Program Director CDC Strengthening Public Health Systems

Position description

IMA World Health, a member of Corus International, is seeking a Project Director to lead an anticipated 5-year aprox $31,250,000 million CDC-funded Strengthening Public Health Systems in Sierra Leone.

The program’s goal is to build and sustain a more resilient public health system in Sierra Leone in an effort to identify, respond and mitigate health threats. Through this program, CDC will continue to leverage and complement the strengths and resources of multisectoral and multilateral partners in Sierra Leone to build and improve country capacity and leadership in the prevention, early detection, and response to infectious disease threats, with, a special emphasis on core capabilities in data and surveillance, diagnostics, public health workforce and institutions, and prevention and response. The outcomes include: to prevent emerging threats, strengthen health security and transfer assistance activities to the government and the National Public Health Agency.

About the job:

Actual hiring is contingent upon successful activity award and CDC approval.

The Project Director will serve as the primary liaison with CDC, country governments, and other implementing development partners on the progress and reporting of all activities under the award. S/he will ensure the project’s goals, objectives, and strategy are achieved and that contractual requirements are met on time and within budget. S/he is responsible for directing the project team with an integrated vision, applying effective leadership and strategic planning skills, management experience, outstanding interpersonal skills, and strong written and oral communication skills. The Project Director supervises the day-to-day work of staff, overseas project implementation to ensure quality programming. The Project Director also ensures that all management systems, from technical to MEL to finance, actively support timely and accurate project reporting and cost effectiveness for successful implementation of the project. The Project Director is also responsible for ensuring compliance with Corus’s policies and procedures and CDC rules and regulations, including responsibility for ensuring sub-awardee compliance and monitoring the quality of program implementation. The competencies required to be successful in this position include a theoretical and practical understanding of global health systems and integration strategies to address prevention, early detection, and response to infectious disease threats; programming in conflict and fragile settings; personnel and project management skills; the ability to motivate and lead teams; and the demonstrated ability to operate at advanced levels of authority and accountability for achieving results. The candidate must demonstrate proven experience in coordinating public health systems and resources in fragile and conflict settings. The position will be based in Sierra Leone and will report to the Managing Director, Africa. The Project Director will be expected to visit project sites periodically.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide overall management, strategic direction, and technical leadership to the project to achieve expected project results within budget and timeframe;
• Serve as principal liaison to CDC and the country governments, ensuring high levels of coordination, while nurturing relationships with all key stakeholders (including partner organizations at the national and subnational level) on administrative, financial, and programmatic matters related to the project;
• Liaise with CDC, other donors, and implementing partners and stakeholders, to ensure coordination of and harmonization with other relevant public health mechanisms, private sector engagement, and USG activities globally;
• Ensure results-oriented technical components and high-quality and timely deliverables and reports;
• Oversee implementing partners and advise on technical issues;
• Lead project teams (e.g., technical, program, finance, and operational staff) to ensure program tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities are met; staff management includes hiring, supervising, and mentoring project staff;
• Oversee project deliverables, including ensuring report preparation and high-quality timely submission, and ensuring cross-cutting issues are effectively integrated into project implementation;
• Direct preparation of annual work plans, project activity updates, and other project-related communication and reporting materials;
• Represent the project in all technical, policy, and programmatic fora at all levels (country, national, and international). Identify lessons learned and best practices for external dissemination;
• Oversee implementing partners and advise on technical issues;
• Ensure compliance with CDC rules and regulations, working with the headquarters grants and contracts team.

Qualifications

• Advanced graduate degree in public health, medicine/nursing, international development, or related field experience;
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in the implementation and management of international donor/CDC funded health projects, with substantial knowledge and experience related to infectious diseases prevention and mitigation highly preferred;
• Proven technical expertise using new approaches to strengthen outbreak response, and disease surveillance;
• Knowledge of USG framework of strengthening immunization and disease surveillance systems in fragile context and familiarity with CDC policy and strategies to strengthening immunization and disease surveillance systems;
• Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining strong relationships with government agencies, international donor agencies (CDC, USAID, WB, FCDO, UN agencies, GF, etc.), and private sector stakeholders;
• Experience collaborating and coordinating with local and national host government agencies and aligning program activities and results with national strategies;
• Demonstrated leadership qualities, including technical, management, and evaluation expertise for complex programs in resource-constrained countries; prior experience as a Program Director/Chief of Party for CDC-funded projects similar in scope and size is required;
• Knowledge of and experience with CDC rules and regulations required;
• Deep knowledge of the political, social, and economic context of conflict and fragile settings required;
• Strong staff supervision skills and demonstrated ability to coordinate programs with partners from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences; demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams;
• Experience building the capacity of national non-government partner organizations and government systems to achieve CDC’s goal of strengthening national ownership for future funding;
• Strong communication skills, including both written and oral presentation skills; proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse public and private partners;
• English fluency with professional proficiency in writing required; proficiency in second language (e.g., French) strongly preferred;
• Experience working fragile contexts preferred;
• Ability to travel to project sites as needed globally.

Application instructions

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