Ethiopia: Chief of Party - Ethiopia

MSH is seeking candidates for a potential USAID-funded integrated reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) project in Ethiopia. The project will aim to improve interactions between families, communities and frontline health workers resulting in improved access to and availability of MNCH services. MSH’s health systems strengthening expertise will be applied at all levels of the health system and across all health system areas to address major supply-side constraints and demand-side barriers to primary health care services, resulting in increased utilization of high-impact MNCH services in Ethiopia.

Note: This position is subject to project award and funding.

The Chief of Party is responsible for overseeing and managing all activities for the program and serves as the technical lead on selected program activities. S/he shall be responsible and accountable for the development, regular update, and implementation of the country work plan and budget to ensure attainment of the program goals and objectives in line with the project mandate and approaches, to contribute to the goals of the local USG Mission and that of government partners. S/he is the primary liaison between the project and the local USAID Coordinator/US State Government Health Officer, Government counterparts, stakeholders, and other project partners. The Chief of Party is accountable for the management of the office, provides strategic and technical guidance, and works closely with the assigned US-based Country Portfolio Director and MSH home office technical and operational staff, and other MSH and USAID projects in country to ensure the project plans and activities effectively achieve the project objectives.

Specific Responsibilities

Leadership and management oversight

• Provide leadership and management to ensure the achievement of contract/agreement goals so that expected project targets and deliverables occur on time and within budget.


• Develop and adapt as needed, and implement project management systems within MSH policies, guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures while ensuring local ownership, appropriateness and responsiveness.


• Maintain financial, contractual, technical, and political integrity of project.


• Develop, update and execute project results framework, performance monitoring plan, technical strategy, M&E plan and annual work plans as per contract/agreement requirements and MSH technical frameworks and standards.


• Ensure appropriate and timely documentation and dissemination of key results and deliverables for maximum project impact and business development using a variety of communication strategies and media.

Relationship management

• Ensure effective dialogue and relationships with the project clients, beneficiaries and other local and international stakeholders. These will include but are not limited to relationships with USAID, the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and in-country partner organizations.


• Provide strategic insight into health sector goals and planning processes to ensure that project deliverables are in-line with FMOH strategic objectives.


• Navigate in-country partnerships with local organizations to facilitate collaboration across organizations and institutions.

Technical leadership

• Provide leadership in the technical areas of health service delivery, maternal, child and newborn health, reproductive health, and family planning.


• Attend key national and international meetings and conferences to ensure effective results dissemination and promote project successes more broadly.

Qualifications

1. A minimum of 15 years of experience supervising complex, socially and politically sensitive projects, at least three years of which have been spent in COP or Deputy COP (DCOP) positions or their equivalents, is required;


2. Advanced degree (Masters, MD, or PhD) in public health, health policy, or a related field, is required;


3. Strong leadership, program, organizational management and communication skills, and a unique understanding of the Ethiopian social and political context is required;


4. Strategic vision, leadership qualities, depth and breadth of technical expertise and experience, professional reputation, management experience, interpersonal skills, and written and oral presentation skills to fulfill the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the program is required;


5. Demonstrated experience and knowledge in establishing systems and overseeing project start-up is required;


6. Experience hiring and supervising personnel and ensuring they acquire the necessary training and skills to meet evolving program needs is required;


7. Demonstrated experience interacting with other projects, host country governments at all levels, and international agencies is required;


8. Fluency in English and Amharic is required;


9. Prior work in Ethiopia, or similar context, is highly desirable;


10. Strong background in MNCH, FP/RH and management of health systems in developing countries is highly advantageous but not required;


11. Demonstrated ability to assess priorities and manage a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality;


12. Proven record of aligning diverse, multi-level teams with project mission and vision;


13. Track record of, and strong commitment to, transparency and collaboration, as demonstrated by sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives, and sharing credit;


14. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior-level colleagues, particularly interacting productively, proactively, and comfortably with government agencies, NGOs, private sector groups, USAID, Collaborating Agencies, and donor organizations;


15. Demonstrated strategic agility, diplomacy, conflict management, team building, written and oral communication, and negotiation skills.

EEO Statement

Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.

Reports To Project Director Supervisor