MNH Advisor

Jhpiego, an international non-profit health organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, is implementing the Reaching Impact Saturation and Epidemic Control (RISE) program in Ethiopia. RISE is dedicated to saving lives and improving health outcomes by accelerating HIV epidemic control and strengthening global health security to prevent and respond to emerging disease threats. Leveraging over two decades of evidence-based practices from PEPFAR implementation, RISE addresses critical health priorities including HIV, global health security (GHS), maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition (MNCH-N), tuberculosis (TB), malaria, data systems, and supply chain management.

Ethiopia has made commendable progress in improving maternal and newborn health over the past two decades. However, significant challenges persist across the country’s diverse geographic and socio-cultural landscapes, and maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain high. The RISE Project—a multi-regional, integrated health initiative—aims to support the health sector’s efforts to enhance maternal, newborn, child health, and nutrition outcomes nationwide. To help drive this mission forward, RISE is seeking a Maternal and Newborn Advisor who will provide strategic and technical leadership in designing and in leading implementation of the planned MNH activities. With implementation led primarily by field-based teams working closely with health facilities and local systems, this role is critical in ensuring the delivery of respectful, high-quality care for mothers and newborns across Ethiopia’s varied contexts

Strategic Planning

• Lead the development of AWP for the project’s MNH interventions in close collaboration with the relevant teams
• Lead the design and contextualization of MNH strategies across agrarian, semi-urban, and pastoralist settings.
• Ensure alignment with national MNCHN policies, protocols, and global standards.
• Provide technical oversight for the project’s contribution in improving quality of ANC, SBA, PNC, EmONC, and newborn care packages along the continuum of care in integration with nutrition and child health services.
• Tailor interventions to diverse geographic and health system contexts, collaborating with public sector counterparts to pilot and refine differentiated service delivery models that enhance reach and responsiveness.

Capacity Building Program Oversight, Quality Assurance and Implementation

• Develop internal guidance materials, including guides, standard operating procedures, protocols, and technical documents, to ensure consistent understanding and implementation of program activities across field teams.
• Implement tailored capacity building plans for field teams to enhance their technical and facilitative competencies. Mentor cluster and woreda-level MNCHN officers to effectively support health facilities and local health systems.
• Facilitate joint supportive supervision, coaching visits, and peer learning with field teams and the Midwives Association. Strengthen field teams’ ability to lead project’s initiatives with improved use of data for decision-making, and community-facility linkages.
• Train and mentor field staff, equipping them with practical tools and methodologies to effectively support the public sector in identifying and addressing key bottlenecks in MNH services.

Collaboration and representation

• Collaborate closely with the Ethiopian Midwives Association to harmonize training, supervision, and advocacy efforts.
• Foster strong working relationships with regional health bureaus, zonal/woreda offices, and implementing partners.
• Represent the project in national MNH technical working groups, donor platforms, and learning exchanges.
• Collaborate with MNH focused projects to align strategies and plans, exchange best practices, and pursue joint advocacy efforts that advance shared goals.

 Adaptive Management and Evidence Based Policy and Advocacy

• Collaborate with the MEL team to establish robust monitoring systems including key indicators and data collection methodologies to track the quality and coverage of MNH services and identify implementation bottlenecks and guide adaptive programming.
• Champion the use of MNH data to monitor project’s performance, conduct targeted assessments, and guide evidence-based decisions across project and health system platforms.
• Ensure that insights and lessons learned inform field practices and strategic decision-making at all levels. Develop and disseminate technical briefs, best practices, and lessons learned in partnership with the knowledge management team, ensuring timely sharing of insights across stakeholder platforms.
• Perform additional duties as assigned, contributing to the broader success and adaptability of the project.

• Medical Doctor (MD) or Midwife with Master of Public Health (MPH) or equivalent.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in MNHN programming, with at least 4 years in MNH technical leadership and field-based capacity building.
• Familiarity with MNH service delivery across agrarian, urban, and pastoral settings.
• Strong understanding of Ethiopia’s health system, HSTP, and community health platforms (HEWs, WDA, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to mentor teams, facilitate learning, and strengthen decentralized implementation.
• Proven experience developing protocols, manuals, and training materials.
• Effective communication (verbal, written, and presentation) skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and data processing skills.
• Ability to travel up to 40% and work with minimum supervision.

• Solid understanding of the Ethiopian health policy and strategies, the global updates and the MNH best practices.
• Extensive experience implementing and supporting MNH interventions. Proven experience of working along the health system - community, primary health care units and referral hospitals.
• Familiarity with MNH delivery and the health context in pastoral, agrarian and semi-urban geographies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the MNH supply chain management and information systems including in humanitarian set up.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Able to promote teamwork and effort.
• Demonstrated competency in strategy development, in collaboration, in working with people, networking and influencing
• High cultural competence, diplomacy, and ability to navigate complex environments.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on technical problem-solving skills.

Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Professional proficiency in Amharic or other local Ethiopian languages is highly desirable.

Salary: Between 22,966 – 33,563 USD per annum. 

Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

Please apply at www.jobs-jhpiego.icims.com

Applicants must submit a single document for upload to include: 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

“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.

EEO is the Law

Application Deadline: October 17, 2025

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