment) for sustained improvements in MNCH/FP/RH outcomes, thus advancing Nigeria’s country progress along the journey to self-reliance.
• Project Director will have the overall responsibility for leadership and management of and reporting on MCGL-Nigeria program activities, making key decisions and solving problems in short timeframes while ensuring operational and program quality and integrity and serving as the program’s first point of interface with USAID on routine and strategic matters in Nigeria.
• This includes ensuring effective organizational management and communication interacting with other projects, Government of Nigeria stakeholders at the national, state, and LGA levels, community and local stakeholder groups, other international implementing partners, and USG and other agencies.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic direction to ensure programmatic and financial integrity of MCGL -Nigeria, including achievement of project goals, objectives and outcomes
• Provide overall oversight of the project and maintain effective and regular communication with the global MCGL country support team, the Jhpiego management and technical team, implementing partners, and government entities at federal, state, and LGA levels
• Ensure that program is technically sound, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of the Nigerian government, its people and donors
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships and alliances with USAID, UN agencies, DFID, EU, the Nigerian Ministry of Women’s Affairs/Gender, Nigerian Ministry of Health as well as other USG implementing partners, private sector partners and other key stakeholders in Nigeria to maximize resources and avoid duplication of effort
• Establish functional routine management and oversight processes among the MCGL-Nigeria leadership team to ensure effective, timely and coordinated project implementation, including close oversight and direction for technical assistance and local capacity building
• Ensure compliance with Jhpiego and donor operational policies and regulations
• Ensure timely reporting of any project challenges, adverse events, or other management issues requiring engagement with the MCGL global management and technical team
• In collaboration with the project program and finance team, develop the MCGL-Nigeria workplan, budget, and other deliverables; and ensure performance indicators and targets are met, as well as timely completion of activities against workplan deadlines
• Work closely with monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) staff to develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks and to ensure timely reporting and use of program data to improve performance and document best practices and lessons learned
• Ensure the quality and sustainability of interventions
• Lead the annual work planning process in close collaboration with USAID, Nigerian Ministry of Health at the federal and respective state levels, the Nigerian Ministry of Women’s Affairs/Gender, project team and project partners
• Participate in relevant technical advisory groups with counterparts and partner institutions
• Mentor, support, supervise and manage a team of highly qualified staff and align their efforts to ensure rapid and sustainable results.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Development Studies, Public Health, Health Administration, International Health or a related field
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience; with atleast a minimum of 8 years of project management experience (of which at least half is in a senior management position) in large, multi-year international health sector development programs that have implemented successful activities in areas such MNCH/FP.
• 5+ years’ experience managing large, multi-year international sector development projects (approximately $2 mil per year) that have implemented successful activities in areas of gender, human rights, social behavior change studies – emphasis on gender, equity and inclusion.
• Strong understanding of social and behavior change, empowerment and gender-based violence prevention frameworks.
• Previous experience serving as DCOP or at director level is an added advantage.
• Understanding of the Nigerian (or similar) social and political context and developments in the health sector
• Experience hiring and supervising personnel and ensuring they acquire the necessary training and skills to meet evolving program needs
• Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and sustain interpersonal and professional relationships with host-country counterparts and representatives from other key stakeholders such as NGOs, the private sector and other donors.

Required Abilities / Skills:

• Ability to work in a complex environment with multiple tasks, short deadlines and intense pressure to perform
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically up to 40% time
• Ability and willingness to learn and empower others
• Excellent communication, public speaking, presentation skills
• Result-oriented and comfortable with a team approach to programming
• Strong skills and experience in all aspects of program cycle management – design and development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.

Application Closing Date
Close of Business; 3rd November, 2020.