Regional Senior Malaria Technical Advisor at Management Sciences for Health in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria

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The Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health nonprofit organization, uses proven approaches developed over 40 years to help leaders, health managers, and communities in developing nations build stronger health systems for greater health impact. We work to save lives by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Regional Senior Malaria Technical Advisor (RSMTA)

Job ID: 13-11054
Location: Nigeria
Group/Office: PDG (Program Delivery Group)
Dept/Unit: PDGGEN - Program Delivery Group
Project/Program: A576 - PMI - S
Reports To: Deputy Project Director / Senior Malaria Technical Advisor, Abuja.
Grade: J

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.
• The Regional Senior Malaria Technical Advisor (RSMTA) will provide technical support and strategic direction to the SMEP for not only strengthening laboratory practices (both microscopy and RDT) but also manage overall malaria quality of care interventions. S/he will work in close collaboration with the State Malaria Technical Lead, as well as with WRAIR to increase utilization and standardization of laboratory practices.
• In addition, s/he will support QoC interventions according to national guidelines and standard operating procedures. S/he will provide technical supervision to a team of 4 State Technical Malaria Leads that will provide TA to the State Malaria Elimination Program (SMEP) and to health providers at health facilities in Cross River, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi states. S/he will support work-planning activities at the state level.

Specific Responsibilities

• Oversee the availability, and support the SMEP to ensure the adherence of health providers to national guidelines and standard operating procedures for all malaria interventions conducted by PMI-S, including malaria diagnostic QA/QC, and quality of care for malaria case management.
• Collaborate with WRAIR to plan, and monitor QA/QC interventions at state level.
• Participate in need-based capacity building and trainings of trainer’s program of laboratory staff.
• Contribute in the development of states annual work plans, quarterly and annual reports.
• Collaborate with states M&E Advisors on managing both monitoring and evaluation of laboratory related data collection and analysis.
• Participate on integrated supportive supervisions, and EQA team activities.
• Establish linkages with all relevant stakeholders, and participate in technical working groups to strengthen QA/QC of malaria diagnostics, and other related malaria areas.
• At State level, work specifically with State Senior Malaria Technical Leads (SSMTL), and coordinate with other staff at the state level to ensure coherent design, management, monitoring and reporting of PMI-S state malaria program.
• Contribute to the development and monitoring of the state malaria annual work plan (AOP), and promote/advocate planning malaria diagnostic interventions.
• Work with State Coordinators to ensure that malaria diagnosis interventions are included in work plans, are implemented and monitored on quarterly basis.
• Engage the State Malaria Elimination Program, SPHCDA, relevant SMOH entities and partners to support QA/QC process and have common understanding of current and best laboratory practices as well as future strategic direction. to Provide frequents updates both written and oral to state coordinators, sharing progress, accomplishments, and challenges.
• Collaborate with the State Coordinator and the Finance and Operations Manager to optimize and utilize project resources in the most efficient way to achieve project results.
• In collaboration with WRAIR, develop and roll out a mentoring and supportive supervision programs at all levels of the health system and in each state as it relates to malaria diagnostic.
• Oversee quality of malaria quality of care at state level including engage the private health sector in planning and implementation of malaria QA/QC, and QoC in private health facilities.
• Contribute to writing project reports, documentation of success stories, and technical publications.
• Contribute to the visibility of PMI for States Project through innovative presentation of project approaches and results at state, federal and international levels.
• Maintain a personal expertise in clinical laboratory practices and innovative technology and equipment.

Qualifications and Experience

• A Master's Degree in Public Health, with a professional degree in laboratory medicine or equivalent.
• At least 8 years post qualification experience working in a laboratory setting.
• Good understanding of the essential package of health and laboratory services needed at each level of the health system to facilitate implementation of malaria diagnostic package, and quality of care.
• Program management experience.
• Knowledge and experience in laboratory capacity building, monitoring and supervision including the ability to plan and conduct trainings in malaria diagnostic (RDT and microscopy).
• Familiarity and experience in implementing a comprehensive laboratory system and services including QA/QC, and accreditation systems.
• Willingness and availability to travel between states.
• Experience with basic database management and Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power point.
• Demonstrated capacity to collaborate with State Health departments, SPHCDA, partners supporting SMOH, and LGAs to achieve results.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills to manage project communications and disseminate project information are required.
• Demonstrated organizational, strategic agility, diplomacy, conflict management, and team building skills, to ensure internal coherence among diverse team members, as well as external relations with the State Ministry of Health, civil society, private sector and other stakeholders.
• Experience working with USAID funded projects will be a plus.