Child Health Program Officer Job at The ARC – Sierra Leone

Company: The Africa Research Collaborative (The ARC)
Location: Freetown (with possible placement in Makeni, Bo, or Freetown offices)
Job Type: Full Time
Sector: Public Health / Child Health / NGO / Research & Policy Implementation
Application Deadline: 16 Dec 2026

Job Overview

The The Africa Research Collaborative is recruiting a highly motivated Child Health Program Officer to support the implementation of the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) initiative in Sierra Leone. This opportunity is ideal for professionals seeking public health jobs in Sierra Leone, medical officer jobs, health program management careers, NGO jobs in Freetown, and international development opportunities in Africa.

The role will be seconded to the Child Health Program at the Ministry of Health (MoH) and will support the translation of child mortality data into evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing preventable child deaths. Candidates with experience in clinical supervision, child health programs, maternal and child health, health systems strengthening, and government stakeholder engagement are strongly encouraged to apply.

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About the CHAMPS Programme

The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) program aims to identify and track causes of under-five mortality and stillbirths using epidemiologic surveillance, rapid reporting systems, advanced diagnostics, and laboratory testing.

In Sierra Leone, CHAMPS operates primarily in Bombali District, collecting high-quality evidence to strengthen healthcare policies and improve child survival outcomes. Findings from Sierra Leone contribute to a wider international network across multiple low- and middle-income countries.

The ARC began direct implementation support of the CHAMPS program from the 2025/26 financial year, helping transform surveillance data into practical actions that improve healthcare delivery, health policy, and child wellbeing.

Candidates searching for health project officer jobs, research coordinator careers, clinical program management opportunities, and health policy implementation jobs may find this position highly rewarding.

Job Description

The Child Health Program Officer will serve as a primary liaison between the Ministry of Health (MoH) and CHAMPS while supporting child mortality surveillance, health policy implementation, and Data-to-Action (D2A) initiatives.

The successful candidate will help hospitals and district health teams conduct child death reviews, strengthen reporting systems, support policy brief development, coordinate stakeholder engagement, and improve evidence-based decision-making.

This position requires a professional with strong program coordination, clinical mentorship, health systems management, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and project implementation skills.

Key Job Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

Ministry of Health Coordination

• Act as the key liaison between CHAMPS and the Ministry of Health.
• Facilitate effective communication and coordination with national child health stakeholders.
• Support collaboration between RMNCAH Directorate, Child Health Program, and Office of the Chief Medical Officer.

Child Mortality Surveillance & Reviews

• Support hospitals and district health teams to conduct routine child death reviews according to national guidelines.
• Monitor the timely submission of mortality review reports.
• Provide mentorship and technical support to improve mortality reporting quality.
• Analyze and disseminate child mortality findings to support program improvement.

Policy & Data-to-Action (D2A) Support

• Ensure D2A activities are implemented according to approved policies and timelines.
• Support the development of policy briefs using CHAMPS findings.
• Advocate for scaling up evidence-based child health interventions.
• Promote translational research and institutionalize data-driven healthcare decision-making.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build partnerships with ministries, NGOs, district health teams, clinicians, and technical working groups (TWGs).
• Strengthen collaboration between healthcare facilities and national child health institutions.
• Support dissemination meetings and technical working group engagements.

Reporting & Communication

• Ensure CHAMPS findings are appropriately disseminated through newsletters, publications, websites, social media, and reports.
• Respond professionally and confidentially to meeting action points and concerns.
• Provide operational insights to CHAMPS leadership to improve coordination.

Those interested in medical NGO jobs, public health officer vacancies, child health specialist careers, clinical program jobs, and health advisor opportunities are encouraged to apply.

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Education & Qualifications

Applicants must possess one of the following:

Required Qualification

• A Medical Degree (MD or MBBS) with at least 2 years of clinical practice experience in Sierra Leone or another developing-country setting.

Alternative Qualification

Applicants with the following may also be considered:

• Nursing or Midwifery qualification, or
• Bachelor’s degree in Community Health or a related health field, plus
• A minimum of 5 years of experience as a Health Officer or similar role.

Preferred Qualifications

The following will be considered an advantage:

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Program Management, Epidemiology, Child Health, Global Health, or related field.
• PhD in a health-related discipline.
• Formal project management training or certification.

Experience Requirements

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Experience in training, supervising, and mentoring clinical staff.
• Strong experience managing health programs and operational budgets.
• Experience working with government and non-government stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of child mortality prevention, clinical practices, and maternal and child health systems.
• Prior international NGO or donor-funded project experience (preferred).
• Advanced computer literacy including Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Candidates with backgrounds in public health research, hospital quality improvement, clinical operations, health systems strengthening, and monitoring & evaluation will have an advantage.

Skills & Competencies

The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement abilities
• Political awareness and sound professional judgment
• Analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills
• Ability to prioritize deadlines and multitask effectively
• High flexibility and resilience under pressure
• Self-motivation with minimal supervision

Professionals seeking international NGO careers, global health jobs, public sector health management roles, and community health leadership positions may find this role suitable.

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Salary & Benefits

Salary: Competitive salary package (not disclosed by employer) and expected to align with NGO and international health sector standards based on qualifications and experience.

Additional benefits may include:

• Professional development opportunities
• Exposure to international public health systems
• Child health policy and research experience
• Stakeholder engagement at ministry level
• Career advancement within health systems strengthening programs

Training & Career Development

This role offers practical exposure to:

• Child mortality surveillance systems
• Health policy implementation
• Epidemiological data analysis
• Clinical mentorship and supervision
• Government health coordination
• Public health program management
• Evidence-based healthcare interventions

Reporting Structure

Reports To:
Data to Action Manager (CHAMPS) with a dotted reporting line to the Program Manager, Child Health Program (MOH).

Safeguarding & Compliance

The successful candidate must:

• Follow ARC safeguarding procedures and child protection standards.
• Promote organizational accountability and ethical conduct.
• Adhere to institutional quality standards and continuous improvement practices.

How to Apply

Deadline for Applications: 16 Dec 2026

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.