U.S. Embassy Recruitment for Project Management Specialist - (M&E)

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from suitably qualified persons to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Management Specialist - (M&E)

Solitation No.: AID-620-S-00-18-00005-00
Location: Abuja
Employment Type:Contract
Duration: Five (5) years renewable

Basic Function of the Position

• The Project Management Specialist for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is responsible for the M&E activities of the Health Population and Nutrition (HPN) Office and supports the Senior Health Advisor in providing technical leadership to the Government of Nigeria and others in working to monitor and evaluate the impact of the HPN portfolio
• S/he provides technical advice to HPN staff and implementing partners (IPs) and maintains M&E documentation in conjunction with the Program Office.
• The incumbent works under the supervision of the Senior Health Advisor, Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Team Lead, providing technical and program expertise relating to routine and special monitoring of health programs.
• The incumbent supports the Senior Health Advisor in providing technical advice on activities including national surveys, health management information system (HMIS), knowledge management and implementation/operational research to members of the HPN Office and to other USAID staff as needed.
• The work includes serving as Activity Manager for field support activities.
• The incumbent participates in the design of new projects and the evaluation of ongoing projects, advising the Mission and other stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and donors, on best practices in M&E and HMIS practices.
• S/he participates in relevant sector-wide technical working groups and supports the integration of M&E interventions and knowledge management into other areas of the Mission portfolio.

Major Duties and Responsibilities
Technical Advice and Performance Management:

• The incumbent works with the HPN and Program Office M&E staff to strengthen M&E and knowledge management activities, with special emphasis on implementing best practices in Nigeria.
• S/he advises on the formulation of project-level performance management plans to track milestones and report on selected standard performance indicators, as well as custom indicators; ensures that appropriate data collection procedures are used; performs data quality checks.
• S/he develops appropriate opportunities to integrate awareness of internationally-recognized best practices in M&E across the HPN portfolio, including increasing the awareness of the importance of improved M&E on overall program success.
• The incumbent assists senior staff within the Mission in representing USAID to implementing partners (IPs), NGOs, GoN agencies, and other national and international groups and bodies, in order to develop effective M&E strategies for health program/project activities that meet national and international standards, and to achieve national and USAID goals. The incumbent collaborates with HPN staff and IPs in the preparation and presentation of M&E requirements according to USAID and international standards.
• The incumbent assists in preparing scopes of work for assessments and evaluations in collaboration with HPN staff, participates in contractor selection, reviews evaluation reports, and coordinates the process of providing written comments on draft reports to evaluators.
• The incumbent ensures that adequate resources are allocated in project and activity designs to conduct robust monitoring and evaluation activities.
• The incumbent advises on, and oversees the warehousing and analysis of monitoring and evaluation data.
• Furthermore, the incumbent serves as a member of the project design teams, providing expert technical advice on developing monitoring and evaluation plans, log frames, indicators, baselines, and targets.
• In collaboration with the AOR/COR/Activity Managers, the incumbent ensures that M&E plans of the IPs contain a performance monitoring framework with clear-cut goals, outcomes, outputs, inputs, processes, indicators, data needs and sources, and reporting formats for effective monitoring and evaluation.
• The incumbent assists with the preparation and analysis of performance data for portfolio reviews to determine program progress by the IPs and the Mission.
• The incumbent ensures that Agency/Mission/Congressional requirements are being tracked.
• The incumbent ensures that implementing partners receiving malaria funding are compliant with the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) regulations and that those receiving family planning (FP) funding are compliant with U.S. Government FP policies.

Project Management:

• The incumbent serves as Activity Manager for agreements and contracts focusing on M&E activities, including those supporting, program evaluations, special studies, and HMIS strengthening at the national and sub-national levels.
• The incumbent provides review and approval of work plans, budgets, performance monitoring plans, quarterly and annual reports, and other key documents for USAID-supported projects.
• S/he provides guidance on new program initiatives and drafts program documents to secure funding and implement activities.
• S/he employs skills and expertise in financial and program management to provide oversight and ensure that USAID-supported programs achieve anticipated results; are linked to and enhance attainment of HPN objectives, which are aligned with the Government of Nigeria priorities; and are implemented within the framework of U.S. Government foreign assistance policies.
• S/he conducts regular site visits to monitor progress of activities and provide technical and programmatic recommendations.

Reporting and Support:

• The incumbent is responsible for maintaining the HPN Performance Monitoring Plan in conjunction with the Program Office. Participates in program reviews, data calls, and presentations.
• Assists the HPN Office with preparation and analysis of performance data for portfolio reviews to determine program progress.
• The incumbent will also mentor and support Program Managers, Program Assistants and Administrative Assistants in M&E-related areas, and backstops other Health Systems Strengthening Unit members.

