Organization Background

JSI is a US-based public health nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality technical and managerial assistance programs throughout the world. In Ethiopia, JSI has been working to improve health outcomes for more than 25 years, implementing more than 60 projects and working in every region. JSI has historically managed a large portfolio of projects focusing on the quality, and equity in access of, RMNCAH services, primary health care (PHC) including community health program, digital health, health information systems (HIS), supply chain management, public health emergency responses, and social and behavior change.

Activity Overview

JSI seeks an experienced Health System Strengthening Advisor for United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Lowland Health Activity. The purpose of the Activity is to improve health and nutrition outcomes in the pastoral geographies of Ethiopia, through increased access and utilization of quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent & youth health and nutrition (RMNCAH-N) services.

Position Summary

The Newborn and Child Health (NCH) Advisor is responsible for overseeing technical interventions of the Activity on Newborn and Child Health and related areas. The advisor is also responsible to provide technical assistance to implementation team at all levels and partners, coordinate overall NCH and related activities, and represent LHA on different NCH related platforms as required.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop NCH annual plans of the Activity in consultation with the Service Delivery team and other teams of the Activity.

• In consultation with Service Delivery Team Lead and other teams of the Activity, design and implement NCH interventions in the interventions sites at different levels of the health system.

• Write quarter and annual NCH reports of the Activity.

• Provide technical assistance to regional team, consortium member partners, government entities and others on areas of NCH. 

• Advise and ensure the implementation of the strategies to improve quality and access to newborn and child health-care services

• Advise and ensure high impact interventions during postnatal period, infancy and childhood periods are properly provided to newborns and children

• Advise and ensure outreach services included newborn and child health information and services

• Develop/adapt NCH related manuals, guidelines, standard operating procedures, protocols, quality assurance tools and other documents as needed.

• Identify opportunities for and conduct operational research on NCH in collaboration with research, monitoring-evaluation-learning (MEL) and knowledge management (KM) teams.

• Publish NCH documents including technical briefs, lessons learned, best practices in collaboration with knowledge management team and share with stakeholders on different fora.

• Represent the Activity in various NCH technical meetings, working groups, and conferences.

• Work closely with Service Delivery Team Lead and other Activity members to meet key NCH milestones and deliverables, monitor, analyze, and troubleshoot any challenges to the Activity’s NCH-related implementations.

• Collaborate with other USAID and non-USAID investments on NCH to capture best practices, identify potential NCH related interventions for scale-up and continuity.

• Specific responsibilities include working on essential newborn care, neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care, family-centered care, introduction of NCH innovations, early childhood development, etc.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Activity. 

Job Requirements

• Advanced degree in health fields with specialized training and/or experience related to Newborn and Child Health [MD with specialty (pediatrics and child health specialty is a plus) or PhD preferred].

• More than 7 years of technical and programmatic experience on NCH.

• Experience on protocols, manuals and training materials development.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Able to promote team work and effort.

• Effective verbal and written communication and presentation skills.

• Proven experience of working along the health system - community, primary health care units, and referral hospitals

• Experience of interacting with local governments, international organizations, other bilateral donor and civil society representatives, and senior-level government officials is desired.

• Computer skills in word, power point and Excel.

• Skills in data processing.

• Able to work with minimum supervision.

• Being able to communicate with more than one local language is a plus.

How to Apply

Interested applicants who met the minimum requirements should send and apply online using THIS LINK. 

please submit your application letter with your CV in English detailing your experience and skills that are relevant to the post.

Please do not attach copies of your transcripts, academic degrees or recommendation letters with the application. You will provide them upon request.

JSI/WEI is a child-safe organization, and the safety and well-being of children is a priority of our organization. We have robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff are suited to work with the children served by our programs.

JSI/WEI is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or protected veteran status in any employment decisions. M/F/V/D