UN Children’s Fund in Nigeria Job Vacancy for TA: Polio Manager-Abuja

UNICEF Nigeria recently scaled up its integrated humanitarian response plan, and is leading humanitarian response in the education, WASH and nutrition sectors in the country, as well as the child protection sub-sector. UNICEF Nigeria provided financial and technical assistance towards forming the National Health Policy, and also successfully advocated for making Primary Health Care a priority for the sector. With our support, more than 3.8 million people accessed primary healthcare services in 2016, and nearly 390,000 children were vaccinated against measles and 165,550 families received insecticide treated bed-nets. We are currently tackling the resurgence of wild polio virus. UNICEF Nigeria is also providing critical support to the national HIV program.

We are looking for motivated and energetic professionals who are ready to aim high for every child.

How can you make a difference?

Under programmatic and technical guidance of Chief, Communication for Development (C4D) and Polio Field Coordinator and under the direct supervision of the Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, the incumbent will be responsible for the Polio Program management, evidence based planning, strategy formulation, overall management, setting up a system of monitoring of Polio social mobilization and communication contributions to polio disease outbreak response and the development, implementation, and monitoring of work plans for the North East states of Nigeria that come under Maiduguri Field Office supervision.

The Polio manager will ensure achievement of key deliverables for Polio/C4D integrated response in the states and regular analysis of social data to inform further planning and contribute to key reporting documents.

  • Provide support for the implementation of the communication plans for the Polio Outbreak Response (OBR) and Inactivated Polio Vaccine campaigns.
  • Provide supervision, including technical oversight, for the Communication for Development Specialist, Immunization Specialists and field consultants working under the Maiduguri office.
  • Represent and lead the Polio and C4D team in various meetings and programmes within the assigned period and make technical inputs into programme implementation.
  • Representation of UNICEF Polio and C4D at the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEoC) including regular coordination with government counterparts in the development of C4D integrated plans during L3 emergency.
  • In collaboration with all partners, the incumbent will oversee and manage the proper use and display of information, education & communication (IEC) packages and materials as distributed in the field, to ensure effective and efficient program delivery, including facilitating behavior change, where designated.
  • Develop partnerships with various key community influencers and religious groups, including traditional leaders, community leaders, religious leaders, Primary Health Care (PHC) directors, teachers, artists on behavior change and social mobilization strategy supportive of effective and efficient program delivery.
  • Work with Abuja-based training officer to review existing training materials and methodologies and plan/implement training for targeted participants.
  • Compile and provide C4D inputs for daily situation reports and monthly reports.
  • Review theVolunteer Community Mobilizer (VCM) network operational challenges and develop appropriate plan of action.
  • Work with field office and country office finance persons to streamline VCM Network payments are submitted and processed without delays, based on deliverables.
  • Provide supportive supervision of Volunteer Ward Supervisors (VWS) and local consultants.
  • Ensure proper documentation of C4D support and efforts and share with Field office/Country office each month and at the end of mission, including human-interest stories as requested in support of donor reporting.
  • Maintain effective communication between the states that report to the Field office, and the Country office, especially on issues that have to do with Communication for Development and polio eradication.

The incumbent will be expected to travel within the State and to those states that fall under the responsibility of the Maiduguri office, to conduct regular field supportive supervision and review status of implementation of C4D committed activities.

Qualification of Successful Candidate

  • Education: An advanced university degreein the Social/Behavioral Sciences, (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, and Health Education) with emphasis on strategic communication planning for behavior development, social mobilization, participatory communication, and research.
  • Work Experience:Minimum eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the development, planning and management of communication for development, including several years in developing countries, with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to specific programmes. Developing country work experience and field work experience.Experience in polio eradication programming with background/familiarity within an Emergency context.
  • Language Proficiency: Fluency in English is required.Knowledge of the local language of the duty station is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

  • Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
  • Functional Competencies:Leading and Supervising,Formulating Strategies and Concepts,Analyzing,Relating and Networking,Deciding and Initiating Action,Applying Technical Expertise.

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

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Remarks

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receivingan offer.

* Please note that this is a non-family duty station.

* Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offers of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.

How to apply:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=506977

Closing date: 20 Sep 2017