Project Director

Overview:

The Project Director will provide leadership and project oversight for a Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) project that will be implemented in multiple countries across several regions. The project aims to improve prevention of avoidable epidemics including naturally occurring outbreaks and intentional or accidental releases of dangerous pathogens; improve ability to rapidly detect threats early, including detecting, characterizing, and reporting emerging public health threats; and respond rapidly and effectively to public health threats of international concern. This includes strengthening the capacity of national laboratory systems, surveillance systems, human resources, and emergency response operations. The project will operate over an anticipated five-year period.

The Project Director will oversee a team providing quality technical, operational, and financial oversight for core activities and direct technical assistance and capacity building support to country-level programs. S/he will provide overall strategic leadership and vision for the Jhpiego-led team and will manage long- and short-term technical expertise across all result areas, and ensure the project meets the stated goals and reporting requirements. S/he will be responsible for making key decisions and solving problems in short timeframes while ensuring operational and project quality and integrity. S/he will serve as the project’s main point of contact with CDC on routine and strategic matters. S/he will also ensure effective organizational management and communication with the host country government at all levels, and international partners and agencies. The Project Director will be based within the Jhpiego, Baltimore/DC office and international travel will be required.

This position is contingent upon award from CDC.

Responsibilities:

· Provide strategic direction, leadership and management oversight for large, complex, multi-country activities

· Maintain excellent relationships with CDC and in-country stakeholders and develop rapid responses

· Oversees project work planning, performance management, and strategic communications

· Identifies issues and risks related to project implementation in a timely manner and appropriate program adjustments

· Manages a diverse team of technical, operational and management staff, ensuring an organizational structure with specific roles and responsibilities and a high level of staff morale and retention

· Ensure that the project activities are meeting client and stakeholder expectations and that project results are proactively disseminated, and learnings are shared and incorporated to continuously improve

· Provide vision and leadership to the development the project strategic plan, work plan, and project monitoring, in close collaboration with CDC, country ministries of health, and other stakeholders to ensure timely implementation and compliance to the requirements and regulations of the award

· Work closely with the technical and operational staff on setting project priorities and directions, and responding to requests for support from local counterparts

· Coordinate advocacy, demand generation, and policy support across project sites as required

· Lead the formulation of innovative approaches for capacity building, and scale up project services

· Actively participate in relevant technical advisory/working groups and professional forums representing Jhpiego

· Work with M&E staff to design, implement a plan to track project data/results to inform adjustments in project implementation

· Document successes, lessons learned and challenges in implementation as well as reports of project activities and results to the project and donor, including routine quarterly and annual reports and other reporting requirements as requested

· Author/co-author abstracts, presentations, and articles for journals and conferences

· Lead strategy and engagement with local implementing partners to build their capacity and to ensure sustainability

· Manage technical contributions of potential subgrantees/subcontractors, including defining scopes of work

Required Qualifications:

· Advanced degree in public health, health administration, international health or a related field; MD preferred

· Previous experience serving as COP/project director or DCOP or senior level management

· 10+ years' experience successfully managing large US government, multi-partner, multi-year health and/or capacity development projects (approximately $25 million) in developing countries

· At least 5 years’ experience in preparing and managing global health security, infectious disease prevention, outbreak response activities

· Demonstrated experience leading a capacity-building approach for local actors in the public sector, providing capacity building assistance at individual and organizational levels

· Demonstrated experience with a mix of practical technical skills in GHSA topics, including surveillance, laboratory strengthening, emergency response operations, workforce strengthening

· Demonstrated in-depth understanding of global health security, emergency response operations and International Health Regulations (IHR) frameworks

· Demonstrated experience and knowledge in establishing project systems and overseeing project start-up and close-out

· Demonstrated outstanding leadership, strategic thinking, organizational, team-building, and representational skills

· Proven track record managing a project team composed of technical experts and fostering teamwork

· Proven track record monitoring budgets and expenses to stay within obligations.

· Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with CDC, host-country counterparts and representatives from other key stakeholders such as NGOs, CSOs, and the private sector

· Expertise in translating research to practice—identifying and adapting best practices to specific project contexts

· Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills in English

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office

· Ability to travel internationally to project sites

Preferred qualifications

· Proficient in French

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