Job Vacancies at RTI International, 31st October, 2019

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RTI is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to conducting innovative, multidisciplinary research that improves the human condition. With a worldwide staff of more than 5,000 people, RTI offers innovative research and development and multidisciplinary services. RTI International is an international, independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. With a worldwide staff of more than 4,000 people, RTI offers innovative research and development and a full spectrum of multidisciplinary services that meet the highest standards of professional performance. We hereby invites applications from highly resourceful, motivated and experienced professionals to fill the vacant position below:   Job Title: MERLA Specialist (Neglected Tropical Diseases) Location: Abuja Job Description

• Under the supervision of the Chief of Party (COP) in Nigeria, the MERLA Specialist will ensure quality data collection, analysis, and reporting in Nigeria under the USAID-funded Act to End NTDs | East program.
• She/he will oversee the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of program performance and results for country-led activities and assist in facilitating learning using those results.
• This role requires regular program data analysis and identifying areas for additional support.
• The MERLA Specialist will work closely with (COP/Program Manager/RTI-HQ MERLA Staff) to identify how results will be used for program improvement through programmatic adaptation implementation in Nigeria and ensuring consistency with the project priorities and outcomes as well as supporting the State Ministry of Health in implementing an integrated NTD strategy. RTI International is always seeking to expand its portfolio.
• This position may be expected to support additional projects if awarded.
• The successful candidate will have robust data analysis expertise, excellent data management skills, strong attention to detail, and comfort working with large amounts of data at the same time.
• They will also be adept at utilizing data and other information for learning and adapting program activities for continual improvement.
• This individual is expected to collaborate respectfully with multiple team members from diverse backgrounds.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Data collection, monitoring, and reporting
• Leads MERLA activities and ensure that all MERLA activities are implemented in accordance with approved work plan and budget.
• Survey development, implementation, and analysis
• Support the development of protocols and reports for disease-specific assessments, data analysis to inform action-oriented conclusions, and the application of learning in collaboration with the FMOH, SMOH, and HQ-based program staff.
• Support the submission of survey outputs which include, but are not limited to, survey reports, raw survey data, and clean datasets.
• Support the development of protocols and reports for data quality activities, including but not limited to data quality assessments, treatment coverage evaluation surveys, and supervisors’ coverage tools in collaboration with the FMOH, SMOH, and HQ-based program staff.
• Support disease specific assessment outcome evaluations in collaboration with the FMOH, SMOH, and HQ-based program staff.
• Review data reported from specific program activities (e.g. surveys, mass drug administration, training) to ensure data accuracy and completeness.
• During routine and ongoing data review, communicate any problems with data quality to the relevant program person to ensure accurate data collection and reporting.
• Complete routine project reporting tools and forms according to the program schedule (work planning, two semi-annual reporting periods, and additional as needed), reviewing data with the in-country COP, Implementation Officer, and HQ-based MERLA staff.
• Provide accurate and timely responses to ad hoc data requests.
• Support various field activities to ensure high quality data collection and reporting, identifying any challenges and providing on-the-spot solutions.
• Program learning and adaptation through data use
• Support (COP/SPM/PM/etc.) in ensuring coordination with stakeholders’ (Ministry/sub-partner/etc.) agreement on protocols for data collection and reporting, as well as survey design and implementation.
• Ensure country-level work plans and semi-annual reports appropriately incorporate the relevant data, including accurate and high-quality reporting and using data to inform strategy and activities.
• Analyze/use project M&E data to identify trends/patterns/outliers (e.g., low-performing districts) to discuss with (COP/SPM/PM/HQ MERLA etc.).
• Support stakeholders to regularly input information into and use the national data storage platform, such as the Integrated NTD Database, including using it to submit high quality data to WHO (including Joint Application Package [JAP], Trachoma Elimination Monitoring Form [TEMF], and elimination dossiers), etc.
• Provide technical assistance to MOH to facilitate high quality submission of JAP and TEMF.
• Collaborate with in-country and HQ staff to identify opportunities for in-country learning and program adaptation, including operationalizing learning agenda action items.
• Support analysis of MERLA capacity strengthening needs within the national program, synthesize learnings, and collaborate with (COP/SPM/PM/HQ MERLA etc.) on a capacity strengthening strategy to promote in-country learning and adaptation.
• Contribute to cross-program learning by sharing experiences and lessons learned by in-country and HQ staff.
• Provide technical assistance to the MOH to facilitate mainstreaming of MERLA activities, including but not limited to incorporating NTD indicators and reporting into the HMIS system, ensuring continued high-quality reporting of control diseases after elimination, post-validation surveillance, etc.
• Coordinate and facilitate periodic pause and reflect activities, including but not limited to after action reviews post mass drug administration and disease specific assessments, utilizing the Data Action Guide, etc.
• Strengthen the capacity of the MOH to conduct MERLA activities and institutionalize the approaches for said MERLA activities.
• Identify opportunities for operational and programmatic research, provide inputs as needed for development of protocol, data collection, data analysis, and report writing, with guidance from (COP/SPM/PM/HQ MERLA/MOH).

