United States of America: Project Director
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 30 Sep 2013
Management Sciences for Health (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 30 country offices and our Arlington, Virginia and Cambridge, Massachusetts US headquarters, our staff from 65 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.
MSH is seeking candidates for the role of project Director for the Africa Strategies for Health Project(ASH). The project supports the USAID Africa Bureau and works with African institutions, other development partners, and partners within the USG, to provide a strategic vision for guiding investments to further the health of Africans. In support of this vision, the project conducts reviews, assessments and maintains a dialogue with partners working in the field to improve the understanding of constraints impeding the realization of the vision of health for all and the reaching of the Millennium Development Goals and the goals of the Global Health Initiative (GHI) by identifying potential solutions to overcome those constraints; and advance the objective to improve knowledge management by documenting lessons learned and disseminating the lessons to the broader development community.OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Project Director provides leadership and managerial oversight for the project, and ensures timely implementation and reporting of activities of the project. She or he supervises activities under the contract and has overall responsibility for the successful performance of the technical assistance team. The Project Director provides strategic leadership and bears primary administrative responsibility for fulfilling the performance objectives specified in the contract. She or he is the official representative of the project and maintains communication between and among all relevant stakeholders. The Project Director is responsible for the overall management of the program and for assuring technical support to the different components. She or he is the primary liaison with USAID and African institutions interacting with ASH. The Project Director is accountable for project deliverables and results, and has full accountability and authority for the development, execution, and monitoring of the project, including (1) vision and technical strategy; (2) project management; (3) documentation and communication; (4) client(s) and stakeholder(s) relationships; and (5) coordination and synergy with other MSH projects
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES – ASH Project
• Provide overall strategic guidance to the contract and AFR for achieving programs results; • Have an expertise in the following technical areas: Communications and Advocacy, Infectious Disease, Health System Strengthening, Maternal and Newborn Health, Monitoring and Evaluation and Management; in order to supervise strategic development.• Function as the primary liaison between the USAID and other collaborating agencies on all administrative and financial matters related to the project; • Provide management leadership and coordination for all activates undertaken by the contract; • Serve as key contact with the field, including African institutions and USAID Missions, and Regional Programs in developing approaches and strategies to identify issues and to promote African participation; • Provide advice to AFR on strategic support approaches for addressing public health issues and organizing effective regional and national in fragile and transformational development country programs. • Assure that all work planning is completed effectively with counterparts and partner organizations. Lead annual work planning sessions with the team utilizing progress data from the Project Monitoring Plan to inform progress to date and guide requirements for future activities.• Oversee the adaptation and implementation of management systems with standard operating procedures to administer all activities funded by the agreement. Arrange for and oversee local financial staff that will be responsible for disbursing all local costs under this project, monitoring and tracking expenditures, and preparing financial reports of project expenditures for submission to USAID.• Assure the integration, consistency, and high quality of any possible partners or sub-agreements established under the project. Supervise the work and assess the performance of all long-term and short-term advisors, consultants, and staff.• Manage and supervise the Project Staff in the identification of all projects technical assistance needs required to achieve the expected outputs of the agreement, develop suitable scopes of work, recruit consultants, and execute technical assistance agreements. Supervisory responsibilities include, but are not limited to, meeting with supervisees on a regular basis to discuss issues, track work progress, provide guidance and support, and ensure consistent quality of work performed; conducting Performance Plan Reviews and Development; communicating, implementing and assuring adherence to MSH policies, guidelines and values; developing staff skills and knowledge; approving time sheets; and facilitating supervisee success whenever possible. • Maintain good working relationships with all stakeholders and partners to assure that the project receives the full benefit from their specific areas of expertise.
