Senior HIV/AIDS Specialist at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - In September 2014 UNICEF began implementing a joint programme with UN Women on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) funded by the European Union (EU). The programme will support the Nigerian Government (Federal level), three Northern Nigerian States namely Adamawa, Gombe and Plateau and selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) to strengthen women’s leadership, advance gender equality and improve protection for women and children in conflict settings.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior HIV/AIDS Specialist, P-5

Locatrion: Abuja

How Can You Make A Difference

• The Chief reports to the Chief Health for general guidance and direction. The Chief is responsible for managing and leading all stages of HIV/AIDS programming to ensure that HIV programmes for both decades of childhood are well integrated within the UNICEF’s Country Programme as well as other UN and Key partner’s strategic planning documents.
• The Chief leads and manages the Team and establishes plans of action to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework

Managerial Leadership:

• Establish the Section’s annual work plan with the HIV/AIDS team; set priorities/targets and performance measurement. Monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
• Establish clear individual performance objectives, goals and timelines; and provide timely guidance to enable the team to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently. Plan and ensure timely performance management and assessment of the team.
• Lead team members by providing them with clear objectives and goals, direction and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
• Coordinate provision of technical assistance to national governments and local implementing partners

Programme Development and Planning:

• Lead, support and supervise the planning and conduct/update of timely situation analysis to ensure that comprehensive, relevant and current data on HIV are collected to guide country office and national HIV programming, monitoring and delivery of programme/project services.
• Keep abreast of national/regional/global development trends and priorities to determine strategies, approaches and priorities for HIV programming that addresses national needs to achieve UNICEF’s vision of an AIDS-free generation.
• Lead, coordinate and supervise the development of integrated HIV programmes/projects (as a component of the CO and/or UNDAF programmes) and establish plans of action, programme goals and results, using results-based planning methodology and terminology (RBM) in support of national programmes.
• Oversee the timely preparation/inclusion of the HIV programmes/projects and related documentation for inclusion in the Country Office Programme recommendation ensuring alignment with the overall UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Consult and collaborate with internal and external/national colleagues/partners to provide technical guidance and support to national programmes and management oversight  to ensure synergy, integration, coherence, and harmonization of HIV programmes/projects/inputs across the sectors/programmes in the CO, donors’ development strategies/policies, country level national priorities/competencies and UN System development interventions/initiatives.

Programme management including implementation oversight, monitoring and quality control of results:

• Coordinate, plan and/or collaborate with monitoring and evaluation initiatives to establish national benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN and national system indicators, to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results in HIV programmes.
• Participate and provide technical leadership in major monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programme and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Monitor programmes/projects to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Plan, approve, monitor and control the use of programme resources (financial, human, administrative and other assets) certifying/verifying compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Submit programme/project reports to donors and other partners to keep them informed on programme progress and critical issues.

Advisory Services and Technical Support:

• Provide technical leadership in provision of  advice and technical guidance to key government officials, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners on programme direction, strategies, policies/guidelines, best practices and approaches on HIV and related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Participate in regional/national/inter-agency strategic discussions to influence policy and agenda setting to promote HIV intervention especially in the areas of gender inequality, social exclusion, human rights and humanitarian situations to ensure that at risks and vulnerable population are fully covered in programming in times of greatest needs.

Advocacy, Networking and Partnership Building:

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with relevant sector government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking and promotion of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes to leverage resources/action and engage participation of communities in programme design, delivery and demand creation.
• Develop communication strategies/activities and implementation plans for maximum impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and enhance resource mobilization for UNICEF HIV programmes/projects.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on HIV issues to articulate organizational position, interests and priorities and to ensure these are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting. Collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues UNDAF planning and preparation of HIV programmes/projects.

Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building:

• Promote critical thinking and introduce technological and programme innovations and approaches to accelerate results and increase coverage, access and quality of high impact HIV treatment and preventative interventions.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best and cutting edge practices in HIV/AIDS management methodologies and information systems. Institutionalize and disseminate best practices and knowledge learned.
• Lead/plan/implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results in HIV programmes/projects.

Qualifications

• Education:  An Advanced University Degree in Public Health, Pediatric Health, Family Health, Health Research, Global/International Health, Health Policy and/or management, Environmental Health Sciences, Biostatistics, Socio-medical, Health Education, Epidemiology or other health related sciences is required.
• Work Experience: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in public HIV/AIDS planning and management and/or in relevant areas of health care, health emergency/humanitarian preparedness, at the international level some of which preferably in a developing country is required. Relevant experience in HIV/AIDS programme/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate:

• Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
• This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty.
• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Application Closing Date
4th January, 2018
 
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
 
Note

• The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.
• Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offers of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.