Qualification, Experience, Skills and Abilities

• Master's Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, or other Analytics field, plus 3 year of experience; or Bachelor's Degree plus 6 years of experience in global health/ governance/ nutrition/ environment programs is required.
• Experience in quantitatively analyzing M&E data and synthesizing findings for programmatic use is required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel (required) and at least one other statistical package such as: R, SAS, STATA, or SPSS (preferred).
• Experience in designing and implementing qualitative studies, analyzing qualitative data and generating learning for programmatic use (preferred).
• Prior USAID experience preferred.
• Knowledge of MERLA methods and approaches, as learned through coursework, internship, or work experience is required.
• Experience managing electronic data capture and working with real-time monitoring of data (preferred)
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines under pressure
• Capacity to prioritize and manage multiple tasks
• Strong organizational skills
• Detail-oriented
• Hard-working
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team-oriented setting while also taking initiative to complete assigned tasks with high quality and within tight timelines
• Technical content experience in one or more of the following areas preferable: health systems strengthening, infectious diseases, NTDs, HIV, maternal and child health, nutrition or gender.
• High level of integrity
• Ability to communicate respectfully in a multi-cultural environment
• An understanding of development issues
• Competency in English (required)

Job Title: Implementation Manager (Neglected Tropical Diseases) Location: Abuja Background

• Act to End NTDs | East is a five-year project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) aimed at providing assistance to national neglected tropical disease (NTD) control programs for the control and elimination of seven targeted NTDs: lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, three soil-transmitted helminths (roundworm, hookworm, whipworm) and trachoma. Act to End Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) | East program was awarded to RTI International in 2018 and will continue until 2023.

Job Description

• Under the supervision of the Chief of Party (COP) in Nigeria, the Implementation Manager oversees the Act | East Program support to the national NTD program implementation in Nigeria ensuring consistency with the project priorities and outcomes as well as supporting the State Ministry of Health in implementing an integrated NTD strategy. RTI International is always seeking to expand its portfolio. This position may be expected to support additional projects if awarded.

Job Responsibilities Program Planning:

• Facilitate the creation of detailed annual work plans, semi-annual reports and monthly reports ensuring that a high-quality narrative, budget, and scope align with national policies, Act | East goals, and those of USAID
• In collaboration with key stakeholders, develop implementation plans to scale mass distribution of medicines to treat onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths (STH)
• As required, regularly review and revise the project schedule with senior management and other relevant staff

Program Management:

• Supervise staff and oversee program activities in the absence of the Chief of Party
• Provide supportive supervision for Act|East-sponsored activities including mass drug administration, disease-specific assessments, coverage surveys, etc. Document program activities and ensure that all program information is appropriately secured
• Facilitate and monitor the progress of program implementation and make adjustments as necessary to ensure the program remains on track and is successfully completed
• Establish a communication schedule to update stakeholders, including staff of the State Ministry of Health, RTI, USAID Mission, and FMOH, on program progress.

Program Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Collaborate with and support the M&E Team to implement monitoring and evaluation according to Act | East and FMOH standards.
• Ensure that the program deliverables are on time, within budget and at the required level of international standards as set by FMOH, RTI/ Act | East and USAID
• When requested, support internal and external evaluations on the outcomes of the program as established during the planning phase
• Disseminate findings from evaluations to support organizational learning and contribute to policy processing or development

Advocacy and Strategic Alliances:

• Build and maintain meaningful working relationships with both government and key program stakeholders at all levels in order to strengthen opportunities for advocacy and higher project visibility;
• Represent RTI/ Act | East among local partners and at other appropriate fora, as may be requested by the COP;
• Carry out additional tasks and support to other senior officer(s) of the State Ministry of Health, as may be requested by the COP.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Successful implementation of the Act | East program among Federal and State Ministries of Health based on:
  • Effective tracking and reporting of program indicators;
  • Implementation of annual work plans.

Qualification, Experience, Skills and Abilities

• Master's degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Bio-Statistics, or other analytics field, plus 6 year of experience; or bachelor’s degree plus 10 years of experience in global health/ governance/ nutrition/ environment programs (a must)
• Experience in designing and implementing large scale public health interventions
• Experience managing small teams to achieve specific outcomes and goals
• Prior USAID experience preferred
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines under pressure
• Capacity to prioritize and manage multiple tasks
• Strong organizational skills
• Detail-oriented
• Hard-working
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team-oriented setting while also taking initiative to complete assigned tasks with high quality and within tight timelines
• Technical content experience in one or more of the following areas preferable: health systems strengthening, infectious diseases, NTDs, HIV, maternal and child health, nutrition, gender
• High level of integrity
• Ability to communicate respectfully in a multi-cultural environment
• An understanding of development issues
• Fluency in spoken and written English (required)

Remuneration We offer a highly competitive renumeration Deadline: 8th November, 2019. How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should submit by e-mail only an Application Letter and a CV as "One Single MS Word document" to: [email protected] Note

• On the SUBJECT LINE of your email you should ONLY put the Email Subject line (no other text should be on this subject line) that you are applying.
• Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as they see this advert. Only shortlisted candidates will receive an invitation for an interview.
• Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Take note that any successful candidate will be subjected to a pre-employment background

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