Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi) is a national non-governmental organization incorporated in Nigeria. Its vision is “A healthy and Safe Society where Everyone Thrives,” and its mission is to “Improved Quality of Life for Poor and Vulnerable Groups through Inclusive and Innovative Community-Led Programming.”

USAID/Nigeria’s Transforming Health and Resilience for Individuals Through Vibrant Empowerment (THRIVE) is a five-year intervention that contributes to achieving sustained epidemic control by improving the health and well-being of children living with HIV and reducing the risk of HIV infection among vulnerable children, adolescents, and caregivers. THRIVE is USAID/Nigeria’s mechanism for implementing PEPFAR-funded programs for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and its delivery arm for community-focused health and social welfare services

Deputy Chief of Party – USAID THRIVE OVC Project

Job Title:  Deputy Chief of Party/Director of Technical Programs
Project: USAID/Nigeria Transforming Health and Resilience for Individuals Through Vibrant Empowerment (THRIVE) Activity
Location: Nigeria

Position Summary: The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)/Director of Technical Programs will support the Chief of Party (COP) in providing technical leadership and oversight for the THRIVE Activity. The DCOP will ensure the implementation of high-quality, evidence-based interventions, adherence to international technical norms, and successful management of a multidisciplinary team. The role involves technical strategy development, stakeholder coordination, capacity building, and applying adaptive management principles to achieve USAID’s program goals.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical Leadership and Oversight:
   1. Lead and oversee all technical aspects of the THRIVE Activity to ensure program goals and objectives are met.
   1. Provide strategic direction to design and implement integrated interventions addressing HIV/AIDS, OVC, and social protection.
   1. Ensure alignment with USAID/PEPFAR standards, evidence-based practices, and donor regulations.
2. Program Coordination and Quality Assurance:
   1. Coordinate and monitor the quality of all technical activities, providing feedback and support to ensure successful implementation.
   1. Facilitate effective communication, coordination, and standards of practice among partner organizations.
   1. Lead the program’s Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) process in collaboration with the COP, ensuring program learnings inform adaptive management strategies.
3. Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Partnerships:
   1. Collaborate with USAID, PEPFAR, government agencies, local organizations, and private sector partners to ensure coordinated service delivery.
   1. Strengthen partnerships with community leadership and local stakeholders to enhance program impact and sustainability.
4. Capacity Building and Sustainability:
   1. Lead capacity-building initiatives for local government authorities, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to enhance service delivery and sustainability.
   1. Mentor and support a team of senior technical staff and implementing partners to meet program objectives effectively.
5. Gender, Inclusion, and Child Safeguarding:
   1. Integrate gender-responsive programming and promote inclusivity across all program interventions.
   1. Develop and implement strategies for safeguarding children and responding to child welfare emergencies.

• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MERLA):
  • Oversee the design and implementation of robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to measure program impact.
  • Ensure program data informs continuous improvement and contributes to adaptive management.

Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes:

• Leadership:
  • Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and manage a multidisciplinary team.
  • Proven ability to oversee technical programming across multiple components such as HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment, OVC, and cross-cutting areas like gender and HSS.
• Project Management:
  • Expertise in managing large-scale, donor-funded projects in resource-constrained settings.
  • Strong planning, time management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Technical Skills:
  • In-depth knowledge of HIV/AIDS programming, including Prevention, Treatment, Care & Support, PMTCT, HIV/TB, and OVCs.
  • Familiarity with donor policies and regulations, particularly USAID/PEPFAR standards.
  • Proficiency in budget management and monitoring.
• People Management:
  • Demonstrated ability to supervise and mentor staff effectively.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presenting complex ideas to diverse audiences.

Minimum Recruitment Standards:

• Ph. D., MB, BS, Master’s degree in public health, Social Sciences, International Development, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in senior management roles in developing countries’ public health or development programs.
• Extensive knowledge of USAID/PEPFAR programs, including program design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Proven experience working with government entities, international organizations, and civil society organizations in Nigeria or similar settings.
• Familiarity with Nigerian public health systems, donor organizations, and community-based organizations.
• At least three years of experience managing USG cooperative agreements or contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multicultural environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience implementing OVC and HIV programs in resource-limited settings.
• Expertise in adaptive management, CLA processes, and MERLA approaches.
• Commitment to gender equity, diversity, and child safeguarding principles.

• Competency in the use of MS suites and data analysis software.
• Ability to synthesize and use evidence for the design of interventions.
• Good presentation skills.

Reporting:

The Deputy Chief of Party/Director Technical will report directly to the Chief of Party. S/he will liaise between the AHNi and USAID technical teams and collaborate closely with the technical teams of government counterparts and stakeholders to ensure program success and sustainability.

This role is ideal for a strategic leader committed to advancing epidemic control and improving the well-being of OVC and their families through innovative and impactful programming.

Method of application: Interested and qualified candidates should forward a suitability statement (application) and resume (CV) as a single MS Word document to: AHNi-M&EJobs@ahnigeria.org

Vacancy closes: Wednesday, 15^th January 2025

Only applications sent electronically (i.e., by e-mail) with the JOB TITLE and LOCATION indicated as the subject of the mail will be considered, and only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

AHNi is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Disclaimer:  AHNi does not charge Candidates a fee for a test or interview