Area of Consideration

• Nigerians and all individuals eligible to work in Nigeria with a valid Work permit.

Physical Demands:

• The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Minimum Qalifications Reqired
Education:

• Minimum of Master's Degree in Public Health, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Epidemiology, Health Sciences or related Degree is required.

Prior Work Experience:

• A minimum of five of progressively responsible professional experience working in Monitoring and Evaluation, particularly in Public Health operations.

Post Entry Training:

• Familiarization training in USAID-specific procedures, regulations, and methods, and orientation to working from a donor-Agency perspective, etc., will be provided.
• On-the-job training will be provided relating to USAID and USAID M&E policies, procedures, and regulations; the Automated Directives Systems (ADS); Mission Orders; and, planning and reporting databases.
• Formal COR/AOR certification courses, training to maintain professional capability in the field, and other courses offered for professional USAID staff will be provided as appropriate.
• Courses, seminars, conferences, and other activities in fields related to the position, and needed to maintain and update professional qualifications, will be provided as they become available, subject to availability of funds.

Language Proficiency:

• Level IV (fluent) English oral and writing ability is required.
• Good working knowledge of one or more local languages is highly desired.

Job Knowledge:

• Knowledge of M&E for health systems and public health programs (family planning, malaria, maternal and child health, nutrition, and health systems strengthening) in Nigeria is required, including technical, social, and cultural aspects. State-of-the art, specialized knowledge of the public health aspects of managing M&E programs, and evidence-based practices and policies (for M&E management in particular) are required.
• A demonstrated knowledge of the concepts, principles, techniques, and practices of GoN policies and programs in the sector is required.
• A thorough knowledge of the Nigerian economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics, and the history of development assistance, in particular as it relates to health in Nigeria, including current trends and directions, is desired.

Skills and Abilities:

• Must be able to work effectively with mid- and senior-level public and private-sector officials from the GoN and IPs. Must be able to work effectively in a team environment, and coordinate well with others. Must be able to develop effective and collaborative manager-to-manager relationships with IPs.
• The work requires excellent writing and computer skills in order to develop presentations, reports, etc. Diplomacy, tact, cultural sensitivity, and Team participation are required, in order to establish and maintain effective working relationships within USAID/Nigeria, and with the Nigerian public and private sectors.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to multi-task and stay organized in a complex, frequently changing environment is a requirement. Demonstrated advanced analytical skills and problem solving, as well as the ability to effectively manage stress and conflict, is required.

Evalation and Selection Factors

• Applications will be required to have the minimum qualifications expressed above
• Qualified applicants possessing skills above the minimum requirements will be assessed based on the following factors:
  • Education (10 points)
  • Work Experience (20 points)
  • Knowledge (30 points)
  • Language Proficiency (10 points)
  • Skills and abilities (30 points)
• Per this scoring rubric, Work Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are the most important factors. Applications will initially be screened for conformity with minimum requirements and a short list of applicants developed.
• USAID reserves the right to interview only the highest ranked applicants in person or by phone OR not to interview any candidate.
• After the closing date for receipt of applications, a committee will be convened to review applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Applications from candidates which do not meet the required selection criteria will not be scored.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.
• As part of the selection process, finalist candidates may be interviewed either in person or by telephone at USAID’s discretion. Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered as finalists.
• If an applicant does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this should be stated in the applicant’s cover letter, and USAID will delay such reference check pending communication with the applicant.
• Only finalists will be contacted by USAID with respect to their applications.

Market Value

• N9,304,635.00 equivalent to FSN-10 In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of United States Mission, Nigeria (Effective September 04, 2016).
• Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

Benefits/Allowances
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:
Benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Annual Salary Increase (if applicable)
• Annual and Sick leave
• Annual Bonus

Allowances (as applicable):

• Transportation Allowance
• Meal Allowance
• Miscellaneous Allowance
• Housing Allowance

Application Closing Date
10th January, 2018.

• Application for US Federal Employment (DS - 174) ; or a current resume or curriculum vitae that provides the same information as a DS - 174;
• Any additional documentation that supports or addresses the requirements listed above (e.g.transcripts, degrees, NYSC certificate/exemption etc.)
• A type - written and signed application letter specifically applying for this position, and addressing the minimum requirements as advertised.  Please reference the job title and announcement number on the application letter.
• Limit all electronic (e - mail) submissions to one entry/e - mail not larger than 5MB.  Please submit attachments in PDF and Word formats, not pictures.
• E-mails received without the appropriate subject line and incomplete applications will not be considered.

Note: To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.