Program Assistant, Neonatal Nurse

Job Description

CHAI is seeking four (4) skilled Neonatal Nurses as Program Assistants to provide embedded technical assistance to high-burden district hospitals (Muhima, Nyagatare, Nyanza, and Kabaya) and their catchment areas (Health Centers, Second Generation Health Posts, private clinics). Fully integrated into facility MNH teams, Program Assistants will deliver hands-on clinical mentorship, lead data-driven Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives, and bridge the gap between policy and frontline neonatal care. Reporting lines run to hospital leadership, RBC/MCCH Division, with streamlined reporting to the CHAI SRMNCH Program Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide bedside mentoring to nurses and clinical staff across delivery rooms, neonatal units, and postnatal wards, covering Essential Neonatal Care (ENC), Helping Baby Breathe (HBB)2nd edition, and management of complex neonatal complicationsin alignment with national protocols.
• Lead the rollout of high-impact neonatal interventions including Caffeine Citrate, CPAP, and small and sick newborn care bundles among others.
• Support supply chain management to prevent stockouts of essential neonatal commodities and ensure timely equipment maintenance.
• Conduct structured outreach to catchment health facilities, delivering mentorship and QI coaching.
• Identify and develop facility-level Neonatal Health Champions to sustain clinical improvements beyond the project.
• Support adoption of digital tools (e-Buzima, Internet of Things for monitoring) for improved clinical decision-making.
• Promote continuous professional development engagement among healthcare providers and support review and update of neonatal protocols, training materials, and job aids in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and RBC.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Reporting

• Routinely review neonatal health indicators, conduct quarterly performance gap analyses, and co-design facility-led QI projects.
• Support the integration of neonatal health indicators into facility and district health plans to strengthen accountability and tracking.
• Document program activities and contribute to monthly indicator reports and learning briefs for national dissemination.
• Submit quarterly programmatic reports highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations

Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance (MPDSR)

• Coordinate neonatal death audits and near-miss case reviews, and support development and follow-up of corrective action plans.
• Ensure proper documentation and follow-up of critical newborn and adherence to referral protocols.
• Participate in joint supervision visits and monthly coordination check-ins with RBC/MCCH, the Ministry of Health and CHAI.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Neonatal Nursing is required.
• At least 5 years of experience in a neonatal unit and results-driven environment.
• Valid license from the National Council of Nurses and Midwives.
• Trained in EmONC, PNC, HBB (2nd edition), Kangaroo Mother Care, and ENC.
• Proficiency in MS Office; strong communication skills in English, French, and Kinyarwanda.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in mentorship
• Experience with the Rwandan health system (RBC, district hospitals, health centers).
• Familiarity with digital health tools and EMR systems (e-Buzima, Internet of Things solutions).
• Certification as a national trainer in HBB or related neonatal specialties.
• Experience with QI methodologies and MPDSR processes.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should email a letter of interest (maximum 1 page) outlining how their professional background meets the requirements outlined above; CV (maximum 3 pages); and the names of three references to chairwandarecruiting@clintonhealthaccess.org with “Program Assistant, Neonatal Nurse’’ in the subject line.