Regional Newborn Health Advisor

Background 

Addis Ababa University, collaborating with Emory, Hawassa, and Mekelle Universities, along with the Ministry of Health and Oromia, Amhara, Sidama and Tigray regional health bureaus, is poised to launch the Saving Little Lives (SLL) 360 project in Ethiopia, supported by the NEST360 Consortium via Rice University, USA.

The SLL360 team aims to integrate NEST360 solutions into the ministry of health’s newborn health packages for Level 2 SSNC units, scaling up in 16 hospital networks across four regions, and further expanding to 234 SLL-supported hospitals leveraging existing and upcoming newborn health investments. This initiative will bolster national and regional government capacities for the widespread adoption and institutionalization of these Level 2 SSNC packages.

Addis Ababa University is actively recruiting for a Regional Newborn Health Advisor to join the Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health and nutrition department directorate at the Oromia Regional Health Bureau, playing a pivotal role in advancing newborn health services.

Job Summary  

The Regional Newborn Health Advisor will provide strategic technical and management support for newborn health initiatives, including the expansion of Level 2 SSNC in Oromia. This role involves significant responsibility for coordination, development, and execution of the Regional Health Bureau’s Level 2 SSNC plans including the SLL360, ensuring alignment with MoH policies.

The advisor will support the regional programmatic and operational management, serving as the region’s primary contact for Level 2 SSNC. Collaborating with relevant newborn health stakeholders and SLL360 Principal Investigators, the advisor will develop and monitor the implementation of the Level 2 SSNC strategies and activities, contributing to its success and policy enhancement.

The Regional Newborn Health Advisor will engage with various stakeholders, including SLL360 team members, healthcare professionals, NGOs, private organizations or individual industry partners, and government entities, to facilitate the Level 2 SSNC effective implementation. Additionally, the Advisor will represent the SLL360 team in Oromia, liaising with NEST360 and other health partners.

Specific roles and responsibilities:

Essential Functions

• Serves as the Level 2 SSNC technical lead and primary SLL360 contact at the Oromia Regional Health Bureau, liaising with the health bureau, SLL360 partners, and key stakeholders.
• Oversee and contribute to newborn health activities within the Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health and nutrition department directorate and SLL360 project.
• Monitor and analyze the progress of activities and interventions through micro plan reviews.
• Conduct project/program specific or integrated supportive supervision
• Develop and submit detailed progress reports for SLL360 micro-plans in the region.
• Schedule and organize Regional National Implementation Coordination Team meetings, preparing agendas and minutes.
• Coordinate SLL360 regional training workshops and review meetings.
• Integrate SLL360 interventions into the Regional Health Bureau’s annual plans and align with health development partners’ programs for preterm and low birth weight infants.
• Work with relevant Regional Health Bureau departments to integrate the SSNC neonatal in-patient data system, quality improvement, health technology management and devices, and clinical and biomedical education into the regional health bureau’s system.
• Ensure the region’s newborn health program and SLL360 projects are on track, addressing any operational challenges and risks.
• Provide timely progress reports to partner institutions and donors.
• Maintain consistent communication with the SLL360 country lead, Principal Investigators, and other key stakeholders.

Additional Functions

• Builds and maintains relationships with external stakeholders, including academic collaborators, hospitals and healthcare providers and nongovernmental and governmental officials and agencies.
• Establishes and fosters excellent working collaborations and facilitates regular communication with key stakeholders and project partners, especially with the Ministry of Health and regional health bureaus.
• Provides oversight for rigorous monitoring and evaluation activities and facilitates the documenting and dissemination of project learning of the ministry’s newborn health initiatives and SLL360 project.
• Ensures implementation is on track for SLL360 projects in the country, including regularly assessing progress against targets, identifying operational bottlenecks or risks, and working with the SLL360 country leadership to strengthen programs as necessary.
• Provides timely progress reports on project in Ethiopia as required by partner institutions and donors.
• Cultivate and sustain relationships with key external stakeholders, including academic partners, healthcare institutions, and governmental bodies.
• Develop strong collaborative ties and maintain consistent communication with essential stakeholders, particularly with relevant departments in the Regional Health Bureau.
• Oversee comprehensive monitoring and evaluation, ensuring the documentation and sharing of insights from the region’s newborn health initiatives and the SLL360.
• Guarantee the successful execution of Level 2 SSNC including SLL360, routinely evaluating progress, addressing challenges, and collaborating with leadership to enhance program effectiveness.
• Deliver prompt and regular progress updates to partner institutions and donors regarding the project’s status in Ethiopia.

REPORTS TO: Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health and nutrition department directorate, Oromia Regional Health Bureau.

Date of Announcement: 29 April 2024 

Duration of work: 1 years with possible extension  

Tentative Start Date: Immediately  

Number of posts: 1

Station: Addis Ababa 

Salary: Negotiable  

Requirements

• The ideal candidate has an extensive working knowledge of health systems and public health and experience program coordination/management in collaboration with the Oromia Regional Health Bureau and within MoH, experience working in a multi-cultural environment and is willing and able to travel to support hospitals in rural Oromia.

Education

• MD with relevant specialty in Pediatrics, MPH, MSC in related health field with 

Experience

• A minimum of three years’ experience in designing and managing large projects, demonstrating progressive responsibility.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities.
• Strong collaborative, judgment, leadership, negotiation, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, with a keen eye for detail and a proactive approach.
• Profound project management expertise, including risk prediction and mitigation.
• Teamwork skills, with the capacity to engage, motivate, and ensure follow-through.
• Outstanding organizational skills for effective planning and scheduling.
• Confidence in making autonomous decisions.
• The capability to represent Level 2 SSNC and SLL360 to external parties, including donors, international organizations, peer institutions, and government agencies.
• Superior problem-solving, supervisory, and organizational competencies.
• The ability to manage multiple tasks, reconcile competing priorities, and maintain confidentiality.
• A collaborative spirit, coupled with tact and cultural sensitivity.
• Significant experience in implementation research or academic administration is advantageous.
• A track record of leading collaborative efforts, delivering operational excellence, and being recognized as an organized and dynamic leader.
• English and regional language: ability to read, write, listen and speak 

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates for the positions stated above are invited to apply through www,ethiojobs.net in the next 10 working days. Female applicants are highly encouraged. An applicant is requested to attach the following documents:

Letter of application mentioning the specific position 

Recent CV 

Original and copies of degrees, and other relevant documents 

Evidence of experience in research