Program Assistant Job at USAID

Maternal and Child Survival Program
MCSP/Nigeria Immunization
Program Assistant
Sokoto, Nigeria
Location: Sokoto
Position type: Full-time

Background

The Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) is a global Cooperative Agreement funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) aimed at introducing and supporting high- impact health interventions. This global program focuses on 24 high-priority countries, including Nigeria, with the ultimate goal of ending preventable maternal and child deaths within a generation. MCSP country programs strive to ensure that all women, newborns and children have equitable access to the quality health care services that save lives.

Awarded in spring 2014, MCSP supports programming in maternal, newborn and child health, immunization, family planning and reproductive health, nutrition, health systems strengthening, water/sanitation/hygiene, malaria, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and pediatric HIV care and treatment. The program engages governments, policymakers, private sector leaders, health care providers, civil society, faith-based organizations and communities in addressing the major causes of maternal, newborn and child mortality and improving the quality of health services from household to hospital. Health systems strengthening, household and community mobilization, gender integration and eHealth are cross-cutting themes and areas of the program’s work.

In Nigeria, and in close partnership with the Bauchi and Sokoto state governments and public and private partners, MCSP has launched a technical assistance initiative aimed at strengthening the routine immunization (RI) system to increase and sustain RI coverage and reduce childhood illness and death.

USAID’s MCSP will bring new thinking and a prioritized approach to support state commitment to significantly and sustainably increase coverage.

John Snow, Inc. (JSI) is leading this technical assistance, drawing from more than 25 years of experience in over 40 developing and transitional countries of building the technical capacity of ministries of health and other partners to raise RI coverage sustainably, improve quality, and reduce illness and death due to vaccine-preventable diseases. JSI has managed each of USAID’s global flagship immunization projects (including in Nigeria), such as REACH I/II, The Basic Support for Institutionalizing Child Survival (BASICS) IMMUNIZATIONbasics project, the Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP), and now MCSP.

Position: Program Assistant

Position description

Based in Sokoto, the Program Assistant will serve as a core member of the MCSP/Nigeria Immunization program’s administration team for program activities in Sokoto. Under the supervision of the Sokoto State Immunization Technical Advisor (SITA), the Program Assistant will provide administrative, logistical, and program support critical to ensuring the successful implementation of MCSP’s RI strengthening program assistance to the Sokoto state government. This position will work closely with both technical and program support (administration and finance) staff to advance MCSP’s RI program assistance in Sokoto. This will include working closely with the SITA, State Immunization Technical Officer (SITO), Finance & Accounting Officer, and Bauchi-based Finance and Administration

Manager, as well as the rest of MCSP’s geographically dispersed team across Abuja, Bauchi, and Sokoto. This individual will help ensure MCSP/Nigeria’s compliance with JSI procedures, USAID rules and regulations, as well as financial and legal requirements of the Government of Nigeria. The position will also involve providing programmatic support particularly to technical staff in Sokoto.

Qualifications

• Minimum of Bachelor-level education in social or health sciences, business management or public administration
• Minimum of three years of relevant work experience in management, administrative, or project/program implementation support, including at least two years working with an international development organization
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines and rapidly shifting priorities
• Good prioritization, problem-solving, and analytical skills; ability to work under pressure with diverse colleagues who have different strengths and varied support needs, and with flexibility, diplomacy, and poise; strong sense of good judgment as the situation demands
• Strong, energetic team player able to execute tasks with limited direction
• Demonstrated interest in public health, and in developing programmatic knowledge in the field
• Exemplary verbal and written communication skills in English; ability to write for different kinds of audiences, both external and internal
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail as the situation demands
• Commanding knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Proficiency in spoken and written English, with knowledge of Hausa a plus
• Previous work experience implementing USAID-funded programs strongly preferred
• Knowledge of the health sector and routine immunization a plus
• Able to occasionally travel to Bauchi and Abuja as needed

Responsibilities

Based in MCSP’s office in Sokoto, the Program Assistant will work closely with and under the supervision of the program’s Sokoto SITA to:

• Support the development and maintenance of an administrative system for monitoring and tracking program implementation per program deadlines as needed
• Establish and maintain MCSP’s filing system for program documents and correspondence, including progress and activity reports, financial and administrative documents, and other records
• Support the development and maintenance of MCSP’s logistical support systems, guidelines, and tools; ensure the effective and smooth functioning of the office
• Coordinate and manage logistics for Sokoto-based, internal and external meetings, workshops, and other activities as needed
• Provide administrative, human resource-related, and travel-related support to country-based and visiting program staff and consultants, including coordinating flight, hotel, and other travel/short-term technical assistance arrangements
• Support the Sokoto SITA, SITO, and other program staff in drafting, editing, and/or formatting official correspondence, reports, and other program documents as needed
• Assist technical staff to compile, edit, and review meeting minutes, technical reports, and publications, and support the development of donor reports, workplans, and other documents for USAID submission as needed through coordination, editing, formatting, and/or other assistance
• Support the Finance & Accounting Officer to coordinate the acquisition and maintenance of program inventory according to both USAID and JSI rules and regulations, as needed
• Assist staff with preparing official correspondence, photocopying, and carrying out other administrative tasks as required
• Provide additional support for program and administrative activities as needed

Method of Application

Interested candidates should submit their CV, motivation letter, and a writing sample toMCSPNigeriaHR@jsi.com by Thursday, June 18, 2015.

JSI is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or protected veteran status in any employment decisions. M/F/V/D