Technical Specialist

Job Description

Internal/External Vacancy Announcement 

Overview: 

Jhpiego is seeking a Technical Specialist to support management for the newly awarded USAID project expansion. 

MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) is part of a suite of innovative awards funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)  to holistically improve voluntary family planning (FP) and maternal and child health (MCH) in partner countries around the world. The project focuses on technical  and capacity development assistance to ministries of health and other country partners to improve health outcomes. 

In Sierra Leone, Jhpiego supports the Government of Sierra Leone at the national and district level in capacity building, and technical assistance to contribute  towards improving maternal and newborn health. A significant area of focus for our work is accelerating and strengthening the technical and operational capacity  of local healthcare workers to reduce maternal and newborn deaths and provide quality services. 

Provide quality technical assistance to country programs by facilitating and implementing activities, and supporting country programs with strategic program  guidance, training, and capacity building. Contribute to the development of evidence-based, methodologically sound clinical training materials and standards,  mentoring systems, and other materials needed for program implementation. Ensure that the programs assisted are technically sound, evidence-based, and  responsive to the priorities and needs of the countries and donors.  

Provide input to and ensure quality technical approaches are implemented in county programs by working closely with program staff to provide inputs into country  work plans and reports and to review program data and results to inform decision-making and technical strategies.  

The following vacant position is available for immediate filling: 

Position: Technical Specialist (3 Positions) 

Location: Bo, Port Loko, Pujehun 

Report To: Senior Program Manager

Specific responsibilities include:  

• Support FP/MNH innovations and the development of new products and approaches in FP/MNH including LARC service provision, essential and basic  and/or comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care, advancement of program efforts to strengthen MNH service delivery platforms, family  planning integrated into maternal health care (including postpartum and post-abortion care) and quality improvement strategies to support FPMNH care  and other areas. 
• Coordinate the design of implementation research that may promote new initiatives and innovations for future adoption, i.e. in the area of MNH integration. • Work with relevant parties to finalize national quality improvement clinical standards in Family Planning, maternal newborn, child health, and nutrition. • Support training on quality improvement using MoH quality improvement approach.  
• Assess, identify gaps, provide feedback, and report on the status of meeting QI/QA FP/MNH clinical standards. Develop action plans to assist in the  implementation of appropriate measures in healthcare facilities. Provide monitoring, mentoring, and refresher training when necessary.  • Submit regular activity reports on identified gaps, measures implemented, achievements, challenges, outcomes, and opportunities for improvement to the  MoH. 
• Represent USAID Momentum /Jhpiego to donors, partners (including WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, FIGO, and ICM), and other external stakeholders. Assist  in establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships with counterparts and donors to maximize USAID’s MOMENTUM /JHPIEGO’s impact. Engage in  the business development/proposal process by identifying and supporting new opportunities and by contributing to the technical design, writing, and  review of new proposals  
• Actively participate in MNH knowledge management activities by ensuring knowledge sharing and best practices are shared with staff globally, and that  existing knowledge is leveraged in planning, decision-making, and providing technical assistance. Support the documentation of program results in  international conferences and peer-reviewed journals and publications 
• Provide support to the realization of external communication priorities including supporting the development of success stories, blogs, and other program  and technical-related communication materials that demonstrate JHPIEGO’s technical expertise, results, and programming excellence • Any other duty assigned 

Required Qualifications and Experience 

• Bachelor`s degree in health care, or higher or bachelor’s degree in public health, field with 5 years of related experience
• Prior Experience in designing and implementing similar project.
• Certification in Project Management will be an added advantage.
• Experience working in clinical environment.
• Certification in Clinical Research will be an added advantage.
• Experience implementing similar programs funded by USAID preferred.
• Prior experience in management and strategy consulting will be preferred.
• Experience handling program tasks across project phases (e.g., work plans, reporting)
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work proactively, organize and manage own work, and assist others to do the same
• Experience preparing high-quality reports for donors/funders preferred.
• Excellent written and oral English language skills,
• Good communication skills with diverse groups

Qualified persons are required to send their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and application letter to: sl-recruitment@jhpiego.org Kindly state in the subject area the position and location you are applying for. CVs without proper labeling will not be considered. 

The deadline for the submission of applications is 16th January 2024. Given the likely high number of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be  contacted.