Zonal Project Manager at Malaria Consortium
Malaria Consortium is one of the world’s leading non-profit organisations specialising in the comprehensive prevention, control and treatment of malaria and other communicable diseases among vulnerable and under privileged populations. We increasingly find our work on malaria can be effectively integrated with other similar public health interventions for greater impact and therefore expanded our remit to include child health and neglected tropical disease interventions.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Zonal Project Manager
Location: Katsina
Grade: 9
Job Type: Fixed Term
Role type: National
Level: Management
Travel involved: In-country travel
Department: Management
Length of contract: 1 year
Reporting to: Senior Project Manager
Direct reports: M&E, Admin / Supply Chain , Accounts Officers and LGA cluster supervisors
Country and Project Background
- The Nigeria Country Office in Abuja, started operations in 2008, through the DFID/UKaid funded Support to National Malaria Programme, SuNMaP (2008 – 2016). The office had presence in 23 states of the country and has managed at various times, about 15 programmes and projects. It follows the mandate of the parent organization in Nigeria and has been working specifically in the following areas:
- Malaria control/elimination;
- Integrated community case management (iCCM) for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea;
- Nutrition; and
- Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
- Currently, the Nigeria country office manages MC programmes/projects in Sierra Leone, Chad and Burkina Faso. Malaria Consortium recently received grant from a pool of Philanthropic organizations and individuals through the recommendations of Givewell to implement SMC in three West African countries including Nigeria.
- In addition, Malaria Consortium has funds from GF (as a sub-recipient in GFATM, with SMC component) and SuNMaP2 for SMC. In Nigeria, Malaria Consortium will be using these funds to implement SMC implementation in 7 States (Bauchi, Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara).
- Under this new funding and any anticipated additional funding, all malaria consortium SMC activities in county will be consolidated into a single project for better coordination and technical integrity.
- Approved by WHO in 2012, SMC is the monthly administration of a combination sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine (SP+AQ) to children aged 3-59 months during the malaria transmission season to prevent or reduce the effects malaria. Evidence suggests that SMC given monthly prevents approximately 75% of all malaria episodes.
Job Purpose
- To work with the country office team, GF Project Manager, Senior Project Manager to effectively manage project activities and resources, provide leadership and stewardship to the project team and maintain collaborative links with the project’s key stakeholders at national and sub-national level.
Key Working Relationships:
- The Sate Project manager would be working with the state team and stakeholders in their zones, especially the State Ministries of Health and LGA Departments of Health/PHC, manage the rollout and implementation of the SMC activities in project states.
- S/he would report to the Senior Project Manager.
Scope of Work:
- The Zonal Project Manager (ZPM) would support the programme activities at zonal and state levels, being in charge of a cluster of states to ensure timely project delivery of the programme to achieve given targets and objectives.
Key Accountabilities (Percent of time spent on each area)
Project Management (60%):
- Work with the programme team and other relevant personnel in the country office to lead activities for smooth project start up and planning in line with the SMC Malaria Project Implementation Plan.
- Work with the relevant personnel to prepare all necessary project start up and planning tools on time.
- To build and performance manage an effective and technically unsurpassed SMC project team in their states.
- Work directly with the SPM and be responsible for coordinating overall project implementation in the states and see that activities are carried out on time and within budget.
- Liaise regularly with the SPM to provide timely and comprehensive updates and reports as required.
- Liaise with other partners relevant for successful SMC malaria implementation in the state.
- Line manages an effective and technically sound SMC project team in the state.
- Liaise with state stakeholders to get their buy-in and ensure effective implementation of SMC activities in the state
- Ensure the mass drug distribution campaign is carried out according to guidelines, and in compliance to donor funding requirements
- Organize and participate in the training of State, LGA and community volunteers teams involved in the distribution activities
- Participate in the state and LGA level microplanning meetings for the distribution activities
- Be responsible for timely financial accountability for any disbursed funds for project activities in the state
- Support SMOH to develop SMC scale – up plan especially in the period after the project period
- Duty of care on all campaign personnel.
- Work with the project team to develop and implement annual work plans.
- Work closely with the SPM to prepare the programme monitoring and evaluation plan in conjunction with the Project M&E Manager. Work with the project team to implement it.
- Work with the country finance team and project finance associate to prepare and track progress of project and activity budgets.
- Be responsible for zonal project budget management and reporting
- Be responsible for preparing project progress report, which is submitted to the SPM and regional programme director quarterly, including narrative reports on a timely basis.
- Work with finance team and SPM to prepare quarterly financial reports.
- Work with the relevant country personnel and the SPM to prepare an exit strategy and to implement it, to see to the smooth end of the programme.
- Coordinate with other donors and implementers to ensure complementarity of implementation of the SMC malaria project in project states by leveraging resources and harmonizing efforts where possible.
