Health Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories to promote the rights of every child. The organization focuses on reaching the most disadvantaged children to save their lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. UNICEF operates in a complex humanitarian and development setting in Nigeria, which is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally. The organization emphasizes equity, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to survive and thrive without discrimination. UNICEF's mission is to translate children's rights into action, addressing inequities that violate these rights and investing in the health, education, and protection of the most disadvantaged citizens.

Job Overview:
The Health Specialist position at UNICEF involves reporting to the Health/Nutrition/CSD/Manager/Chief and is responsible for the development, management, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of a sector of the health program. This includes areas such as gender, maternal, neonatal, and child survival/development. The role requires a strong focus on program development and planning, ensuring effective program management, and delivering results. The Health Specialist will provide technical and operational support for program implementation, build partnerships, and engage in innovation and knowledge management. The position is critical in ensuring that UNICEF's health programs are effectively addressing the needs of children and families in Nigeria, particularly in challenging environments.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the development and planning of health programs to ensure they meet the needs of children and families.
• Manage the implementation of health programs, ensuring that they are delivered effectively and efficiently.
• Monitor and evaluate program progress, making adjustments as necessary to achieve desired outcomes.
• Provide technical and operational support to ensure successful program implementation.
• Build and maintain partnerships with government, civil society, and other stakeholders to enhance program effectiveness.
• Engage in innovation and knowledge management to improve health program delivery.
• Contribute to capacity building efforts within the organization and among partners to strengthen health program implementation.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in public health/nutrition, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or a relevant technical field. A minimum of five years of professional experience in public health/nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness is required. Experience working in a developing country is considered an asset. Fluency in English is mandatory, and knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is advantageous.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in relevant fields such as public health, nutrition, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, or epidemiology is required for this position. This educational background ensures that candidates have the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively contribute to UNICEF's health programs.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of professional experience in areas such as public health/nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness. Experience in a developing country context is considered an asset, as it provides valuable insights into the challenges and needs of the populations served by UNICEF.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Additionally, knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve working in challenging environments. UNICEF promotes flexible working arrangements and has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance, and candidates may need to meet inoculation requirements. The organization does not charge any processing fees during the recruitment process and encourages diversity and inclusion in its workforce.