Maternal & Newborn Health Coordinator

Overview

This role is responsible for coordinating and providing technical and operational support for Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) programme implementation at county level. The position will support delivery of high-impact maternal and newborn interventions in assigned counties, with focus on strengthening the quality, timeliness and reliability of care in supported health facilities and referral networks. The role will contribute to improving provider competence, emergency readiness, referral functionality, quality improvement and continuity of maternal and newborn services in line with KRCS, county government and Ministry of Health priorities. The MNH Coordinator will serve as the primary county-level focal person for programme implementation, working closely with County Health Management Teams, facility in-charges, mentors, records teams and relevant technical partners. The position will support implementation of evidence-based maternal and newborn health approaches including EmONC, newborn care, mentorship, MPDSR follow-through, referral strengthening, emergency preparedness and routine performance review. SCOPE OF THE ROLE: Provide county-level coordination and technical support for KRCS maternal and newborn health programming in the assigned county. Support implementation of maternal and newborn interventions across supported facilities in line with approved workplans and technical standards. Work closely with county and facility teams to strengthen provider competence, quality improvement and emergency readiness. Support implementation of mentorship, simulation, case reviews, supportive supervision and learning activities. Facilitate coordination between supported health facilities, county referral hospitals and relevant national/county stakeholders. Support strengthening of emergency referral systems, blood access linkages and continuity of care for mothers and newborns. Contribute to programme monitoring, documentation, reporting and evidence use at county level. Serve as the county focal point for day-to-day engagement with County Health Management Teams and facility leadership on programme activities. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: County-level programme coordination and implementation: Coordinate implementation of KRCS MNH activities in the assigned county in line with approved plans, budgets and targets. Serve as the primary county focal person for the MNH programme and maintain close working relationships with County Health Management Teams, Sub-County Health Management Teams and facility teams. Support operationalization of the hub-and-spoke model anchored in the county referral hospital and linked facilities. Ensure planned county-level activities are implemented on time, at quality and in coordination with relevant stakeholders. Support preparation and follow-up of county workplans, review meetings and technical visits. Support to maternal and newborn service quality: Support implementation of interventions aimed at strengthening maternal and newborn care in supported facilities, including EmONC, essential newborn care and care for small and sick newborns. Support rollout of provider mentorship, bedside coaching, simulation drills, supportive supervision and case reviews in supported facilities. Work with facility teams to strengthen readiness to manage obstetric and neonatal emergencies. Support establishment and functioning of newborn corners, stabilization spaces and related service delivery improvements where applicable. Promote adherence to national guidelines, protocols and quality standards for antenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care. Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and MPDSR: Support establishment and strengthening of facility Quality Improvement Teams in line with national frameworks. Facilitate routine review of mentorship findings, service delivery bottlenecks and data for use in quality improvement processes. Support implementation of Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles and tracking of improvement actions at facility level. Strengthen routine functioning of MPDSR committees and support timely follow-up of recommendations. Ensure maternal, perinatal and newborn death review findings are translated into practical and time-bound actions. Emergency referral and blood access support: Support strengthening of referral readiness for obstetric and neonatal emergencies in collaboration with county teams, referral facilities and KRCS systems. Facilitate use of standard referral protocols, emergency handover tools and communication pathways between facilities. Work with facilities to identify and address referral bottlenecks, including delays in escalation, transport and stabilization. Support linkage to blood access systems and monitoring of blood-related delays for emergency care. Participate in routine reviews of referral performance and emergency preparedness readiness. Capacity building and mentorship support: Coordinate logistics and technical follow-up for training, mentorship, simulation and continuous professional development activities in the county. Support identification and follow-up of mentors, mentees and facility champions. Provide on-site support to mentors and facility teams to reinforce skills transfer and practice change. Build strong working relationships with frontline health workers and encourage multidisciplinary teamwork. Support onboarding and orientation of newly posted staff within supported facilities where relevant. Monitoring, reporting, and documentation: Work closely with the Senior MNH MEAL Officer and Data Officers to support routine data collection, validation, reporting and use. Support facility teams to improve documentation and reporting of MNH indicators, mentorship activities, CQI actions, referral performance and MPDSR follow-up. Contribute to preparation of county-level monthly, quarterly and ad-hoc reports. Document implementation progress, lessons learned, success stories, risks and emerging issues. Participate in data review meetings, learning forums and donor/partner visits as required. Partnership and stakeholder engagement: Maintain effective coordination with county health authorities, facility leadership, technical partners and relevant community actors. Represent KRCS in county-level MNH, RMNCAH, quality of care, MPDSR and related technical forums as delegated. Support alignment of KRCS interventions with county government priorities and existing coordination structures. Promote collaborative engagement with other Beginnings Fund and MNH actors at county level where relevant. Support community-facing and advocacy-related activities linked to maternal and newborn survival priorities as assigned. Risk, safeguarding and compliance: Identify and escalate operational, programmatic, technical and safeguarding risks that may affect implementation in the county. Support compliance with KRCS policies, donor requirements, Ministry of Health guidance and professional standards. Promote safe, accountable and respectful engagement with health workers, government counterparts and communities. Ensure proper management of programme resources, documentation and field processes in line with KRCS procedures. Supervisory Responsibilities: MNH Data officers. Provide day-to-day technical coordination support to county-based programme assistants, mentors and short-term consultants engaged in county activities. Provide matrix support to facility focal persons, mentors and implementing teams within the county. DESIRED COMPETENCIES Technical: Strong grounding in Maternal and Newborn Health programming and service delivery. Good understanding of EmONC, essential newborn care, small and sick newborn care, MNH referral systems and quality improvement approaches. Familiarity with MPDSR, supportive supervision, mentorship approaches and routine health service improvement. Good understanding of county health systems, facility operations and public health coordination structures. Ability to support translation of technical guidance into practical implementation at facility level. Desired competencies: Strong coordination and relationship management skills. Ability to work effectively with county governments, facility teams and technical partners. Good communication and facilitation skills in English and Kiswahili. Strong planning, follow-up and problem-solving skills. Ability to work in resource-constrained, remote and operationally challenging settings. Good report writing and documentation skills. High level of personal integrity, accountability and professionalism. Ability to support teamwork, learning and practical problem-solving among frontline providers. Proficiency in basic computer applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email and use of online platforms. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Diploma in Clinical Medicine or Nursing from a recognized institution. Must be registered and licensed by the relevant professional regulatory body in Kenya. At least three (3) years’ relevant experience in maternal and newborn health, RMNCAH or hospital/health facility service delivery. Demonstrated practical experience in MNH programme implementation, quality improvement, mentorship support or facility-based coordination. Good understanding of county health systems and facility-based service delivery in Kenya. Experience working in ASAL, humanitarian, emergency or hard-to-reach settings will be a strong advantage. Experience supporting EmONC, newborn care, MPDSR or referral systems strengthening will be an added advantage.