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First Embrace – hiring Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Specialist / Senior Officer

Mr HausaLoaded6 minutes ago

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About First Embrace

First Embrace is a global health nonprofit dedicated to saving newborn lives by building healthcare capacity in government hospitals in Nigeria. Our mission is to implement and institutionalise Kangaroo Care (KMC/iKMC) to minimise mortality and morbidity among vulnerable newborns by proving an effective model and supporting governments in shifting towards it instead of conventional (incubator-based) neonatal care.

Kangaroo Care is the WHO standard of care for premature and low birth weight newborns. It is a scientifically proven intervention which reduces a vulnerable newborn’s risk of dying by 33% compared to conventional (incubator-based) neonatal care. It can be delivered highly cost-effectively and emerging economic evidence suggests it could be delivered in a cost neutral fashion given the savings generated from reducing incubator use and reducing the length of hospital stay for newborns which is costly to both hospitals and families in Nigeria.

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Specialist / Senior Officer

Location: Katsina

Job Type : Full Time Minimum of 45 hours of work per week.

What are the Key Responsibilities?

This position involves collecting, analysing, and reporting on program data, conducting on-site monitoring, and providing recommendations for improvement of our assessment and evaluation processes. The role will involve working closely to objectively assess our nursing staff and program officer on ground and independently recording quality data about the hospital, the program, our staff and the perspectives of our beneficiaries. Successful candidates will be detail-oriented with strong analytical and communication skills.

We are a small and agile organization, and as such, the role may vary over time. Proactive, self-driven activities as the individual grows into the role or identifies opportunities for improvement of our M&E work are encouraged. Core tasks are primarily delegated by the managing cofounder, with an emphasis on structured and well-defined key responsibilities. Core responsibilities include:

App based data collection – Collect and manage data from primary and secondary sources on the Dimagi CommCare app and First Embrace App

Quantitative data collection – Use observation checklists, and semi-structured questionnaires to collect quantitative data to report on all program activities.

Baseline data collection. Use a structured sheet to collect baseline data to assess neonatal mortality at new hospitals. Use creativity and problem solving to ensure a highly representative baseline data sample in the face of data completeness and logistics challenges that are prevalent at hospitals we work in.

Qualitative data collection – Use semi-structured questionnaires to undertake interviews with families and staff.

Data consistency and reliability – Identify and address data inconsistencies and errors in the data collected by nurses

Data quality – Monitor data collected by nurses, report about the same and also provide necessary guidance to the nurses to ensure a high level of data quality. Additionally, conduct random checks to verify data reported by nurses.
Management – You begin by carrying out most of First Embrace’s M&E work in Katsina State yourself. We hire you first for exactly this reason: by doing the work directly you come to understand the practical challenges of M&E in our hospitals, and that first-hand understanding is what lets you train others to do it well. As we expand across the state, you onboard, train and manage new MEL Officers, over time shifting from doing the work directly to primarily supervising them in conducting the work described above while retaining responsibility for its quality.
Feedback – Identify and report systemic issues impacting program outcomes.

Learning – Use the results of your M&E to support the Program Manager (PM) and hospital staff to perform data-driven decision making for program improvement, while keeping the process independent.

Reporting – Participate in weekly and monthly M&E calls to discuss monitoring findings and develop action plans

Improvement – Contribute to the development and implementation of better M&E processes over time in collaboration with your managers.
Institutionalisation – Support FE in its aim to support the Katsina government in reliably recording and reporting Kangaroo Care coverage in hospitals in the HMIS.

What are the Requirements?

We care most about your motivation, values, and what we can achieve together. Nonetheless, we seek candidates with the following attributes:

Essential

Education – B.Sc or equivalent in a relevant field
Experience – Minimum 3 years experience in monitoring and evaluation of development, health, or social impact programs in Nigeria. Should have strong knowledge about principles and current approaches to monitoring and evaluation using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Data Collection – Knowledge and experience of data collection using Android based mobile applications, spreadsheets, data entry, use of MS Word, MS Excel and data collection softwares. Please mention applications you have worked with in your application (e.g. Dimagi CommCare, ODK, KoboToolbox).
Data quality – Working knowledge of data management and quality assurance/control, including data handling, data consistency and reliability
Adaptability – Ability to adapt in a rapidly changing program environment, juggling multiple tasks simultaneously while keeping a keen eye on data accuracy and reporting deadlines.
Language skills – Fluency in Hausa and advanced level English is required
Values – Strongly value alignment with the values of First Embrace is required

Desirable

Master’s degree or professional certification in M&E
Prior experience in M&E in newborn health, or other health work.
Prior experience in Katsina or Northern Nigeria

What skills and competencies are required?

Critical Thinking: the ability to analyse, evaluate, and synthesise information to make sound and logical decisions
Observation: Keen and detailed observation of the hospital to allow diligent reporting of events relevant to First Embrace’s programs that reflects deep understanding of what is important to accurate measurement.
Problem Solving: must proactively find solutions to issues that arise in the hospital
People and Communication skills: ability to communicate well with teams and beneficiaries and share information in a clear, respectful, and timely manner, adapting to the needs of a diverse range of stakeholders
Research and Data Collection: the knowledge and ability to use tools to collect accurate data systematically and produce useful insights with this data

Why should you apply?

20 working days annual leave per year.
Maternity leave after one year of employment in line with Nigerian best practice.
You choose your holidays. With our diverse team, you’re free to decide which days matter most to you — there are no mandatory holidays.
Your work will save lives – we can prove it!
You’ll be part of a mission-driven, impact-focused organization with strong values, delivering programmes grounded in evidence.
We offer a Monday-Friday work week. You’re free to adjust your daily hours to what suits you best as long as you complete 100% of your scheduled work tasks each week and work the expected total hours above.
This is a high-leverage role in a growing organization. Our significantly expanding programs offer many opportunities for outsized personal impact.
Strong opportunities for progression. FE looks to help our team members progress in seniority and responsibility as well as supporting your own career development ambitions as far as possible. By way of example we supported one of our MEL officers in conducting research on our work with a Consultant Neonatologist, which led to them presenting at the 2026 African Perinatal Society Conference.
We foster a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration, conduct monthly feedback meetings across all levels and consider high performing team members for promotions before opening public hiring rounds.

Compensation: Offer and title determined on seniority and experience. Expected range ₦6,600,000 – ₦10,200,000 per year (₦550,000 – ₦850,000 per month).
As our work in Katsina grows, excellent performance will lead to promotion to MEL Manager.

Contract: 1 year. Probation period of 4 months. This allows us to get to know each other better. Extension contingent on performance

Application Deadline: not Specified