Lead Poisoning Prevention Consultant - Abuja, Nigeria

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) is a US-based, global public health organization with a mission to prevent 100 million deaths from heart disease and to make the world safer from epidemics. We are led by Dr Tom Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 2017, Resolve to Save Lives has partnered with low- and middle-income country governments, multi-lateral agencies, academic and other civil society partners, and communities to build capacity for and support the implementation of enabling policies and effective programs to treat and control hypertension, reduce sodium intake, eliminate artificial trans fat, and strengthen systems for epidemic prevention.

The Cardiovascular Health (CVH) unit at RTSL provides technical assistance in developing cardiovascular disease prevention programs to help countries improve the heart health of their people.

Position Purpose

The Nutrition and Surveillance Team at RTSL is seeking a Lead Poisoning Prevention Consultant for a twelve-month independent contractor position based in Abuja, Nigeria. The consultant will conduct comprehensive stakeholder, regulatory, and capacity assessments to advance the effort to eliminate lead exposure in Nigeria.

Core Tasks and Activities

Stakeholder landscaping

• Collaborate with the US-based consultant to identify relevant in-country stakeholders active in lead elimination activities
• Identify lead initiatives of in-country governmental and non-governmental stakeholders (including the Inter-Agency Working Group/Technical Advisory Group on Lead Elimination)
• Conduct landscaping and technical capacity assessments and develop actionable recommendations for project design and delivery
  
  

Regulatory landscaping

• Identify existing regulations of lead exposure sources, including but not limited to Cosmetics, Lead-based paint, Lead-acid battery management
• Assess the status of implementation and enforcement of existing regulations
• Identify and analyze ongoing governmental and non-governmental efforts to develop or strengthen lead-related regulations
  
  

Capacity assessment

• Identify current or planned efforts to monitor blood lead levels
• Assess existing technical and laboratory capacity (including the availability of equipment, staff, and training) for measuring lead in blood, the environment, and in consumer products
  
  

Preparation for in-country research

• Conduct scoping exercise around consumer products (including but not limited to cosmetics) in Nigeria
• Identify governmental, academic or private institutions currently supporting and/or have the potential to support the measurement of lead in consumer products
  
  

Contract Deliverables

In collaboration with the US-based Lead Poisoning Prevention Consultant:

• Report on stakeholders and current activities around lead in Nigeria, and recommendations for human resource needs
• Report on the status of lead-related regulations and implementation
• Report on technical capacity for assessment of lead in the environment and consumer products and for biomonitoring
• Contribute to research plan for assessment of lead in consumer products (e.g., cosmetics) in Nigeria
  
  

The Independent Contractor will submit all deliverables to the Principal Advisor and Manager, Cardiovascular Health, who will manage this contract and monitor progress toward deliverables.

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, public policy or related field
  
  

Experience:

• 8+ years of relevant experience in environmental health, public health, regulatory affairs or a related area
• Experience working with Nigerian regulatory and health systems involved in environmental and public health issues related to lead exposure
• Demonstrated experience in conducting stakeholder analyses, regulatory assessments, or capacity assessments in LMICs
  
  

Skills & abilities:

• Ability to communicate technical knowledge and expertise in both policy and operational environments
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively report findings and recommendations to diverse stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to manage multiple stakeholders across various levels of government
• Excellent partner and project management skills
• Strong analytical and research skills
• High degree of initiative, adaptability, problem-solving skills, and creativity
• Time-management skills with the ability to work in a deadline-oriented environment, including the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks independently
  
  

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit their CV and a cover letter detailing their suitability for the role.