- Work with the Country Communication Manager, the Country Technical Coordinator, SPM, for social mobilization to see that a programme communications strategy is developed and implemented.
- Coordinate the documentation of SMC supported activities in form of activity-specific reports and ensure proper archiving of such for easy access and reference.
- Contribute to SMC coordination meetings in form of progress updates and power point presentations.
- Be responsible for quarterly lessons identification and learning documentation and dissemination.
- Be responsible for building functional partner relationships among the project’s stakeholders.
- Oversee project partners inputs and subcontractors’ activities to deliver harmonized, aligned and effective outputs
- Manage risks to Malaria Consortium including financial, reputation and security in a challenging environment
- Work with the project M&E Officer and Country M&E Specialist to ensure that high-quality project data is collected, analysed and disseminated to relevant stakeholders at all levels and reported to PI.
Technical contributions (10%):
- Work with the project teams, SPM and the Country Technical Coordinator to determine technical support needs to implement the project effectively and with high quality. Liaise with the Country Technical Coordinator to obtain regional or global technical support.
- Contribute to the development and production of dissemination documents to allow wider sharing of Malaria Consortium’s experiences, lessons and successes.
Technical performance management and Quality Assurance (20%):
- Take the lead in monitoring and evaluating project performance.
- Keep abreast with evidence and best practices that are related to the project.
Representation (10%):
- Work with the Country Director, Country Technical Coordinator and SPM to participate in national level meetings and workshops to represent Malaria Consortium at programmatic and coordination events,
- Work with the Country Director, Country Technical Coordinator and SPM to keep key national stakeholders abreast with the project.
- To exert influence and to advocate for Malaria Consortium’s key technical positions and promote best practice in SMC interventions
Person Specification
Qualifications and Experience
Essential:
- Postgraduate or Master's degree in Public Health, Health Policy, Epidemiology or another relevant specialty is a minimum requirement.
- Extensive experience of working at national or state level in developing countries.
- Excellent project planning, management and monitoring & evaluation skills.
- Experience managing project budgets
- Proven leadership skills and team-leading
- Experience in advocacy and policy influencing
- Excellent written and spoken English
Desirable:
- Experience on SMC-supported project
- Advance knowledge of Microsoft office
Work-based skills and competencies:
Essential:
- Proof of strong interpersonal and negotiating skills
- Experience in using participatory adult learning techniques and previous experience in mass drug distribution campaign activities
- Excellent report writing and presentation skills are also needed.
- Understanding of public health issues in Nigeria
Core Competencies
Delivering results:
LEVEL C - Supports others to achieve results:
- Displays a positive and enthusiastic approach and is not deterred by setbacks, finding alternative ways to reach goals or targets.
- Supports others to plan and deliver results
- Supports others to manage and cope with setbacks
Analysis and use of information:
LEVEL C- Works confidently with complex data to support work:
- Interprets complex written information
- Works confidently with data before making decisions: for example; interpreting trends, issues and risks
- Acquainted with the validity, relevance and limitations of different sources of evidence
Interpersonal and communications:
LEVEL C - Adapts communications effectively:
- Tailors communication (content, style and medium) to diverse audiences
- Communicates equally effectively at all organisational levels
- Understands others’ underlying needs, concerns and motivations and communicates effectively in sensitive situations
- Resolves intra-team and inter-team conflicts effectively
Collaboration and partnering:
LEVEL C - Builds strong networks internally and participates actively in external networks and think tanks:
- Builds strong networks internally
- Participates actively in external networks and/or think tanks.
- Engages with relevant experts to gather and evaluate evidence
- Shares and implements good practice with internal and external peers
Leading and motivating people:
LEVEL C – Effectively leads and motivates others or direct reports:
- Gives regular, timely and appropriate feedback,
- Acknowledges good performance and deals with issues concerning poor performance
- Carries out staff assessment and development activities conscientiously and effectively
- Develops the skills and competences of others through the development and application of skills
- Coaches and supports team members when they have difficulties
Flexibility / adaptability:
LEVEL C - Supports others to cope with pressure:
- Responds positively to change, embracing and using new practices or values to accomplish goals and solve problems and supports others to do the same
- Adapts team approach, goals, and methods to achieve solutions and results in dynamic situations
- Sets realistic deadlines and goals for self or team
Living the values:
LEVEL C - Supports others to live Malaria Consortium’s values:
- Demonstrates personal integrity by using role position responsibly and fairly
- Cultivates an open culture within the wider team, promoting accountability, responsibility and respect for individual differences
Strategic planning and thinking and sector awareness:
LEVEL B - Is aware of others’ activities and vice versa in planning activities:
- Takes account of team members and others’ workloads when planning
- Maintains awareness of impact on other parts of the organisation, keeping abreast of other’s activities, objectives, commitments and needs
- Has a good understanding of the sector in which Malaria Consortium works