Overview
Jhpiego is an international, non-profit health organization affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University. Jhpiego develops innovations to enhance the capacity of health care workers, strengthening health systems and improve delivery of care towards improving the health and well-being. Jhpiego has been collaborating with the Government of Malawi and various partners in implementing a wide-range of interventions in maternal, newborn and child health, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention and care and treatment, since 1999.
Jhpiego is seeking a highly qualified Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) Advisor for the UNITAID SUPREME Project. The MNH Advisor will provide technical coordination and oversight for Maternal and Newborn Health interventions across the project, ensuring integrated, high‑quality service delivery and technical assistance.
The role will also be responsible for offering technical guidance and supervision to MNH staff based at district level. Working closely with relevant technical and programmatic teams, as well as implementing partners, the MNH Advisor will help ensure seamless, cohesive, and effective MNH activity implementation throughout the project.
In addition, the MNH Advisor will support research activities aimed at generating evidence on the feasibility, acceptability, and cost of delivering comprehensive, context‑appropriate, and woman‑centred packages of care for pre‑eclampsia (PE) and maternal anaemia (MA).
The Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) Advisor will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi, reporting directly to the Country Director, and will supervise the District Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) Officers .
Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Skills Development
- Provide strategic direction and technical oversight for Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) on planning and implementing scale-up strategies for high impact PE and MA interventions at facility level, including climate-resilient interventions in MNH work, ensuring alignment with national priorities and evidence-based practices.
- Support Malawi’s Ministry of Health and local partners in developing, updating, and adapting training materials, standards, job aids, curricula, and supervisory systems to improve MNH service delivery.
- Lead innovative approaches to implement targeted MNH services and improve quality of care across the continuum—PE and MA.
- Lead the development and execution of technical implementation plans, work plans, and monitoring frameworks in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, donors, and stakeholders.
- Lead and coordinate the implementation of comprehensive packages of care for PE and MA that are scalable, climate sensitive, and tailored to MoH priorities.
- Lead and support the identification of product-specific knowledge gaps such as clinical impact and other data to support market entry and introduction of new technologies.
- Mentor and build capacity of project staff, health workers (doctors, nurses, midwives), professional associations, and local partner staff at individual, organizational, and facility levels.
- Facilitate on-the-job training, simulation exercises, and quality improvement initiatives for healthcare providers on MNH protocols.
- Strengthen referral linkages and feedback loops between community, primary, and referral health facilities for lifesaving services.
- Provide and facilitate mentoring and capacity building at the facility level to support health facilities to provide and sustain quality health services
- Lead on aspects related to project implementation, demand generation, and procurement support for MNH commodities across project sites as required
- Lead the formulation of innovative approaches for implementation of targeted MNH services
- Work closely with the MOH and the relevant national authorities and key stakeholders to improve quality of care
- Coordinate closely with other relevant projects to identify synergies for improving MNH quality of care
- Work closely with Monitoring & Evaluation colleagues to ensure quality in data collection, data use for decision-making, and prioritization of interventions aligned with quality improvement practices
Program Implementation & Coordination
- Lead the development and execution of technical implementation plans, work plans, and monitoring frameworks in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, donors, and stakeholders.
- Coordinate implementation of high-impact MNH interventions, including climate-resilient interventions in MNH work.
- Collaborate with MEL teams to ensure integrated planning, implementation, and monitoring of MNH activities.
- Ensure effective use of MNH data for program monitoring, review, and adaptive management.
- Work closely with Monitoring & Evaluation teams to ensure quality data collection and use for decision-making and prioritization of interventions.
- Document successes, lessons learned, and challenges; contribute to timely reporting at both country and global levels.
- Guide project and technical teams in reporting MNH activities implementation and knowledge sharing.
Study protocol and participant management
- Ensure adherence to internal and external standards, including protocol requirements, SOPs, The International Council for Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP), Research Ethics Committee (REC) guidelines, regulatory authority and all applicable regulations.
- Review and prepare study reports; document and manage protocol deviations while maintaining accurate and complete research records.
- Work closely with the project team, PI, and research partner to ensure the conduct of research in accordance with GCP, Regulatory authority and sponsor policies and regulations
- Working in collaboration with data management team in developing data visualisation tools and data quality checks
Quality Assurance & Compliance
- Lead and support the technical design input for the development of the study protocol
- Liaise with MER Advisor to support IRB processes and approvals of the study protocol.
- Work with the project team, research partner, and MoH staff in following approved study protocols and ethical guidelines.
- Support monitoring visits and assist in resolving data quality issues.
Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
- Under the guidance of the Program Manager and the Technical Director, engage with Malawi’s Ministry of Health, national authorities, and key stakeholders to improve MNH service quality, integration and sustainability.
- Under the guidance of the Country Director and Program Manager, coordinate with other projects to identify synergies and enhance MNH outcomes.
- Respond to requests for technical support from counterparts and local partners, ensuring responsiveness and alignment with national and donor priorities.
Strategic Growth and Development
- Identify new innovative ideas in MNH programing with proven effectiveness and efficiency as well as cost efficiency
- Facilitate the development of best practices and help in coming up with integration of services within the MNH program
- Support any other strategic growth and partnership efforts for Jhpiego Malawi as may be required from time to time.
Communication & Knowledge Management
- Contribute to documentation of outcomes, success stories, and lessons learned; contribute to scientific publications and conference abstracts.
- Contribute to knowledge sharing across teams, regions, and external stakeholders.
- Collaborate with communications staff to support implementation of communication strategies and ensure effective communication and documentation of lessons and best practices from MNH programs.
Technical Skills
- Deep technical knowledge of evidence-based MNH interventions across the continuum of care.
- Proficiency in developing and delivering training and quality improvement programs for health care workers.
- Experience with implementation research.
- Deep technical knowledge of evidence-based MNH interventions across the continuum of care.
Data Management
- Strong skills in qualitative and quantitative data collection and use of electronic data capture tools.
- Attention to detail in maintaining accurate data,
- Strong understanding of data utilization for program monitoring, quality improvement, and informed decision-making in MNH.
- Knowledge of strengthening referral systems within health facilities and between facilities and communities.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in public health, Medicine, or Nursing ( Advanced degree MPH, MD, Nursing or equivalent preferred)
- Minimum of 7-8 years of progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing, and coordinating MNH programs, preferably in Malawi or similar low-resource settings.
- Demonstrated experience in providing technical assistance and on-the-job training to healthcare providers on MNH-related topics.
- Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience supporting implementation of MNH intervention and research work, preferably in Malawi or similar low-resource settings.
- Experience working with government health structures, health facilities, and local partners.
- Strong familiarity with ICH GCP guidelines, clinical trial regulations, and protocol management.
- Proven experience in supervising or managing technical staff, particularly in a decentralized program structure.
- Experience working with government health structures, health facilities, and local partners.
Core Competencies
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team, with strong leadership capabilities for guiding teams.
- Commitment to promoting respectful maternity care and family-centered approaches in healthcare delivery.
- Ability and willingness to travel across all operational districts within the three regions of Malawi
- Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Professional proficiency in Chichewa or Tumbuka is highly desirable.
Preferred Qualifications
All staff irrespective of their position are expected to comply with and follow Jhpiego operational procedures and policies, and codes of conduct.
Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.
Please apply at www.jhpiego.org/careers
Applicants must submit a single document for upload, including a cover letter, resume, and references.
For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org
Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.
Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to tough international child safeguarding standards.
Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.
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