Project Summary
The 5-year USAID funded Integrated Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Family Planning (MNCH-FP) project goal is to improve maternal, youth and child health and survival in beneficiary communities and populations. The geographic focus is seven districts of Manicaland Province, focusing on activities to increase the demand and supply of integrated, quality MNCH-FP services as well delivery of family planning services through outreach in all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe. This project will provide Technical Assistance (TA) to the MOHCC in Manicaland for MNCH and direct service delivery for Family Planning through outreach services.
Position Summary :
The Technical Director will be responsible for the technical leadership and oversight of the project and is specifically responsible for the implementation of evidence-based, high quality, multi-sectoral interventions to strengthen the access to, utilization and delivery of integrated, quality MNCH and family planning services by improving quality and youth friendliness of MNCH and FP services throughout the continuum of care and strengthening community systems and linkages. The Technical Director will manage the design and implementation of key components of the program description and ensure adherence to global standard of excellence in health service delivery programming.The position will be based in Mutare and will report to the Chief of Party. The selection of the final applicant is subject to USAID approval.
Duties and responsibilities:
The Technical Director will have the following responsibilities:
- Provide technical leadership in the development and implementation of strategies, interventions and activities that are aimed at strengthening the delivery of quality integrated MNCH/ FP services, improving the quality and youth friendliness of MNCH/FP services, strengthening community systems and linkages throughout the continuum of care and reducing socio-cultural barriers to improved health and health seeking behaviors.
- Ensure that project strategies and activities are evidence-based and in line with state-of-the-art, globally-recognized best practices; as well as aligned with Zimbabwe’s National guidelines and policies.
- Cooperate closely with the Chief of Party (COP) on all technical matters.
- Advise and support the COP in providing technical direction to project implementation and ensure the project meets stated goals, expected results and reporting requirements.
- Lead the response to the specified deliverables, goals of grant agreements, ensuring achievements in a timely manner and in full support and compliance with FHI 360 and USAID grant requirements.
- Coordinate the development and implementation of the project technical strategies, adapting global and regional technical resources and tools as needed for the Zimbabwean context.
- Oversee a team of technical staff for the project and ensure clear roles and responsibilities and lines of communication are maintained amongst the team members.
- Oversee technical outputs of all partner organizations through regular field visits and facilitate work planning and regular technical meetings for all consortium partners.
- Identify technical assistance needs and training resources among project staff, partners, government counterparts and beneficiaries and coordinate technical assistance provision.
- Build capacity of staff, implementing partners, government counterparts, and other stakeholders in working in integrated MNCH and family planning services under the project.
- Promote sustainability of project activities with effective networking, coordination and linkages to other programs, partners and counterparts, capacity building of project staff, and institutional strengthening of implementing partners and community-based organizations.
- Take a leadership role in the development and timely submission of work plans, quarterly and annual reports, and other reports and papers summarizing project results and evidence
- Work closely with the project SI&E team to deliver project quality benchmarks, baseline, monitoring, evaluation and key lessons learned.
- Represent the project in technical meetings, conferences, and coordination platforms.
Knowledge, skills and abilities:
- Ability to work independently and manage a high-volume work flow.
- Relevant computer software skills, including at a minimum, MS Office, etc.
- Qualified Zimbabwean nationals are highly encouraged to apply.
- Demonstrated state-of-the-art experience at a mid- or senior level in progressively more responsible technical supervisory work experience that involved direct leadership of professional and support staff, and oversight and evaluation of staff performance and deliverables.
- Demonstrated experience in working in at least two of the following areas: MNCH and family planning service delivery, quality improvement, community systems strengthening, and operations research.
- Demonstrated experience in managing, coordinating and supervising a team working with local community organizations, families and communities.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government representatives, for-profit private sector entities, local community organizations, donors and other stakeholders, particularly at the sub-national level.
- Professional level of oral and written fluency in English language.
- Strong writing and presentation skills about program activities, outcomes and impact.
- Extensive experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa. Knowledge and experience working within the Zimbabwean health sector is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated track record of working in teams and fostering partnerships.
Qualifications and requirements:
- Master’s Degree in Public Health or related field. A medical doctor is strongly preferred.
- Minimum of eight years of experience implementing MNCH and Family planning programs in a development context, specifically PEPFAR, with five of these years in Sub-Saharan Africa, preferably Zimbabwe. During this period s/he should have been involved with project design, implementation, system strengthening, reporting and evaluation, including evaluation of evidence-based integrated MNCH and family planning services.
- Knowledge of USAID programs, regulations, compliance and reporting requirements.
- Experience with a USG cooperative agreement is preferred.
This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.
More Information
- Job City Mutare
