Human Resources for Health Specialist Job at Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation

The Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF) is a not-for-profit foundation incorporated in 2013 with a mission to improve the quality of decision-making and execution in the health sector through a focus on results at scale, providing analytical support, driving innovation, and substantive engagement with key stakeholders. HSDF is a platform for the implementation of effective ideas and innovative solutions and strives to address complex health systems and developmental challenges through a focus on evidence, rigor, and continuous improvement whether in line with or diverging from the status quo.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Position: Human Resources for Health Specialist

Job Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary

• The Human Resources of Health (HRH) Specialist will provide strategic direction, technical leadership, and oversight to the HRH component of the project.
• This will include strengthening leadership and governance, workforce performance improvement, evidence-based human resource planning, strengthening recruitment, deployment and retention practices; health education and health workforce regulation.
• S/He will ensure a comprehensive approach to human capacity development and provide programmatic leadership to ensure seamless planning, implementation of activities, and technical support.
• The HRH Specialist will act as a strategic advisor to the relevant government counterparts in all reforms and policy considerations related to HRH in Nigeria. Responsibilities include leading and ensuring technical quality assurance for the relevant knowledge products and deliverables; contributing to strategic thinking for the project; and offering coaching and mentoring to government counterparts to institutionalize improvements in HRH improvements.
• S/he must have an appropriate balance of technical, managerial, and interpersonal skills and experience.
• The HRH Specialist will have the capacity to successfully interact with national and sub-national ministries and agencies, development partners, civil societies, and community-based organizations.
• S/he has technical expertise and prior experience in HRH program implementation, and more specifically human resource management and performance improvement and experience working with USAID projects. Furthermore, a deep understanding of the health system in Nigeria, both at the national and sub-national level, is essential.
• S/He will be accountable for project deliverables, results, implementation, and ongoing monitoring of the project activities related to HRH, including fulfillment of technical strategy and vision, effective project and people management, comprehensive documentation, and reporting, and fostering stakeholder relationships related to HR

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic guidance on HRH initiatives within the project activities and oversee project technical workstreams and activities in areas such as HRH capacity, workforce improvement, evidence-based planning, advocacy, research, and technical assistance.
• S/He will develop and nurture working relationships with senior level government leadership.
• Strengthen the capacity of local partner institutions on HRH management, recruitment, and retention, and related areas.
• Provide technical support to the Ministries and health teams to apply HRH management to incentivize providers to improve the quality of care.
• Collect, collate, and analyze routine data on selected indicators to inform the development of appropriate HRH interventions related to NHIA, public financial management, and financing of primary health care, access to commodities and supplies, and UHC.
• Collaborate with the chief of party and team to develop and implement HRH strategies aligned with USAID requirements.
• Strengthen the capacity of national and sub-national government stakeholders to provide oversight of and effectively engage with local government health teams on HRH reforms, capacity and improvement.
• Support Ministry/sub-national-level monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting activities on HRH management, including technical and operational oversight of regional referral hospital and/or local government-level activities.
• Develop and ensure high-quality of all major deliverables and work products such as reports, briefs, summaries, presentations, and other documents in a timely manner as expected.
• Document and disseminate learning products on HRH management and improvements to different stakeholders to inform policy. Use the learnings and emerging evidence to co-create sustainable HRH solutions with Ministry and LGAs.
• Lead a team or support/supervise analytical work and HRH and workforce development analysis in areas potentially including but not limited to service delivery, staffing, recruitment, and workforce regulation, and the development of HRH reforms, policies, and plans.
• Supervise mid-level technical staff to achieve project milestones within the anticipated project timeline.
• Work in a facilitative manner with national counterparts from government, civil society, and other stakeholders, to support local leadership, decision-making, and capacity strengthening.

Qualification and Experience
The requirements listed below are representatives of the knowledge, skills and/or ability required to successfully perform this job:

• Masters Degree in Public Health, Public Policy and Management, Business, or other relevant field
• Five to seven (5-7) years relevant work experience in public policy, health workforce management, or health system strengthening in Nigeria or similar context.
• Excellent command/proficiency in English
• Significant understanding and knowledge of healthcare strategies, challenges, and opportunities within the Nigerian context
• Demonstrated analytical skills related to health workforce management.
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with external strategic partners, donors, government ministries, and stakeholders.
• Strong facilitation, problem solving, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Eagerness to support and mentor junior staff and peers.
• Ability to produce new evidence and translate evidence into policies.
• Outstanding cross-cultural communication skills, including the ability to relate respectfully with staff at all levels, ages, genders, nationalities, and orientations and across work areas.
• Excellent research and analytic skills, communication skills (verbal, written, and presentation).
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team and to handle multiple priorities is required.
• Experience working with implementing partners at international, regional and national levels.
• In-depth knowledge of USAID approaches and regulations
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations.
• Proven ability to complete projects according to outlined scope, budget, and timeline.
• Preferred: Strong, existing relationships with the Government of Nigeria, Ministry of Health and USAID.