Country Program Director

Job Summary

Position: Country Program Director

Location: Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Job Type: Long term (12 months with possibility of extension)

Company: Sydani Group

Industry: Healthcare Management Consulting

About Us

Sydani Group is a leading management consulting firm dedicated to improving healthcare systems in Nigeria. We are committed to developing innovative strategies that strengthen immunization program implementation in sub-national consequential geographies in Nigeria, particularly focusing on states with high population of zero dose children.

We are seeking qualified and highly experienced Country Program Director that will support our team composition for the proposed grant application.

Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic individual to serve as the Country Director for our Immunization Program in Nigeria. The Country Director will provide strategic leadership, management, and technical oversight to ensure the successful implementation of immunization initiatives aimed at improving vaccination coverage and reducing vaccine-preventable diseases nationwide. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in program management, partnership development, and advocacy within the public health sector.

Job Responsibilities

Note: The duties and responsibilities described below are not exhaustive. Additional tasks may be assigned as necessitated by business demands.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide overall leadership and direction for the immunization program in Nigeria, ensuring alignment with national immunization policies, guidelines, and priorities.
Develop and implement comprehensive program strategies and action plans to achieve immunization coverage targets and reduce disparities in access to vaccines.
Lead a multidisciplinary team of program managers, technical specialists, and support staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
Establish and maintain effective partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, donors, and other stakeholders to leverage resources, coordinate activities, and maximize program impact.
Advocate for increased political commitment and financial investment in immunization, engaging policymakers, community leaders, and civil society organizations to prioritize vaccination as a public health priority.
Monitor program performance against key indicators, targets, and milestones, using data-driven approaches to identify challenges, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
Ensure compliance with donor requirements, contractual obligations, and reporting deadlines, overseeing the timely submission of high-quality narrative and financial reports.
Manage program budgets, resources, and expenditures effectively, optimizing resource allocation to achieve program objectives while maintaining financial stewardship and accountability.
Foster a culture of learning and innovation within the program team, promoting continuous professional development, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.
Represent the organization in national and international forums, conferences, and technical working groups related to immunization and public health.
Collaborate with monitoring and evaluation specialists to design and implement robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems, capturing program results, lessons learned, and best practices.
Ensure compliance with organizational policies and procedures, including procurement, human resources, security, and risk management protocols.

Required Qualifications and Competencies

Master's degree or higher in Public Health, Epidemiology, International Development, or a related field.
Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in managing complex public health programs, with a focus on immunization or vaccine-preventable diseases.
Demonstrated expertise in program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, with a track record of achieving measurable results and impact.
Strong understanding of Nigeria's health system, immunization landscape, and political, social, and cultural context.
Proven ability to build and sustain partnerships with government counterparts, donors, NGOs, and other stakeholders, fostering collaboration and consensus-building.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills, with the ability to influence decision-makers and mobilize support for immunization initiatives.
Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on innovation, adaptation, and continuous improvement.
Experience managing large budgets, contracts, and grants from diverse funding sources, including bilateral and multilateral donors.
Fluency in English, with proficiency in additional languages spoken in Nigeria considered an asset
Commitment to organizational values, including equity, diversity, and inclusion, and adherence to ethical principles and professional standards

Preferred Qualifications:

PhD in Public Health, Epidemiology, International Development, or a related field
Experience working on immunization or other public health programs funded by international donors, such as WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, US-CDC or USAID
Track record of securing and managing research grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to support immunization research, innovation, and capacity building
Strong network and credibility within the global health community, including participation in professional associations, conferences, and advisory groups

Compensation

There will be no direct compensation for being added as a member of the proposed grant team.

Future engagement prospect

Upon successful funding acquisition, there exists the potential for a consulting role for team members. This extended engagement would entail continued collaboration on the implementation and oversight of the strategies developed, with specific terms and duration to be mutually agreed upon. This offers an opportunity for the SBCC Immunization Specialist to contribute further and provide ongoing expertise for the project's successful execution.

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