Position:

Senior Technical Officer, Community Engagement (Bauchi)

Supervisor:

Associate Director, Technical (Bauchi)

Location:

Bauchi

Project Summary:

The Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project is a global health initiative funded by United States Department of State (DOS) for the period of 2019–2027. The project delivers high-quality technical support at the community, health facility, district, regional and national levels, and builds relationships with relevant partners working to address integrated health programs and global health security issues. Our ability to respond quickly to program, technical and procurement needs leverages on our deep bench of country-based clinical, program, and community experts. Initially focused on achieving and sustaining HIV epidemic control, EpiC was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to support countries in preparedness, response, and health system strengthening, including oxygen systems.

In Nigeria, EpiC is supporting the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoH/SW) to strengthen the national Oxygen Ecosystem. Our contributions include optimizing pulse oximetry, expanding access to medical oxygen through LOX infrastructure, enhancing healthcare worker capacity on oxygen data management, and supporting the development of a national Quality Assurance and Compliance (QAQC) guideline for oxygen equipment.

The project received additional Global Health Security (GHS) funding to strengthen national, regional, and local public health systems, building on broad experience and existing capabilities that align with GHS priorities and National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS) and US Government goals to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and strengthen health systems for Emerging Infectious Diseases.

In addition, EpiC Nigeria has recently received funding to build a more effective, resilient, and responsive primary healthcare system that can respond and address the persistent and severe public-health challenges, especially in Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent health (MNCH), Malaria, and Nutrition.

Job Summary:

Under the supervision of the Associate Director, Technical, the Senior Technical Officer, Community Engagement (Bauchi) will provide technical and operational support for planning, implementing, monitoring, and reporting on the community engagement and demand creation activities of the MNCH and Nutrition project. The role will focus on strengthening community engagement, demand creation and referral processes designed to improve utilization of MNCH+N services in selected PHCs. The STO will optimize engagement of critical community level stakeholders to deliver quality MNCH/N messaging, referrals and linkages to PHCs.

In addition, the STO, Community engagement will leverage existing PHC accountability policies and platforms to ensure project initiatives align with existing structures, systems and processes.

Key Responsibilities:

Support the design and planning of evidence-based community engagement, demand creation and risk communication activities tailored to Bauchi State’s socio-economic and epidemiological context. Provide technical guidance to state, LGA, and ward stakeholders on implementation of integrated community engagement components supporting both MNCH+N and Global Health Security objectives. Support the implementation of technical workplans at state, LGA, ward and community levels incorporating MNCH+N demand generation and GHS-related community awareness priorities. Coordinate MNCH+N and GHS-related community engagement trainings with state, LGA, and ward stakeholders, including Community mobilization, Interpersonal communication, Risk communication & rumour management,

Community event-based surveillance sensitization, Referral promotion, and linkages to PHCs.

Oversee community resource groups in delivering MNCH-N and risk communication messaging, nutrition screening, referrals during home visits, promotion of early reporting and protective behaviors, community dialogues, monitoring, supervision, mentoring, and coaching to ensure quality outcomes. Support the distribution of MNCH+N and GHS communication materials, job aids, and tools. Document and report all community mobilization and demand creation activities, highlighting outcomes related to service uptake, community feedback, community-level behavioural insight, best practices, success stories, and lessons learned. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor

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The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with a job.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes:

• Extensive knowledge and technical expertise in MNCH, Nutrition and GHS.
• Ability to design and adapt technical strategies.
• Ability to manage competing priorities.
• Experience supervising teams.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and a sound understanding of the political, social, and ethical issues surrounding Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH), Nutrition and GHS.
• Demonstrated capacity to work independently, using initiative to manage a high-volume workflow.
• Strong attention to detail with a high level of accuracy in planning, monitoring, and reporting.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively as a team member.
• Strong community mobilization, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to interact with diplomacy and tact and respond to requests for technical guidance in a timely and efficient manner.
• Proficiency in the use of computers and standard MS Office applications to accurately enter, retrieve, and manage data and information.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage competing tasks under tight deadlines, both independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% of the time as required by the role.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, Social Sciences, Communication, Development Studies, or related field; Master’s degree is an advantage.
• 6+ years’ experience in social and behaviour change communication, community mobilization, or health promotion, with proven work in MNCH+N or similar public health programs.
• Experience working with government and community stakeholders at state, LGA, ward levels including community-based organizations, supporting MNCH+N, infectious disease programs, outbreak response, surveillance sensitization, or health security initiatives is an advantage
• Ability to design, implement, and monitor community engagement, demand creation/SBC/RCCE strategies.
• Skilled in training facilitation, mentoring, and coaching of community resource persons
• Good communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital tools; fluency in English (local languages in Bauchi State an advantage).
• Ability to collaborate effectively with government stakeholders and provide practical, solution-oriented technical assistance.
• Strong documentation and reporting skills.

Typical Physical Demands:

Typical office environment.

Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.

Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

Ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs.

Technology to be Used:

Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

DHIS2/NHMIS tools, facility registers, and MNCH reporting tools.

Project dashboards and supportive supervision tools.

Travel Requirements:

● 50% - 60%

Safeguarding:

FHI 360 is committed to provide a safe environment for all employees, beneficiaries and anyone contracted by FHI 360. This Includes taking measures to protecting vulnerable people from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by either FHI 360 employees or associated personnel. FHI 360 abides by child safeguarding principles. FHI 360’s Safeguarding Policies apply and flow out to all FHI 360 staff, board members, volunteers, and partner staff (subcontractors, consultants, vendors, and sub-recipients), regardless of the funding mechanism or amount of contract, agreement, or purchase order.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

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