Programme Coordinator (Team Head)

A fundamental government responsibility is to use information to improve the delivery of public services to citizens.  The Access to Information (a2i) programme, in collaboration with the Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative, is supporting a multi-year project -- Fostering Data Innovation to Strengthen Evidence-based Decision Making for Health in Bangladesh – to develop new approaches to leverage data to make public health policies and programs more effective. 

This project will focus on creating an Advanced Data Analytics Unit within Bangladesh’s Directorate General for Health Services (DGHS).  DGHS has relatively well-developed system for tracking routine health data from its extensive network of public hospitals and clinics.  Although DGHS has many strengths in its use of data in decision-making, one limiting factor is the lack of a dedicated analytic nerve center that could drive efforts and sustain momentum on various data projects and integrate their results into DGHS’ core processes for making programmatic, operational and strategic decisions.  This project’s Advanced Data Analytics Unit will help address this challenge.

The Advanced Data Analytic Unit will advance three objectives: 

• Objective 1 (Policy Development): Develop data-driven program and policy responses to address high-priority public health challenges
• Objective 2 (Operational Performance): Strengthen the use of data to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of health services
• Objective 3 (Strategic Monitoring and Planning): Create government- and citizen-centric systems and processes that promote progress toward long-term health objectives

This project is recruiting a Program Coordinator (Team Head) to coordinate the work of this program.  Reporting to a2i’s Results Management and Data Specialist, the incumbent will advance each of the three objectives specified above by ensuring that critical milestones are met and high-quality outputs are produced.  In addition, the incumbent will serve as the point of coordination and communication with leaders of the project’s institutional partners (DGHS, a2i, Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative) and with other external collaborators (such as other Bangladesh government agencies and development organizations).

The project is funded by the Government of Bangladesh, UNDP and other development partners, and is implemented by the ICT Division and Cabinet Division.

• Engage senior DGHS officials to identify public health issues for which there are the most significant gaps in data available for strategic decision-making
• Direct staff in the development of tools and analyses that integrate diverse data sources to provide deep insight on Bangladesh’s progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Direct staff in advancing projects that leverage emerging “Big Data” sources to provide new insights into public health issues and to support more effective responses to those issues
   

4. Communicate and coordinate activities with institutional partners and external collaborators
 

• Meet with government officials (from DGHS and other relevant agencies), public health experts in research organizations and universities, and others to solicit cooperation needed to advance the work of the unit
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of activities and expenditures required by funding partners
• Provide additional information about unit’s activities and accomplishments as may be requested by institutional partners

Impact of Results:

The work of the Program Coordinator (Team Head) will improve the quality of public services by supporting the use of data-driven intelligence to innovate public health policies and programs.

Corporate Competencies:
 

• Ability to demonstrate integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Ability to promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Ability to display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Ability to treat all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:

Data Use in Public Health Decision-Making

• Significant expertise in conducting public health data analysis and in using analytic results to improve public health policies and services
• Experience in business process improvement, with particular focus on the flow of data in those processes
• Experience with development of digital tools and products
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills
• Significant experience with interacting with senior public officials
   

Staff Leadership
 

• Significant experience managing analytic staff
• Ability to maintain staff progress on multiple projects simultaneously
   

Self-Management
 

• Highly organized with a keen eye for detail
• Ability to manage complexity and to multi-task under tight deadlines
• Ability to think quickly and improvise when necessary
• Ability to work independently and also as an integral part of a team to deliver results
• Focused on result, with ability to respond positively to feedback
• Energetic, with a positive, constructive attitude.

Education:
Minimum of Masters in Public Heath/Epidemiology/Statistics/Any other relevant discipline of Social Sciences

Experience:
 

• Overall 7 years of working experience on data-driven program with 3 years proven experience in public health data analysis
• At least two publications in established journals nationally/internationally
• Experience in working with UNDP, government agencies, and/or donor organizations will be an added advantage
• Familiarity with analytic techniques and software platforms for managing and mining big data sources preferred
• Previous working experience as a Project/ Program leader will be an added advantage
   

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English and Bangla.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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