Technical Director for Health Systems Strengthening (HSS), USAID/Nigeria Health Project

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• In collaboration with the COP, ensure that the program is delivered according to donor and government requirements .

• Provide overall technical direction and guidance for the team in designing and delivering high-impact HSS innovations for improved comprehensive and integrated health building toward solid health systems at all levels.  

• Lead the design and implementation of the project’s HSS interventions focused on the Federal and State Governments, Local Government A uthorities , Ward Development Council , and local NG Os, faith-based organizations , and civil society .  

• Develop and regularly update detailed annual work plans and ensure the team monitor s progress towards completion and achievement of program objectives.  

• Serve as key liaison and work collaboratively with USAID, other contractors and implementers , and numerous GON institutions and representatives, particularly at the federal and state level for HSS activities.  

• Coordinate the HSS expertise of MSH and its sub-contractors, which will include international, national , and local organizations , so that the project’s HSS interventions are designed and implemented as a single package that includes the best expertise of MSH and each of its sub-contractors.  

• Liaise with HSS counterparts in government and international development agencies and NGOs to coordinate and leverage the project’s HSS interventions.  

• Support local partners to strengthen leadership and management capacities of national and sub-national government health systems and strengthening capacities of NGO administrative and financial systems, and oversight of grants programs.  

QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Master’s degree in public health, social sciences or related field with at least 10+ years of senior-level HSS experience in health projects of equivalent size and complexity in Nigeria or West Africa,  

A. USAID experience ,   

B. HSS experience must include both government institutions and civil society organizations and   

C. HSS experience must include at least four of the following HSS topics:   

- human resource management,   

- supply chain management,   

- leadership and governance,   

- program and financial planning and reporting,   

- inter-institutional coordination and   

- health information systems.  

• Proven exceptional leadership in design, management, implementation, monitoring , and evaluation, with skills in strategic planning, management, supervision , and budgeting  

• Strong communication skills to fulfill the program's diverse technical and managerial requirements and effectively coordinate with various stakeholders.   

• Experience developing project vision, aligning key stakeholders around that vision, and assuring that the vision is translated into implementable strategies  

• Demonstrated ability to lead HSS staff and consultants within a consortium of international and local sub-contractors to achieve measurable results within a n integrated health program.   

• Proven experience in engaging HSS representatives of the host country government, civil society organizations, international development organizations , and NGOs to support project implementation and/or to provide complementary resources to the project.  

• Deep knowledge of USAID’s localization strategy and d emonstrated experience in strengthening leadership and management capacities of national and sub-national government health systems and strengthening capacities of NGO administrative and financial systems, and oversight of grants programs.  

• High levels of diplomacy, conflict management, team building, written and oral communication, and negotiation skills.

• Fluency in written and spoken English, and demonstrated capacity to effectively communicate and document, including the writing of quality reports and detailed analysis of strategic information. Fluency in a local language is a distinct advantage.