Standard MSH Project Director Responsibilities:
Project Results1. Client expectations- Ensure achievement of contract/agreement goals (meeting or exceeding expected project targets and deliverables on time and within budget) as per contract/agreement and client(s) approved Results Framework and Performance Monitoring Plan.2. Project Management- Provide effective project management systems within MSH policies, guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures while ensuring local ownership, appropriateness and responsiveness.3. Relationships- Cultivate and maintain effective dialogue and relationships with project client(s), beneficiaries, partner(s), coworkers and other local and international stakeholders.4. MSH Interests- Safeguard MSH’s reputation by ensuring that financial, contractual, technical, and political integrity is maintained and strengthened.
Vision and Technical Strategy5. Develop and execute project’s Results Framework, Performance Monitoring Plan, Technical Strategy, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan and annual project work plans as per contract/agreement requirements, approved budget and received obligations, MSH technical frameworks and standards, and Results Management Systems (RMS) guidelines.
Project Management6. Implement a Financial Pipeline Tracking system for effective budget monitoring and cost control based on sound financial and accounting principles, MSH Standard Operating Procedures, and MSH and donor reporting requirements.7. Develop and adapt (as needed) project financial plan in line with contract/agreement budget and received obligations, technical strategy, work plan, and reporting requirements. 8. Ensure contract/agreement implementation in compliance with contract/agreement clauses, MSH and donor policies, regulations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).9. Ensure project staffing, structure and reporting relationships are aligned with project needs, local context and available resources.10. Manage human resources in accordance to MSH values, policies and guidelines, and implement an effective performance-management program focusing on results and individual accountability, including regular check-ins, annual appraisals, supportive supervision, rewards, training, coaching and career development support.11. With support of Project Director Supervisor, develop technical assistance plan and budget.
Documentation and Communication12. Ensure appropriate and timely documentation and dissemination of key results and deliverables for maximum project impact and business development using a variety of communication strategies and media.13. Promote and facilitate staff participation in MSH’s Technical Exchange Network (TEN) and south-to-south exchanges.14. Ensure quarterly submission of project documentation to MSH’s central Institutional Memory System (IMS).
Client(s) and other Stakeholder(s) Relationships15. Build and maintain strong working relations with key internal and external stakeholders, beneficiaries, prime and subcontractors, suppliers and partners. Provide effective and timely responses to inquiries and concerns.16. Contribute to building MSH’s reputation by developing local and international networks to disseminate project results, attract talent and generate business.
Other MSH Contribution17. Collaborate with MSH Country Representatives and participate as required in activities organized in the context of MSH Representation in countries of project activity.18. Ensure harmonious collaboration with, and cost-effective use of, the Country Operations Management Units (COMUs) on filed-based operational matters.19. Collaborate with the Office of Strategic Development and Communications in aspects of strategic communication, intelligence gathering, positioning, document development, etc.20. Identify and track collaboraiton opportunities by communicating them to the relevant MSH stakeholders.21. Ensure effective project collaboration, coordination and internal partnerships with other projects, Centers and Offices to build synergies across programs for maximum impact.
QUALIFICATIONS
- A Masters, Ph.D. in, public health or related field or an equivalent field is required.
- Demonstrated professional excellence and significant years of experience developing, managing and implementing development programs and/or partnerships for public or private organizations.
- Significant experience in Africa working in public health programs including developing, managing and implementing development programs.
- Demonstrated successful USAID projects management in addition to expertise at least one of the flowing six teach areas: Communications and Advocacy, Infectious Disease, Health System Strengthening, Maternal and Newborn Health, Monitoring and Evaluation and Management.
- Strong familiarity with African health policy and legislative process as well as experience and recognized leadership developing and working with influential networks and institutions; with policies, strategies and programs in Africa.
- Demonstrated ability to deal effectively at policy levels in donor organizations.
- Demonstrated strategic agility, diplomacy, conflict management, team building, written and oral communication, and negotiation skills.
- Fluency in English is required and either French or Portuguese is preferred.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills as a manager.
- Excellent communication skills, demonstrated leadership, and the ability to work collaboratively across technical disciplines.
- Familiarity with and understanding of USAID administrative procedures.
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/6861/project-director/job
