Principal Associate / Deputy National Programme Manager (Management), Abuja or Kano, Nigeria

The International Health Division is committed to the improvement of health and healthcare delivery around the world. Serving both the public and private sectors, our efforts include health policy research and evaluation, health promotion and disease prevention, health finance, and health systems management. Our impact is felt in policies that ensure healthcare access for women, children, and individuals with special needs, in strengthening health infrastructures, and HIV/AIDS solutions.

Minimum Qualifications:

MA/MBA with 15+ years of experience OR PhD with 10 - 15 years of experience OR the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Responsibilities:

The Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH2) Programme, an upcoming DFID-funded five-year programme in Nigeria, aims to achieve effective and efficient delivery of essential health care for pregnant women, newborns, and children, alongside routine immunization. The programme will strengthen health system coordination through improved health sector planning and financing, and will increase demand for and access to high quality health services. The programme will work with government to build capacity within the public health system to enable sustainability beyond the immediate lifetime of the programme and is focused on six states in Northern Nigeria and the federal government.

Under the direct supervision of the National Program Manager, the Deputy National Program Manager (Management) (DNPM-M) will be based in either Abuja or Kano, depending on final project design, and will be responsible for overseeing the strategic management of the project, ensuring appropriate allocation of resources to implement and monitor the timely achievement of planned interventions, and successful accomplishment of the project's overall goal and objectives.

Essential Job Responsibilities/Percentage of Time:

The Principal Associate / DNPM-M position will work in close coordination with the NPM and other members of the Senior Management Team (SMT) providing strategic management and direction for the Nigerian MNCH2 Programme. Specifically, this position will assume the direct responsibility of ensuring that annual workplans are produced and effectively implemented, progress is monitored and reported through regular and ad hoc progress reports, human and financial resources are deployed to support timely implementation of programme activities, expenditures are accurately tracked accordingly, and value for money is considered and documented. This position in close collaboration with the DNPM (Technical) is also responsible for guiding senior technical staff and for ensuring the responsiveness and quality or work along with efficient use of resources and achievement of results.

Specifically the DNPM (Management) will:

• Be responsible for providing leadership in the internal management of the project.
• Assist the NPM, and act on his behalf whenever needed, with the overall management of the MNCH2 Programme. Participate in meetings with DFID's Health Advisors and otherwise represent the programme as needed, including with other DFID programmes and service providers.
• Lead and follow-through strategic, operational, and performance aspects of management and programme implementation.
• Oversee targeted utilisation of programme resources, including implementing robust financial management systems, ensuring adequate systems are in place to track programme expenditures in required formats, and implementing effective processes to manage subcontracts, consultants, and human resources.
• Lead and implement the programme's value for money strategy, including tracking agreed upon VFM indicators and measures.
• Lead the development and oversee the implementation of the programme's annual work plans and budgets.
• In close coordination with the DNPM (Technical), ensure the effective integration of inputs of all consortium partners and their alignment with the project's goals and strategic objectives.
• Ensure timely and effective documentation, reporting and dissemination of project's progress, including submission of quarterly programme progress reports.
• In close collaboration with the NPM, build a productive collegial relationship with all members of the programme consortium and State Team Leaders.

Skills Prerequisites:

• Masters Degree in management, business administration, or relevant health specialization (e.g., health care administration).
• 13-15 years of international programme implementation experience, with experience in West Africa and Nigeria preferred.
• Experience managing DFID-funded programmes is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated leadership in management skills and ability to lead multidisciplinary, multicultural teams.
• Experience in managing large, multi-faceted programmes in developing countries, preferably at a senior-level within the health sector, desired.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with donor organizations, ministry officials, public, private and civil society partners and other development partners.
• Fluency in English with excellent writing, computer, management, and organizational skills.
• Willingness to live and work overseas.