Health Manager, P-4 – Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND

UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to protect children’s rights and deliver health, nutrition, education, protection, water and sanitation programmes.

ROLE PURPOSE

Reporting to the Chief of Health and HIV, the Health Manager will support management of UNICEF Nigeria’s Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health portfolio. The manager will lead implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting for the MNCAH output and provide technical and operational guidance throughout the programme cycle.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING

• Provide technical and operational support for MNCAH programme development.
• Conduct and update health-sector analysis for programme design and management.
• Identify priorities, risks, opportunities and implementation requirements.
• Develop objectives, strategies, workplans, indicators and implementation arrangements.
• Integrate gender, equity and humanitarian considerations.
• Contribute to emergency preparedness and response planning.

PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT AND RESULTS

• Manage implementation of the assigned MNCAH programme output.
• Monitor activities, expenditure, progress and results against plans.
• Ensure effective and accountable use of UNICEF resources.
• Identify bottlenecks and recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare management, donor and partner reports.
• Apply results-based-management approaches.
• Support reviews, evaluations and quality assurance.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

• Provide guidance on maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health.
• Support national and subnational health-system strengthening.
• Advise government institutions and implementing partners.
• Support programmes addressing HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases.
• Strengthen humanitarian-health and emergency preparedness.
• Apply current international evidence and standards.

ADVOCACY, PARTNERSHIPS AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

• Build relationships with government, UN agencies, donors, civil society and technical partners.
• Represent UNICEF in technical discussions and coordination forums.
• Support advocacy and resource mobilization.
• Document lessons, results and effective practice.
• Promote innovation and knowledge exchange.
• Strengthen government and partner capacity.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Paediatric Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Family Health, Biology, Health Research, Global or International Health, Health Policy or Management, Biostatistics, Socio-medical Sciences, Health Education, Epidemiology or another relevant field.
• At least eight years of professional experience in public-health planning and management, maternal and neonatal healthcare, communicable diseases or health-emergency and humanitarian preparedness.
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, advocacy, programme management and partnership development.
• Global Fund, Global Financing Facility or Gavi experience is advantageous.
• UN-system and country-level humanitarian or development experience is desirable.
• Executive education in management, innovation or gender is advantageous.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• MNCAH programme leadership.
• Strategic public-health planning.
• Monitoring, evaluation and results-based management.
• Advocacy, partnerships and resource mobilization.
• Team leadership and people management.
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity strengthening.
• Strategic thinking, collaboration and results orientation.
• Ability to manage complexity and ambiguity.
• Fluency in English.
• Another UN language or relevant Nigerian language is advantageous.

CONTRACT DETAILS

• Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment.
• Level: P-4.
• Duty station: Abuja, Nigeria.
• UNICEF job number: 595026.
• Position number: 083142.
• Reports to: Chief of Health and HIV.
• Advertisement date: 13 August 2026.
• Contract duration: Not specified.
• Salary and benefits: Not specified.
• International mobility is a condition of employment.
• Number of positions: Not specified.

SAFEGUARDING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

UNICEF has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. Academic, employment, reference and background checks apply.

UNICEF welcomes qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds and provides reasonable accommodation. Eligible and suitable female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Applications must be completed through UNICEF’s official recruitment system by 23 August 2026 at 11:55 PM.

UNICEF does not charge recruitment fees or request applicants’ banking information.