State Technical Officer

Job Summary:

As a member of the CORE Group Partners Project (CGPP) project team, you will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all project activities and providing technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the project for which you are responsible applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

The State Technical Officer will provide technical support for the implementation of malaria interventions under the CGPP project in Bauchi State. The State Technical Officer will focus on strengthening malaria case management, IMNCI implementation, malaria in pregnancy services, and malaria vaccine readiness at supported health facilities. The role includes providing technical mentoring to health workers, supporting supportive supervision activities, and improving quality of malaria service delivery. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide technical support for malaria implementation across supported LGAs and health facilities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Support the implementation of interventions related to malaria case management (IMNCI services, malaria in pregnancy (IPTp), malaria vaccine readiness and integration into routine immunization).
• Participate in integrated supportive supervision visits to health facilities and provide on-the-job coaching to health workers.
• Support facility readiness assessments and health system strengthening initiatives.
• Support in the development and distribution of job aids, guidelines, and standard operating procedures.
• Support capacity strengthening of health workers on malaria diagnosis, treatment, and adherence to national guidelines.
• Participate in quality-of-care assessments and test positivity rate monitoring.
• Support coordination with state and LGA health teams to strengthen service delivery.
• Contribute to program monitoring, reporting, and documentation of lessons learned.
• Support implementation of targeted mentorship for underperforming facilities.
• Collaborate with partners to improve commodity management and service integration. 

Required Languages - English and Hausa

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 75%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong technical knowledge of malaria prevention and treatment.
• Understanding of IMNCI, ANC services, and malaria in pregnancy interventions.
• Ability to conduct health worker mentoring and supportive supervision.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with government and partners.
• Good communication and training facilities.
• Ability to work independently and travel frequently to LGAs and health facilities. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public health or related field would be a plus.
• Experience working on malaria programs, IMNCI, or maternal and child health interventions.
• Experience supporting malaria vaccine introduction or immunization programs.
• Familiarity with national malaria treatment guidelines and national malaria strategic plan.
• Prior experience working in Bauchi State or similar terrain. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Program Manager, GF Malaria team, Senior Project Officer, Head of Programming, Deputy Country Representative, and Country program operations and finance team.

External: CGPP Secretariat, WHO, UNICEF, SPHCDA, NCDC, SOLINA Health, SMOH, EOC, LGA PHC Team, CGPP CRS CBO Partners, PMI, Malaria, Consortium, NMEP and other IPs.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Health Sciences, or related disciplines is required.  
• Minimum of 6 years of work experience in project support, ideally in the field of malaria, maternal and child health, or infectious disease programs for an NGO.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in malaria, maternal and child health, or infectious disease programs.
• Experience supporting health facility service delivery improvement.
• Experience conducting supportive supervision and capacity building of health workers.
• MEAL skills and experience. 

 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.