Country Director Zambia 333 views3 applications

SolidarMed is a leading non-profit organization working to improve the health care of 2.5 million people in Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Working together with national partners to strengthen health systems and community capacities, we are committed to scientific evidence and policy dialogue both as foundations and objectives of our work.

We are looking for an experienced development professional to lead our passionate field team focussed on a Human Resources for Health programme in Zambia.

Contract Type

Fixed term appointment (minimum 3 years)

Place of Assignment

Lusaka, Zambia (with regular travel to all SolidarMed project sites)

Start of Contract

October 2019, with some flexibility

Programme Zambia

SolidarMed in Zambia, established in 2009, focusses on addressing one of the key issues facing the Health sector in Zambia, the lack of quality Health workers. SolidarMed partners with the Ministry of Health to strengthen the training and retention of these health workers.

Through this programme, SolidarMed has a countrywide focus and supports national training institutions to provide a skilled, professional health workforce.

Housing for Health workers in rural areas is also a key intervention. SolidarMed implements an innovative project to attract and retain qualified health workers to these more remote places. The project works towards sustainability by creating a housing cooperative to build, renovate and maintain staff houses for rural health facilities.

Your tasks and responsibilities as Country Director

• Assume overall responsibility for the coordination, implementation, project cycle management, budgeting, reporting and annual planning of the SolidarMed country programme, including managing team (6 members)
• Represent SolidarMed Zambia
• Develop country strategy with Programme manager based in Switzerland
• Coordinate and link with partners, donors, stakeholders; proactively seek potential collaborations
• Contribute to programme- and project development
• Identify opportunities for institutional fundraising in Zambia
• Organisational development (staff, logistics, accounting, administration)
• Budget control and safeguarding of internal controlling system
• Ensure the delivery of timely, high quality programme and project reports
• Liaison with donors in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, including reporting and hosting field visits
• Knowledge management, field research, policy dialogue

Your profile

• Degree in a relevant subject such as Public Health, Management, Development Studies, Economics or Business Administration
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written)
• At least 6 years of professional experience, with a minimum of 1 year managing a team in a development context
• Experience in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development and health programmes
• Sound knowledge and experience of management and administration, experience in financial administration desirable
• Experience in dealing with institutional donors and government officials
• Knowledge of Programme- and Project Cycle Management and associated tools
• Excellent social and networking skills
• Team-player with good interpersonal skills. Able to develop and support other team members
• Self-motivated, energetic, hard-working, entrepreneurial and service-orientated
• Driver’s license

We offer

• An attractive benefit package commensurate with Swiss standards, professional development opportunities and stimulating linkages with competence networks
• A professionally run, innovative programme focused on training and retaining of health workers in Zambia, with a committed team
• Placement in Zambia’s capital Lusaka, family posting possible