RTI International is an international, independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. With a worldwide staff of more than 4,000 people, RTI offers innovative research and development and a full spectrum of multidisciplinary services that meet the highest standards of professional performance. RTI is very interested in receiving applications from a diverse pool of applicants, for more information about our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity, please visit: https://www.rti.org/statement-diversity-and-inclusion
RTI NTD projects support and expand Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) control and elimination in priority countries and will further the development of evidence-based policies and standards globally. To learn more about RTI’s NTD work visit:
Position Summary:
The Chief of Party will provide senior technical and managerial leadership and oversight on all aspects of RTI’s NTD activities in Ethiopia. This currently includes the USAID-funded Act to End NTDs | East program which spans the regions of Oromia, Tigray, Beneshangul-Gumuz, and Gambella and includes extensive technical support to the Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH). As RTI is constantly advocating for and securing greater NTD support in Ethiopia, the Chief of Party will also play a lead role in securing new business and managing any new projects acquired.
The Chief of Party is primarily responsible for providing high-level support to the FMOH in its implementation of NTD activities in line with Ethiopia’s National Master Plan for Neglected Tropical Diseases (2020-2025). The Chief of Party will be responsible for all oversight of RTI’s NTD programs in Ethiopia, including annual work planning and budgeting; biannual monitoring and evaluation; monthly reporting; drug and diagnostics quantification; and management of a large staff spread out over multiple regions. The Chief of Party will lead four separate teams necessary to ensure the highest quality NTD programming: Implementation; Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and Adapting (MERLA); Health System Strengthening; and Operations (Finance, Grants and Logistics). The Chief of Party will also manage seconded staff to the government to implement program activities and ensure effective project management including the submission of program deliverables and contractual obligations on a timely basis. The Chief of Party will also coordinate RTI’s sub-grantees in the country and, together with the RTI Headquarters team, help ensure that they remain financially and contractually compliant and achieve promised deliverables on time and at high quality.
The position will be based in Addis Ababa and will report to the RTI Senior Program Manager for Ethiopia based in the U.S., and it will require travel to regions of Ethiopia.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage the Act | East Ethiopia team, a diverse team incorporating implementation, MERLA, health systems strengthening, and operations. Ensure the team produces high quality work in line with project objectives and deliverables. Support the team to work effectively while working remotely if applicable. Encourage the continued professional development of the team members;
- Manage all RTI activities in support of the Ethiopian government’s NTD elimination and control activities, ensuring strong relationships and partnerships;
- Work with the Ethiopia MOH, implementing partners, sub-grantees, and other major stakeholders to develop annual work plans and budgets;
- Provide support to the FMOH and Regional Health Bureaus for timely implementation and smooth operation of RTI NTD project activities, ensuring that all activities are implemented in accordance with work plans and budgets;
- Represent the RTI office to the Ethiopian Government which includes completing all criteria required by the government for a registered NGO in the country. It also includes meeting RTI International’s obligations outside of specific projects (leading new business development efforts, coordinating legal matters with HQ, acting as bank signatory, etc.)
- Ensure activities are implemented safely with due regard for COVID-19 infection-mitigation efforts. Ensure that infection-control measures are in place in the RTI office and observed appropriately;
- Work in partnership with the FMOH, implementing partners, and RTI NTD HQ team in monitoring implementation of activities, tracking progress toward targets and deliverables, identifying issues that need to be addressed, and ensuring that technical and financial reporting requirements are met;
- Provide regular updates to the RTI HQ NTD team on all project activities;
- Serve as a key liaison between RTI headquarters, the Ethiopia FMOH, USAID/Ethiopia, project partners, and other national and international donors, including pharmaceutical donation programs, and organizations involved in NTD control and elimination activities in Ethiopia;
- Lead the preparation of high-quality RTI NTD project documents for submission to donors;
- Ensure the documentation of project accomplishments and innovation in blogs, peer-reviewed journals, and other media;
- Develop and manage mechanisms for coordination and collaboration with other partners and grantees;
- Support Ethiopia FMOH in the coordination of stakeholders (including facilitation of stakeholders’ meetings) to avoid overlap and to maximize the use of limited resources;
- Empower the national program to conduct strong field supervision and monitoring for all field activities, including during mass drug administration, and while conducting disease-specific assessments;
- Work with RTI operations team at HQ and in-country to monitor project activities and spending to ensure proper activity planning and meet USAID financial and management reporting guidelines;
- Facilitate a culture of learning and using data for planning and adapting program strategy and activities;
- Support high-profile visits to Ethiopia from NTD stakeholders, ensuring good representation of RTI’s NTD work;
- Liaise with donors to ensure communication on NTD activities and explore potential synergies with other projects in the country;
- Perform international (up to 10%) and domestic travel (up to 30%); and perform other work as needed by program management.
Reports to: RTI Senior Program Manager for Ethiopia based in the US
Travel: Up to 40% (domestic and international)
Job Requirements
Requirements
- Master’s Degree in public health or other relevant discipline;
- At least 12 years’ progressive experience implementing and leading technical and program activities for donor-funded health programs (at national and regional levels), ideally with an NTD/infectious disease focus, but experience with initiatives based on health systems strengthening, and/or sustainability are also highly desirable.
- Demonstrated high-level managerial skills, particularly in multiple, mid-size ($10+ million) donor-funded projects in Ethiopia is preferred;
- Experience managing USAID-supported projects. Knowledge and experience with other international development organizations’ contracting policies and procedures is preferred;
- Highly developed expertise in managing and motivating diverse teams, including ensuring continued professional development;
- Experience in all aspects of program management: conceiving, planning, organizing, implementing, monitoring, evaluation, and learning;
- Demonstrated experience in new business development (scoping, consortium building, proposal writing, budgeting, etc.)
- Demonstrated experience with the MERLA (Monitoring, Evaluating, Research, Learning and Adapting) approach including analyzing quantitative and qualitative data for improved programmatic performance along with knowledge of reporting procedures, best practices, guidelines;
- Knowledge of supply chain management, commodity procurement, logistics and distribution issues
- Knowledge of health systems strengthening and sustainability concepts and experience of managing HSS activities and/or projects.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully coordinate with officials from the FMOH at all levels, U.S. Government, donor organizations, NGOs, and other agencies
- Strong organizational and interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team-oriented setting
- Strong English oral and written communication and presentation skills. This should include the ability to write/edit reports to a high standard, acceptable for submission to donors. Additional fluency in languages of targeted areas for implementation will be an asset and preferred.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Willingness to travel within Ethiopia frequently and ability to travel within the Africa region.
More Information
- Job City Addis Ababa
