Senior Technical Officer

Jhpiego is implementing the Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL), an innovative award funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to holistically improve family planning and maternal and child health in host countries around the world. The project focuses on technical and capacity development assistance (TCDA) to ministries of health and other country partners to improve outcomes in maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity at scale. The project also contributes to global technical leadership, learning, and USAID’s policy dialogue to achieve global maternal, newborn, and child health; voluntary family planning; and reproductive health (MNCH/FP/RH) goals by supporting globally endorsed initiatives, strategies, frameworks, guidelines, and action plans. In Nepal, MCGL is implemented to support limited activities related to Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR), Comprehensive services for small and sick newborns (SSNB), and Implement Quality of Care metrics. 

The post holder is responsible for implementing all activities related to MPDSR and SSNB of the MCGL project in Sudur Paschim Province.  The Senior Technical Officer will be responsible for establishing a system of continuous surveillance that promotes routine identification and notification of maternal and perinatal deaths. The Senior Technical Officer will support the selected facilities in establishing the quantification and determination of the causes and the ways to avoid maternal and perinatal deaths and thus provide better information for action. Similarly, the position will support the SSNB Technical Lead in scaling up government-led activities to improve the quality of SSNB care in selected Level II Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) in the province. The Senior Technical Officer will coordinate with Provincial Health Directorate offices and health facilities to ensure the timely and effective execution of SSNB activities as outlined in the workplan, including regular monitoring, data collection, and reporting from SNCU sites.

The Senior Technical Officer will be responsible to work closely with the Family Welfare Division (FWD), Provincial Health Directorate (PHD), Provincial Health Training Center (PHTC), Health Offices (HO) in districts, municipalities, and the selected hospitals. The Senior Technical Officer will work under the guidance of the MCGL MPDSR Technical Lead and the Provincial Health Directorate in Sudur Paschim Province.

Timeframe

• 12 months

Technical and Capacity Development Assistance (60%)

• Implements MCGL’s MPDSR activities according to the MPDSR modality endorsed by the National MPDSR Technical Working Group.
• Supports to establish the MPDSR committees at provincial and district level and facilitate the capacity building activities on MPDSR for district and provincial level managers
• Conducts Baseline, Midline and Endline review of the MPDSR implementation status of the hospitals using the MPDSR progress monitoring tool
• Coordinate the organization of in-person MPDSR capacity building activities for managers and frontline health workers of selected facilities in the province
• Coordinates with medical colleges to introduce MPDSR capacity building activities to resident doctors and nurses/midwives
• Support the SSNB Technical Lead to scale up the government led activities to improve the quality of SSNB care in selected Level II SNCUs in the province as outlined in the workplan and budget.
• Conduct bimonthly monitoring of the SNCU sites on the quality and timely data recording and reporting. Submit monitoring report to technical lead SSNB
• Coordinate regularly with SNCU nursing in-charges and paediatricians/medical officers in MCGL supported Level II sites in the province to collect SNCU data case studies and other relevant coordination information
• Work in close coordination with SSNB Coordinator in FWD for engagement of FWD in implementation planning
• Conduct sensitization of key stakeholders (health and non-health) on the revised MPDSR Guidelines and SNCU orientation package
• Provide capacity building and support for online reporting in MPDSR web-based system
• Support the operation of the provincial and district MPDSR committees in monitoring the notification of maternal and perinatal death at hospitals and community
• Support hospitals to implement and follow up on response plans while ensuring the utilization and maintenance of MPDSR scorecard by the hospitals, districts and province
• Conduct on-site support for reviews, cause assignment and response of maternal and perinatal deaths
• Liaise and formulate productive working relationships with counterparts on behalf of MCGL with the FWD, PHD, PHTC, Health Offices, municipalities, and other implementing partners
• Contribute to annual MCGL work planning process

Managerial responsibilities (10%)

• Support the Technical Lead-MPDSR to oversee day-to-day operations and management of activities for each of the project components-ensuring coordination between the stakeholders
• Provide support to MCGL team to accomplish activities as outlined in the workplan and budget
• Work with finance and relevant staff in MCGL and Jhpiego to develop and track project budgets
• Prepare and submit complete and timely financial reports

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), and Knowledge Management (20%)

• Drawing on experience and technical knowledge, designs or adapts technical approaches based on team capacities, analysis of program data, stakeholder needs and changes in context or environment
• Conduct periodic monitoring of the maternal and perinatal deaths along with the status of response plans of the hospitals
• Support MCGL team in implementation of the Adaptive, Management and Learning approaches for MPDSR and SSNB like Pulse Polls, learning meetings, and Most Significant Change techniques
• Organize data review and learning meeting events at district and provincial level as planned
• Produce materials for external and internal audiences on project activities for dissemination and advocacy
• Take lead in provincial level program progress documentation, evaluation and research and dissemination of achievements, best practices, and lessons learned with wider stakeholders
• Compile data and information on death audits and support MCGL team in preparation of the MCGL progress updates/reports
• Contribute to writing technical briefs/reports relevant to program
• Present progress, achievements and lessons learned to key stakeholders including Ministry, FWD, PHD, PHTC, Health Offices, municipalities, donors and relevant stakeholders

Additional responsibilities (10%)

• Ensure MCGL branding guidelines are correctly used by program
• Represent MCGL/Jhpiego at provincial level, as and when required
• Update MCGL, Jhpiego, government counterparts, and related stakeholders about the project progress, challenges, and sustainability approaches of the key achievements
• Perform or assume other MCGL and Jhpiego activities as required and as assigned by Supervisor to ensure the smooth functioning to achieve the organizational goals

Deliverables

• Progress reports and end of activities (event reports)

Qualification and Requirement:

• Master’s degree in public health, preferably with a medical degree
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressively relevant experience in program implementation of maternal and neonatal health programs in Nepal
• Knowledge of competency-based training, performance and quality improvement approaches
• Knowledge of Microsoft package and virtual platforms
• Ability to develop working relationships with counterparts of varying levels of seniority and backgrounds to implement program activities
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English and Nepali
• Willing and able to be based and travel to project/program areas

Competences:

• Experience in Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response and quality of care programs
• Familiarity with Nepal health system and reporting structure
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with government-level officials to strengthen program implementation
• Demonstrated ability in working and collaborating with a wide range of local and international partner organizations.

 Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

                           Please apply at www.jhpiego.org/careers

Applicants must submit a single document for upload, including a cover letter, resume, and references.

                       For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org

 Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to tough international child safeguarding standards.

Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

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