Maternal and Newborn Health Officer at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children is working in Nigeria because one in five children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday. About 40% of children miss out on school and have to work to survive while nearly 2 million children have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related disease.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Maternal and Newborn Health Officer

Job Identification: 8460
Location: Borno
Job type: Full-time
Grade: 4
Job Category: Programme Operations
Team / Program: Programme Operations   

Child Safeguarding

• Level 5 - The responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children or young people and, in the overseas context all posts are considered to be level 5 posts in view of potential situations which may allow staff unsupervised access to vulnerable children and young people.

Scope of Role

• Reports to: Nutrition Coordinator
• Staff reporting to this post: none
• Budget Responsibilities: none
• Context: Humanitarian and development

Objectives of the Programme

• To provide technical support and lead the implementation of maternal and newborn health components of the projects in line with organizational priorities. Guide in the promotion of early identification of nutritionally at-risk mothers and infants, especially small and sick newborns and establish referral linkages to ensure equitable access to quality health and nutrition services, especially for adolescent mothers and small and sick newborns.

Key Areas of Accountabilities 
The principal duties of the incumbent are to:

• Provide technical leadership within the project in the area of Maternal and Newborn Health ensuring that the activities in this area are established and carried out efficiently and effectively in line with the approved detailed implementation plan.
• Coordinate with health and nutrition TAs in the need assessment as it relates to maternal and newborn health within project areas.
• Determine the training needs of health workers at the target health facilities and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to carry ENC, CNCC and BEmONC training as may be required.
• Conduct post-training evaluation and determine the impact of capacity building and areas of improvement. 
• Work closely with health and nutrition TAs to define the training needs of health facilities at all levels.
• Facilitate and support facility MPDCSR across targeted HF in line with national guidelines, and utilize the generated information for quality improvement towards reduction of maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity.
• Work closely with supported facility to improve data management and tracking and reporting of relevant indicators in line with FMOH priorities on maternal and newborn health outcomes. 
• Work closely with relevant functions to conduct prevention interventions towards reducing nutritional and health risks for adolescent mothers and newborns.
• Contribute to regular project review process and prepare the maternal and newborn component of the project report.
• Maintain constant and updated knowledge of overall project performance.
• Maintain daily monitoring of project activities in targeted health facilities.
• Coordinate with MOH to conduct regular supportive supervision.
• In line with the SCI Clinical Standards Scorecard, maintain quality of care for all maternal and newborn health activities.                     
• Coordinate with sector lead on budget phasing and ensure project expenditure are on track, especially maternal and newborn health components. 
• Regularly attend and provide quality contributions to health sector meetings and ensure SCI is well represented.
• Provide technical assistance and policy advice to the targeted state(s) to advocate for and strengthen the health systems from the development, implementation, and monitoring of Maternal and Newborn Health interventions in partnership with other collaborating partners.
• Work closely with MOH in the implementation of Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) at the state level and other interventions and efforts on the Child Survival Action Plan.
• Advocate, coordinate, and build partnerships with state counterparts, technical departments at at the state level to harmonize recommendations on policies and strategies related to Maternal, and Newborn Health systems and resolve issues or concerns and seek improved funding for the new health sector.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Skills and Behaviours
(SCI Values in Practice) 
Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development, and encourages others to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Nursing, midwifery, Medicine, or related field.
• Recommended a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a humanitarian and development environment, including significant field operations experience.
• Extensive knowledge of maternal and newborn health interventions.
• Extensive experience in stakeholders’ management, participation in TWGs, and other coordination meetings.
• Significant knowledge of humanitarian and development systems, institutions and donors and best practices in emergency management
• Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English and at least one major Nigerian Language
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently, live and work in difficult physical conditions in an area of potential insecurity.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s Vision, Mission, Values and Practices

Skills:

• Demonstrable experience in data analytics. 
• Experience in the coordination of workshops and meetings. 
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proven conceptual skills and an ability to think and plan strategically.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to train and mentor staff.
• Proven ability to manage a complex and demanding workload.
• Excellent spoken and written English and local language
• Good computer skills (particularly Excel, Word, and databases) 

Additional job Responsibilities:

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities:

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI’s global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Gender Equality Policies, supported by relevant procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

• We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff:

• The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy

Health and Safety

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Application Closing Date
3rd August, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online