Job Title: Senior Advisor in Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (Senior Newborn, Maternal and Child Health (MNCH) Advisor)

Position location: Dakar

Job type: Local fixed-term contract

Context

FHI 360 is a non-profit organization dedicated to human development which is committed to sustainably improving living conditions by offering integrated solutions adapted to the local context. Our staff includes experts in the fields of health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, youth, research, technology, communication and social marketing, creating a unique set of skills to address the interrelated challenges of today’s development. We are currently looking for qualified candidates for the position of Senior Advisor in Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (SMNI) for the EpiC health project in Senegal.

“Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control” (EpiC) is a global project funded by the United States Department of State (DOS) and PEPFAR. It aims to provide strategic technical assistance as well as direct services to contribute to the control of the HIV epidemic; strengthen global health security (GHS), including epidemic response; and improve maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and nutrition outcomes. Across these health areas, EpiC helps build the resilience of health systems by equipping governments with the capacity to manage, deliver and finance health services effectively.

Job summary

Under the supervision of EpiC’s SMNI and Nutrition Technical Director, the SMNI Senior Advisor(s) will work closely with the SMNI team in the field, local implementation partners and the Ministry of Health to provide technical guidance on the implementation of life-saving interventions approved by the U.S. Government for pregnant women, newborns and children, including prenatal care (ANC), postnatal/postpartum care, emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC), integrated community case management (iCCM), among others. The Senior SMNI Advisor will oversee the SMNI components of the program and provide leadership and technical guidance to other technical staff.He/she will ensure daily supervision of the technical and operational aspects of integrated SMNI activities, ensuring compliance with work plans. Drawing on his/her expertise in SMNI, the advisor(s) will support and guide the implementation of the project. He/she will also lead the development and review of good practice documents in Senegal, and coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders, including local organizations such as the Ministry of Health and national partners, to ensure effective execution of program activities.He/she will also lead the development and review of good practice documents in Senegal, and coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders, including local organizations such as the Ministry of Health and national partners, to ensure effective execution of program activities.He/she will also lead the development and review of good practice documents in Senegal, and coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders, including local organizations such as the Ministry of Health and national partners, to ensure effective execution of program activities.

Skills and responsibilities

• Oversees the technical strategy for maternal and child health of the EpiC project, focusing on life-saving and high-impact interventions, based on local and global good practices in line with the expected project outcomes.
• Collaborates closely with project teams to ensure the technical quality of deliverables and their proper implementation, ensuring compliance with local best practices, as well as project strategy, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and national protocols.
• Strengthens the capacity of staff and partners in MNCH.
• Technically supports EpiC regional teams if necessary in the implementation of interventions.
• Reviews and develops strategies, protocols, technical tools, manuals, training materials and reports necessary for the technical implementation of the project.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with project team members, EpiC headquarters staff, as well as national platforms and consultation frameworks.
• Ensures continuous dialogue and regular technical exchanges with counterparts in the field and technical staff of local partners.
• Participates in the project’s MNCH intervention planning activities and ensures that MNCH interventions are taken into account in the central level work plans of the Ministry of Health.
• Contributes to the development of technical notes, reports and other key documents to support evaluations and analyses, and to document best practices, policies and procedures relating to NISM activities.
• Collaborates with research and evaluation teams to analyze and interpret data, formulate conclusions and recommendations.
• Evaluates the implementation of SMNI activities in order to identify gaps and areas for improvement, proposes appropriate strategies and technical guidelines aimed at strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of activities.
• Proactively identifies risks or challenges related to technical deliverables and collaborates in the development of mitigation plans.
• Oversees the drafting of maternal, newborn, and child health sections in work plans and budgets, as well as the development of reports, deliverables and presentations to the U.S. Government.
• Prepares reports and summary documents presenting the results of the project and analyzing the data as well as the conclusions of technical evaluations.
• In the event of unavailability of the MNCH-Nutrition Technical Director, represents the EpiC project in the SMNI technical bodies in order to guarantee the alignment of interventions with the strategies, standards and priorities of the Ministry of Health and programs specialized.
• Establishes productive working relationships internally and externally.

Knowledge and skills

• Provides relevant and timely technical support for maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) activities.

• Guarantees the quality of technical activities implemented and systems at all levels.

• Conducts regular coordination with employees and consultants, on site and in the field.

• Addresses complex issues requiring in-depth assessment and analysis of intangible factors.

• Demonstrates judgment by relying on general practices and policies to select the most appropriate methods and techniques to achieve the expected results.

• Has in-depth knowledge of MNCH and nutrition programs and policies in Senegal.

• Experience in scaling successful models to improve the quality of clinical care in NIHB activities.

• Demonstrated ability to work within a multi-component health development program, in collaboration with Ministry of Health staff and other local partners involved in NIHB programs.

• Proven experience in mentoring and supervising to strengthen health services, including training and using quality improvement approaches.

• Experience leading medium to large teams of healthcare professionals.

• Experience in health programs funded by the United States government is strongly desired.

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Ministry of Health, regional and district officials, as well as other implementing partners.

• Proven excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent and proven project management and technical skills.

• Ability to influence, motivate, negotiate and collaborate effectively with others.

• Proven ability to ensure budgets, schedules and performance requirements are met.

• Excellent leadership skills, recognized and demonstrated.

Hierarchical supervision

• Reports to the SMNI/Nutrition Technical Director.

• Works with the SMNI/Nutrition Technical Director and project managers to define budgets, set objectives and develop the procedures and training necessary for the project.

• Organizes own workflow and establishes individual priorities, adhering to general supervisor guidelines to ensure accuracy and completion of tasks.

• Serves as a mentor to junior technical staff.

• Develops and proposes project management solutions.

Training and experience

• Master in Public Health or Social Sciences, or in an equivalent field. Clinical experience combined with public health training is strongly desired.

• A certification in project management (PM) is preferred.

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in technical or SMNI project management.

• Proven experience in technical assistance and capacity building.

• Ability to analyze and interpret data, identify errors and write reports.

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders, including at the community level.

• Sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of political, contextual and ethical issues in assigned areas.

• Professional experience within a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private company.

• Prior professional experience with the United States government is an asset.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in French.

• Fluency in English is an asset.

• Ability to resolve problems and implement corrective actions if necessary.

• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.

• Demonstrated mastery of the Microsoft Office suite.

Usual physical demands

• Classic office environment.

• Ability to spend long hours in front of a computer screen and perform repetitive tasks on the keyboard.

• Ability to sit and stand for long periods of time.

Technologies to use

• Personal computer, Microsoft Office 365 (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype/TEAMS, email), office phone, mobile phone and printer/photocopier.

Travel

• Up to 40% nationally.

The expected hiring salary range for this role is XOF 30,000,000 to 36,000,000 annually for basic salary. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, market pay, and budget.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restrictions the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be constructed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employwhereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

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