CGPP Senegal Secretariat Director 16 views0 applications

This role is open to Senegalese nationals who are currently based in Senegal.

Consultancy Purpose

The Secretariat Director of the CGPP Senegal Secretariat will be based in Dakar and lead CGPP operations in Senegal to improve maternal and child health and nutrition (MCHN) outcomes in five selected regions: Diourbel, Tambacounda, Sédhiou, Kolda, and Kédougou. The Secretariat Director will provide overall technical leadership across all aspects of project planning and implementation and will maintain and strengthen CGPP’s relationship with key partners and stakeholders. These include the Government of Senegal’s Ministry of Health and Social Action, the US Department of State (US DOS), UNICEF, Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Senegal, World Vision (WV) Senegal, and other relevant programs and initiatives, including EpiC (FHI360), STRIDES (FHI360), ACHIEVE (Pact), Momentum (Jhpiego), PMI REACH Malaria (PATH), and others.

In fulfilling these roles, the Secretariat Director will ensure that:

• CGPP activities address stated project objectives, support national MCH and nutrition priorities, and are aligned with global MCH and nutrition objectives; and
• The needs and concerns of CGPP implementing partners and the communities they serve are effectively communicated to decision-makers at all levels.

Key Responsibilities

The Secretariat Director will be responsible for the following:

• Strategic and Technical Leadership

  Provide technical and strategic leadership for CGPP programming in Senegal, in coordination with the CGPP global headquarters team, including guiding the development of technical priorities and strategic plans that expand access to lifesaving services, strengthen routine immunization systems, and improve maternal, child, and nutrition outcomes through integrated and sustainable approaches aligned with national and global priorities.

• Program Oversight, Quality, and Integration

  Oversee progress toward CGPP MCH and nutrition goals, ensuring high-quality, coordinated implementation across secretariat and implementing partners; monitor field-level performance; ensure effective integration across sectors; and guide adjustments to strategies and approaches based on performance, risk analysis, and evolving context.

• Planning, Budgeting, and Accountability

  Review, approve, and oversee implementation of the secretariat’s and implementing partners’ annual work plans and budgets, ensuring coherence, feasibility, alignment with agreed priorities, and adherence to approved budgets, with proactive identification of risks and timely course correction as needed.

• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

  Oversee monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities, including planned CGPP evaluations; ensure data quality and validation processes; guide the interpretation and use of data and evidence to inform strategic, technical, and operational decision-making; and work closely with the CGPP MEAL Officer to align workflows, strengthen MEAL capacity across secretariat and partner teams, coordinate partner support, and maintain MEAL standards in data quality and reporting across all partners.

• Secretariat Leadership and Capacity Strengthening

  Provide leadership, mentorship, and performance management for secretariat staff; ensure the adequacy and quality of capacity strengthening for field-level teams and partners in community mobilization, communication, data collection, and reporting; and guide continuous improvement of implementation approaches.

• Implementing Partner Coordination and Accountability

  Implement and maintain structured communication and coordination mechanisms with CGPP implementing partners, ensuring consistent technical and operational alignment across all partners; establish clear channels for routine updates, issue identification and resolution, and accountability for agreed priorities; and ensure timely feedback loops, follow-up actions, and documentation of decisions to support coherent and coordinated implementation across all partner institutions.

• Partner Coordination and Representation

  Serve as the focal point for strategic coordination and engagement with national and international stakeholders, including government counterparts, donors, and peer organizations; represent CGPP in relevant technical, policy, and coordination platforms; and sustain informal engagements with government counterparts and peer organizations, including cultivating ongoing informal communication channels to strengthen relationships, identify emerging issues, and foster trust and collaboration across stakeholders.

• Government and Donor Engagement

  Lead institutional engagement with the Ministry of Health and Social Action and relevant national and subnational structures, as well as with US DOS and other donors.

• Reporting and Knowledge Management

  Ensure timely preparation and submission of required CGPP reports and briefings; validate monthly data updates, performance indicators, and partner-reported results; and oversee systematic documentation, timely synthesis, and dissemination of policy developments, coordination outcomes, and lessons learned as well as key discussions, decisions, action points, and follow-up items arising from all secretariat engagements – including technical coordination meetings, internal secretariat discussions, partner consultations, stakeholder engagements, and informal coordination touchpoints – to strengthen transparency, institutional memory, and accountability.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership for complex, multi-partner initiatives, with strong analytical judgment and systems thinking to navigate ambiguity, risk, and competing priorities.
• Exceptional relationship management and diplomatic skills, with the ability to build trust, influence outcomes, and manage alignment across diverse stakeholders, including government counterparts, donors, implementing partners, and civil society organizations.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and hold accountable senior and multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, performance, learning, and results in complex operating environments.
• Strong executive communication and representation skills, with demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information, brief senior decision-makers and donors, and represent the Secretariat credibly in high-level national and international forums.
• Demonstrated capacity to convene, align, and harmonize partners around shared lifesaving priorities, ensuring integrated approaches and avoiding fragmentation or vertical implementation.
• Sound judgment and decision-making authority, including the ability to make timely, evidence-informed decisions with significant organizational, financial, and reputational implications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading or supporting a secretariat or partnership platform, including stewardship of collective decision-making processes across multiple institutions.
• Demonstrated experience navigating complex political or institutional environments, including managing sensitivities across government, donors, and implementing organizations.
• Experience leading programs during periods of transition or uncertainty, such as scale-up, funding shifts, public health emergencies, or changes in government or donor priorities.

Required Languages

• English (Required): Advanced professional proficiency required, with ability to communicate effectively in meetings, presentations, and written reports with international stakeholders.
• French (Required)
• Wolof (Preferred) and any other local language is an added advantage.

Travel

• Must be willing and able to travel approximately 30% to 50% of the time.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Will supervise staff as assigned

Working Relationships

• Internal*:*** Secretariat staff (Deputy Director, MEAL Officer, etc.), implementing partner staff, CGPP HQ team
• External: Ministry of Health and Social Action, Regional MOH, District MOH, National Council for the Development of Nutrition (CNDN), US DOS, GPEI partners, and others.

Qualifications

• Medical Doctor with an advanced degree in public health or nutrition or specialty in pediatrics or obstetrics and gynecology (master’s or Ph.D.) or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 12-15 years of progressively responsible experience, including at least five years in a senior management or leadership role, overseeing multidisciplinary teams in international and/or multicultural settings.
• Demonstrated experience providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for complex programs or initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience working with or supporting governance structures and engaging effectively with government counterparts and institutional partners.
• Proven experience in managing donor-funded programs, including compliance with donor regulations, financial accountability, audits, and high-quality reporting.
• Strong knowledge and experience in budget management and financial oversight.
• Technical expertise and demonstrated experience in maternal and child health (MCH) and nutrition, combined with strong familiarity with the Senegalese health system and context.
• Ability to use data, evidence, and learning to inform strategic decision-making and program improvement.
• Proficiency in standard office and data analysis software.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to represent organizations at senior national and international levels and to build effective partnerships with donors, government, and implementing partners.

Disclaimer

• This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.