Technical Advisor II - Health System Strengthening (Nigerian Nationals Only)

Background

The Faith and Community Initiative (FCI) is a large, multi-country global health program being implemented under a World Vision–led consortium, with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) slated to lead implementation in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Indonesia. FCI’s goal is to support countries in building resilient, nationally owned health systems that sustainably deliver integrated HIV, TB, malaria, MCH, and nutrition services through strengthened community and frontline health worker platforms.  To achieve this goal, FCI has three key objectives: 
1) Strengthen Community and Frontline Health Worker Networks; 
2) Ensure that Existing Faith and Community-based Services are Well Coordinated and Integrated into Government Systems; and 
3) Transition to National and Sub-national Systems.  

To expand the availability and utilization of integrated health services, FCI will adapt and replicate a hub-and-spoke model using tools developed by Circle of Hope’s Community Post model established in Zambia, rapidly establishing and supporting hub-and-spoke facility networks to deliver integrated health services. Hub-and-spoke models will be expanded, and integrated into, existing health service delivery systems supported through national governments, faith-based organizations, and other civil society partners to strengthen local ownership, cascade MOH guidance and protocols to CHWs and FHWs, and ensure CHW and FLW are recruited, trained, and supervised through transition-ready health systems. Across countries, FCI emphasizes strengthening health systems (including digital data use and supply chains) and an intentional transition to sustainable, country-led ownership over time.

Job Summary  

The Technical Advisor II - HSS will provide technical leadership of Nigeria FCI activities aimed at ensuring that FCI supported faith and community-based services are well coordinated and integrated into government systems (Objective 2), strengthening the health system across community, facility, district, and national levels. The TA II/HSS will ensure that FCI supported hub-and-spoke models are effectively integrated into national and district level health systems. The role supports strengthening the hub-and-spoke model’s service provision; governance, supervision, quality assurance systems, supply chain management, and workforce systems are aligned with and integrated into Ministry of Health structures.  This will include technical leadership of Nigeria FCI efforts to strengthen workforce development plans and payroll systems and ensure hub-and-spoke models adopt national guidelines and sustainable support-supervision and training methodologies through District Health Management Teams.  The HSS Lead will work closely with government counterparts, implementing partners, and CRS technical teams to design and accompany health systems strengthening interventions that improve access, quality of care, accountability, and sustainability, supporting transition to locally led service delivery models.

Roles and Key Responsibilities 

• Provide technical leadership and support to Nigeria FCI government counterparts, implementing partners on health systems strengthening approaches, standards, and best practices aligned with national health strategies and donor requirements.

• Lead alignment of faith-based and community supported facilities with Ministry of Health policies, standards, and reporting requirements, including participation in relevant technical working groups.

• Conduct assessments and develop action plans with health facilities and district structures addressing service delivery quality, supervision systems, human resources for health, and governance gaps.

• Lead technical assistance aimed at strengthening supervision systems, including joint supervision with district health management teams, performance review processes, and follow-up on agreed corrective actions.

• Lead technical assistance aimed at strengthening supply chain management systems by supporting facility and district level forecasting, ordering, stock management, and coordination with national supply systems.

• Strengthen the capacity of implementing partners and CRS staff through training, mentoring, coaching, and development of practical tools related to health systems strengthening.

• Support learning and adaptation by documenting lessons learned, contributing to operational reviews, and using routine data and assessment findings to inform continuous improvement.

• Collaborate closely with monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning, systems integration, service delivery, and faith‑community mobilization colleagues to ensure integrated implementation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong understanding of health systems strengthening principles and practice.
• Ability to analyze system gaps and translate findings into practical improvement actions.
• Strong facilitation, mentoring, and relationship‑management skills.
• Ability to work effectively across government, faith‑based, and community stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in standard office software and routine reporting tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with quality improvement, human resources for health, supply chain management, or integrated service delivery models.

• Experience supporting transition or sustainability of donor funded health programs.

Required Languages: Proficiency in English and fluent in the official language of the country.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 25%.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

Basic Qualifications

• Master's degree in public health, health systems, medicine, nursing, health policy, or related field required.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience with progressive responsibility in health systems or service delivery roles.
• Demonstrated experience supporting health facilities or district level health systems strengthening in low resource settings.
• Experience working with government health systems and institutional stakeholders.
• Experience in providing technical assistance to multidisciplinary teams.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions. 
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.