The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi State. Since then, IRC has emerged as a critical partner in addressing the humanitarian crises in the Northeast and Northwest through a multi-sectoral, client-centered and integrated program approach for conflict-affected populations. In Fiscal Year 2023, IRC assisted more than 800,000 displaced people and host communities with interventions in primary healthcare, nutrition, environmental health, protection, education, food security and livelihoods. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and has field offices in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kogi States. With almost 700 staff, and a diverse group of local partners, IRC Nigeria implements programs funded by a variety of institutional donors, UN agencies and private foundations.

Project Overview

Strengthening Quality of Care through Primary Health Care (PHC) is a 5-year and USD 50-100 million activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Nigeria. USAID aims to advance PHC, accelerate progress toward universal health coverage (UHC), and improve health outcomes. USAID is committed to support Nigeria’s commitment to achieve sustainable, equitable and resilient health systems through locally-led, evidence-driven, and context-specific approaches by strengthening its PHC system and enhancing focused efforts on prevention, detection and treatment at national and local levels.

Job Overview

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will report to the Chief of Party (COP) and provide technical leadership to the program team as well as operational and financial management oversight over activities in all program locations.

The DCOP is responsible for working closely with Technical leads and experts of consortium partners to ensure an aligned and client-centered approach is applied across all consortium partners and work closely with local government authorities to design, implement and report on program activities and meet program outcomes and targets. The DCOP will ensure a specific focus is placed on program quality and quality reporting by using IRC’s Project Cycle Management tools, IRC’s standard operating procedures and tools.

The DCOP ensures efficient collaboration with consortium partners, State and local government authorities, various development and health partners, and civil society organizations. The DCOP will regularly visit program locations to ensure efficient and compliant implementation of program activities and engage with stakeholders at local levels.

Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the programed, and selection of final applicant is subject to USAID approval.

Major Responsibilities

Program Management and Quality

• Develops, reviews and monitors, with key program staff, annual work and performance plans to ensure long-term and short-term program priorities are on track to meet program outcomes and outputs

• Ensures close coordination with Technical leads and Experts of consortium partners to ensure a integrated program approach is used across program areas and consortium partners and quality and timely technical program reporting and submission of quality program deliverables to USAID

• Manages the reporting process, including coordination with internal and external stakeholders in accordance with contractual requirements and USAID rules and regulations

• Develops, in consultation with the COP, a clear strategy to enhance complementarities and synergies with other USAID-funded health and nutrition activities in targeted areas and promotes a learning environment

• Designs and rolls out program quality assurance initiatives to address any potential efficiency, effectiveness or compliance concerns

• Identifies implementation challenges and obstacles to programmatic success in a proactive manner and implemented corrective measures as needed

• Manages, on a day-to-day basis, financial and operational support to optimize use of resources through sound budgets and consistent financial tracking

Technical Excellence

• Develops a strategy for mainstreaming governance, gender equality and inclusion principles aimed at increasing participation, responsiveness and accountability in the delivery of health services and working with health service providers

• Tracks project performance indicators in close collaboration with the program Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Advisor and supports any revision of the program’s intervention strategy as needed

• Oversees the overall provision of quality health services and ensures all implementation strategies across various technical areas reflect governance and inclusion principles and best practices

• Provides leadership in the development and adaptation of service delivery models and systems promoting quality healthcare, especially organizational development of LGA Primary Healthcare Departments (PHD) and implementation of social accountability approaches to allow enhanced responsiveness of the health care system and greater participation of users with the ultimate aim to promote quality health care services

• Provides leadership in assessing and designing strategies to improve the management of PHC systems and quality of care at LGA PHD and health facility levels, specifically with planning, budgeting, supervising human and financial resources management

• Provides capacity assessment, capacity strengthening, implementation and monitoring of other Technical leads and experts to ensure equitable access to quality health care services and enhanced mechanisms for users to voice priorities and preferences

• Promotes knowledge management by identifying, documenting and disseminating best practices in strengthening quality of care and PHC systems

Staff Management and Development

• Sets up a core program team responsible for the efficient and compliant design and implementation of program activities

• Supports program staff by creating and maintaining a work environment promoting teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility

• Contributes to the development of field staff through assessment, training, mentoring, and coaching

Coordination and Representation

• Advocates and collaborates with State Ministries of Health, the State Primary Health Care Development Agencies (SPHCDAs), local authorities, health service providers and civil society organizations to incorporate best practices and international standards in health service delivery

• Creates and maintains active and cooperative relationships with all key stakeholders, including with state and local government officials, program partners, health and development partners, and other institutions

• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships between IRC, the consortium and all other partners and stakeholders

• Provides technical contribution to the development or adaptation of national policies, guidelines and standards that promote quality heath care service provision in program locations, ensuring that is accessible, responsive and accountable to users and potential users, and allows users’ voice to be heard

Job Requirements

Education:

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Health management and relevant health related subjects.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 7-10 year experience in designing, implementing and managing health programs in Nigeria or relevant context

• Minimum of 5-year experience in working directly with nations, state and/or local health authorities to strengthen quality of care and PHC systems strengthening

• Demonstrated technical expertise in PHC and/or any of the following sectors: health governance; maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH); adolescent health; family planning (FP); sexual and reproductive health (SRH); nutrition; malaria prevention and health service delivery

• Demonstrated experience working in conflict and crisis-affected environment, preferably in Western Africa

• Proven experience managing large, diverse and geographically dispersed teams and tack-record proving technical guidance, coaching and mentoring to program teams

• working closely with local international partners

• Proven coordination and networking skills

• Excellent oral and written communication in English and interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to productively interact with a wide range and levels of organizations

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office suite

• Commitment to gender equality, diversity and inclusion

• Ability to Travel: minimal.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.