Background

NEST360 is a multi-country alliance committed to reducing neonatal mortality through innovative technologies and health systems strengthening. With new funding from the Beginnings Fund, the program is expanding its proven quality improvement (QI) strategies to include maternal health, ensuring integrated care for mothers and newborns. In Malawi, NEST360, implemented by Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), continues to support the Ministry of Health (MoH) by scaling up lifesaving maternal and newborn interventions. This includes deploying innovative technologies, strengthening clinical and technical capacity, and establishing a sustainable supply chain and distribution network. The Beginnings Fund focuses on enhancing maternal and newborn care at secondary and tertiary healthcare levels in Malawi, with extension to immediate newborn care at Primary level BeMONC sites.

To drive this mission, KUHeS NEST360/BEGINNINGS FUND intends to recruit a suitably qualified candidate to fill the position of Clinical Program Officer – Newborn Health.

POSITION DETAILS

Department : Clinical

Location : Lilongwe, Malawi

Reports to : Clinical Director, Newborn

Contract Type : 1 year Fixed-Term (renewable on availability of funding)

POSITION SUMMARY

The Clinical Program Officer – Newborn Health will leverage expert clinical expertise and health programming skills to support the execution of integrated maternal and newborn health interventions across targeted healthcare levels in Malawi. The incumbent will serve as a bridge between frontline clinical delivery and national health programming, driving clinical mentorship, quality improvement, data-driven decision-making, and system-level capacity building to optimize neonatal survival.

The position requires active field engagement and technical collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including tertiary/secondary hospitals, MoH officials, supply chain distributors, and medical training institutions. Includes regular travel to BF implementation districts and, at times international travel.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Capacity Building & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Lead hands-on clinical training, mentorship, and continuous quality improvement (QI) initiatives for healthcare workers at secondary, tertiary, and BeMONC facilities.
• Direct clinical workflow integration for new neonatal medical devices and evidence-based interventions.
• Build strong collaborative partnerships with MoH officials, hospital leadership, professional associations, and training institutions.

Data Analysis & Performance Monitoring:

• Interpret routine health facility data, clinical audits, and MNH program indicators to identify performance trends and service delivery gaps.
• Utilize data-driven insights to guide quality improvement plans, optimize clinical protocol adherence, and inform health program

Project Management & Compliance:

• Oversee health program implementation, ensuring alignment with national MNH guidelines, project deliverables, and donor compliance
• Manage clinical outreach schedules, facility support visits, and program operations in fast-paced healthcare environments.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Clinical Medicine, Public Health, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH), Public Health, or Global Health will be an added advantage.
• Active clinical registration and background in midwifery, neonatal, or maternal clinical care (essential).

Professional Experience:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in public or private health programs, with a focus on MNH program design, execution, and facility-level clinical governance.
• 3+ years of direct experience leading specialized MNH initiatives, including hands-on neonatal care, clinical mentorship, bedside teaching, and facility QI cycles.
• Proven track record in health systems strengthening (HSS), health facility mentorship, and data-informed clinical program

REQUIRED SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Clinical & Technical Expertise:

• Advanced proficiency in essential and emergency newborn care for WHO level 1 and level 2, infection prevention, and neonatal medical device deployment.
• Demonstrated understanding of health systems operations, clinical audit loops, and MoH service delivery structures in Malawi.

Programmatic & Analytical Skills:

• Strong project management expertise, including work planning, clinical protocol standardization, and program reporting.
• Advanced analytical skills to interpret complex clinical metrics, DHIS2 data, and quality improvement indicators.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); familiarity with statistical packages or MS Access is a plus.

Soft Skills & Interpersonal Competencies:

• High-level clinical leadership, persuasive presentation skills, and report-writing capability.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to lead clinical teams, mentor health workers, and engage senior MoH stakeholders.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and capable of driving results independently under high-pressure clinical and program environments.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal).

• Lead hands-on clinical training, mentorship, and continuous quality improvement (QI) initiatives for healthcare workers at secondary, tertiary, and BeMONC facilities.
• Direct clinical workflow integration for new neonatal medical devices and evidence-based interventions.
• Build strong collaborative partnerships with MoH officials, hospital leadership, professional associations, and training institutions.
• Interpret routine health facility data, clinical audits, and MNH program indicators to identify performance trends and service delivery gaps.
• Utilize data-driven insights to guide quality improvement plans, optimize clinical protocol adherence, and inform health program
• Oversee health program implementation, ensuring alignment with national MNH guidelines, project deliverables, and donor compliance
• Manage clinical outreach schedules, facility support visits, and program operations in fast-paced healthcare environments.

• Advanced proficiency in essential and emergency newborn care for WHO level 1 and level 2, infection prevention, and neonatal medical device deployment.
• Demonstrated understanding of health systems operations, clinical audit loops, and MoH service delivery structures in Malawi.
• Strong project management expertise, including work planning, clinical protocol standardization, and program reporting.
• Advanced analytical skills to interpret complex clinical metrics, DHIS2 data, and quality improvement indicators.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); familiarity with statistical packages or MS Access is a plus.
• High-level clinical leadership, persuasive presentation skills, and report-writing capability.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to lead clinical teams, mentor health workers, and engage senior MoH stakeholders.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and capable of driving results independently under high-pressure clinical and program environments.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal).

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Clinical Medicine, Public Health, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH), Public Health, or Global Health will be an added advantage.
• Active clinical registration and background in midwifery, neonatal, or maternal clinical care (essential).
• 5+ years of progressive experience in public or private health programs, with a focus on MNH program design, execution, and facility-level clinical governance.
• 3+ years of direct experience leading specialized MNH initiatives, including hands-on neonatal care, clinical mentorship, bedside teaching, and facility QI cycles.
• Proven track record in health systems strengthening (HSS), health facility mentorship, and data-informed clinical program