Job Abstract

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is seeking a Program Director for an anticipated 5-year USAID global health systems strengthening (HSS) project. The purpose is to provide broad HSS technical assistance to low and middle income countries.  

MSH saves lives and improves health by helping public and private organizations throughout the world to effectively manage people, medicines, money, and information. Working from more than 40 country offices and our US headquarters office, (Arlington, Virginia, and Medford, Massachusetts), our staff from more than 70 nations is highly regarded for its technical expertise, integrity, and commitment to making a lasting difference in health.  We live our mission to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.  

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Program Director is a key leadership position that is responsible for overseeing the management, operation, and technical excellence of the implementation of the program. As a thought leader in health systems strengthening, primary healthcare, and public health, the Program Director sets the vision for the program and directs a multinational, multidisciplinary team of global experts and operations staff to deliver results in the most efficient and effective ways possible to ensure significant contribution to USAID’s goals. The Program Director has full accountability and authority for the development, execution, and monitoring of the program, including (1) vision and technical strategy; (2) project management and compliance; (3) documentation and communication; (4) client and stakeholder relationships; and (5) coordination and synergy with consortium partners and their relevant initiatives, and USAID’s global initiatives, country missions, and project offices in all countries of operation. The Program Director represents the program to USAID, representatives from collaborating country governments, private sector, and global stakeholders and thought leaders. 

More broadly, the director will lead the program team in the strengthening of local health systems, a more engaged private sector, and government entities in a leading role. The Director will provide leadership in supporting countries to work towards self-reliant national and regional systems. This will include health systems building block areas and regulatory/governance systems to ensure financial protection, equity, and quality person-centric services in public and private sectors.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Set the strategic vision for the program in consultation with USAID.

• Ensuring technical standards and excellence of work in all areas.

• Facilitate and promote thought leadership in the project technical areas including the advancement of new models, innovations and transformations that support countries in their journey to self-reliance, e.g. in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

• Establish and manage a collaborative relationship with USAID and other relevant stakeholders.

• Lead advocacy of MSH-led team to USAID across all technical areas in order to secure buy-in from Missions and USAID Washington – this includes looking for new opportunities and promoting of MSH and the full consortium broadly.

• Build global partnerships with international, regional, and local key partners to ensure efficient coordination.

• Proactively engage and manage relationships with all partners from the program consortium and ensure partners’ adherence to their contractual obligations and provision of quality technical deliverables.

• Create an environment conducive to collaboration, learning, and performance improvement among the multidisciplinary, multinational program team.

• Lead program advocacy at local and international levels to build awareness, understanding and support of key changes.

• Supervise the members of the Program Management Team, enable the team to collaborate and take action to improve program outcomes while mitigating potential risks, and build the next generation of leaders.

• Oversees the execution of the project’s results framework, technical strategy, performance monitoring plan, M&E plan, and annual project work plans per contract requirements, approved budget, and MSH technical frameworks and standards.

• Effectively manage the program within MSH policies, guidelines, and SOPs.

• Ensure program technical and operational excellence, compliance and integrity.

• Ensure that the program meets all contractual requirements. 

• Ensure that the program’s financial plan is in line with contract budget and received obligations.

• Ensure appropriate and timely documentation and dissemination of key results and deliverables for maximum project impact using a variety of communication strategies and media outlets.

QUALIFICATIONS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in public health, public policy, health economics, or a related discipline combined with the following minimum years of experience working in health systems in low or middle income settings: 15 years of direct relevant experience with Bachelor’s degree, 12 years of direct relevant experience with Master’s degree, 10 years of direct relevant experience with JD/ABD (all but dissertation), 8 years of direct relevant experience with PhD  

• Direct relevant experience must be in the management or implementation of international development activities in/with low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

• At least 5 of the total minimum years of direct relevant experience above must have been managing and/or implementing specifically health systems strengthening activities in one or more LMIC.

• Of the years of direct relevant experience above, at least 3 years of combined experience must have been physically based in LMIC countries.

• Professional experience interacting with the private sector, government, or non-governmental organizations in developing countries.

• Experience working in partnership with U.S. Government agencies, international donors, or other multilateral agencies.

• Demonstrated senior-level leadership (e.g., Chief of Party, Project Director, Deputy Director) to programs of similar magnitude and complexity is preferred.

• Demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following areas: financial protection, population coverage, service coverage, and/or related areas of HSS.

• Fluency in English oral and written communication.

• Ability to interact professionally in one or more relevant foreign languages (e.g., French, Spanish, Portuguese) is preferred.

• Demonstrated understanding of the challenges and opportunities for achieving self-reliance in LMICs.

• Proven experience managing a team of highly skilled senior experts and supervising staff on a project of similar scale and complexity.

MSH considers multiple job-related factors when determining an offer, including but not limited to, business and organizational needs, candidate qualifications, internal equity, location, and internal budget.
 

Salary is just one of many aspects of our total rewards package; at MSH, our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive set of competitive benefits that includes a substantial vacation, sick and holiday policies, training and development programs, competitive insurance coverage for health, vision, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability, 401k plan, Flexible Spending Account, among others.
 

MSH is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, religion, creed, citizenship, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job requirements. MSH will take affirmative action to ensure that qualified applicants are employed and that employees are treated without regard to their race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran and disability status. In compliance with U.S. Department of Labor Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act, MSH has developed and maintains an affirmative action program and plan.

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