United States of America: Senior Project Officer (SPO)
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 30 Aug 2013
OVERALL RESPONSBILITIES: As a key member of the Technical Management Support Team, the Senior Project Officer is responsible for the management and coordination of project management support to the Project Director in order to facilitate the smooth implementation of the project. The SPO helps ensure the successful completion of programmatic and administrative deliverables either directly or through coordination and facilitation. The Senior Project Officer (SPO) works closely with the Project Director Supervisor (PDS) in providing support to the Project Director (PD), Project Portfolio Director (PPD), and senior project staff to implement MSH activities funded by a variety of donors. She/he coordinates the work of the Project Associate and the Project Officer or Project Specialist, assuring that all requests for project management and technical support are being attended to. The SPO embodies MSH values and is cognizant of, and must adhere to, MSH’s procurement integrity standards.
SPECIFIC RESPONSBILITIES:A. Project Management Support1. Manage project support team including supervision and mentoring of the Project Officer (PO) or Project Specialist (PS), and Project Associate (PA). Ensure that the team adheres to guidelines stated in MSH standard operating procedures.2. Plan and facilitate coordination meetings and communications with project country teams emphasizing the need for focused and timely management and technical support. Liaise with Corporate Operations Support Teams (OST), as needed.3. Understand projects’ technical (including donors’ reporting requirements), contractual and financial requirements and provide strategic approaches to ensure all requirements are met or exceeded. Help identify implementation issues and trends and address them to maximize program impact while supporting compliance. In doing so, liaise with the assigned MSH Contract Officer(s) regarding compliance with donors’ contractual requirements.4. Support the PD and PDS in developing systems to monitor and report against project activities, as needed. Such activities may include performance results management and work plan deliverables to include the quality and success of the deliverables.
5. Coordinate the fielding of consultants, including screening of consultant suitability and availability.6. Ensure that staff providing short-term technical assistance (STTA) and outside consultants comply with MSH policies and procedures, and oversee the support provided for their logistics and travel. Initiate and maintain communications with outside consultants, before, during and after the assignment.7. Help in the preparation of quarterly programmatic and financial reviews.
B. Support to Technical Project Implementation1. Assist the PD and the PDS in the management and coordination of technical assistance to the project.2. Assist the PD and the PDS in articulating the STTA needs to successfully implement the project’s works plans; develop and maintain the STTA Plan for the project. 3. In consultation with PD and PDS articulate scopes of work and assist in the identification of technical resources. 4. Assist the PD and the PDS in the development and use of a system to monitor the implementation process of project deliverables and the quality and success of the deliverables, including inputs from consultants and other STTA providers.5. Assist the project team in the development of reports, presentations, and other communication materials. This may include research, drafting, editing, data analysis and presentation.6. On an ongoing basis, research, monitor and abstract literature relevant to the project's activities, including review of professional journals, attendance at conferences and collection/dissemination of relevant information.7. Assist the PDS in identifying possible non-USAID funding sources and assist in the development of proposals.8. Provide STTA – virtual or in person – as requested by the PD, senior technical project staff, and/or PDS.
C. Financial and Contractual Support1. Assist the PD and the PDS with liaising with the assigned MSH Contract Officer regarding compliance with donor’s contractual and financial requirements. 2. Provide support in monitoring contract compliance.3. Prepare and/or assist in the preparation of workplan and pipeline budgets.4. Review and monitor the project financial reports and communicate any over- or under-expenditure observations with the PD and the PDS.5. Ensure that all non-Field Expense project expenditures are properly authorized and codes are correct before submitting to Accounts Payable.6. Manage home office coordination and communication with the project’s Subcontractors. Plan and facilitate coordination meetings and technical input, and ensure proper review of Subcontractor’s invoices.7. In close collaboration with the PD and PDS, develop the project’s coding structure.
QUALIFICATIONS:1. Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Public Health, Management or related international development field.2. Minimum of 3 years’ overseas project management experience either in the headquarters of international organization or in a developing country.3. Demonstrated managerial and supervisory skills.4. Ability to work independently.5. Demonstrated good judgment for decision making.6. Strong interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability in consensus building, and to constructively lead a team.7. Ability to speak and work in French required.8. Fluent English required. 9. Strong computer skills; MS Office Suite, MS Project, Power Point preferred.10. Ability to travel up to 30% time.
Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
How to apply:
Please apply at https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/6236/senior-project-officer/job
