Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director

Position Reports To: Chief of Party

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Overview:

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)/Technical Director will provide managerial, technical, and operational oversight of an upcoming USAID-funded Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) project in Ethiopia. PHEM activity aims to reduce morbidity and mortality of Ethiopian citizens related to public health emergencies while ensuring continuity of essential health services (including maternal, newborn, and child health [MNCH]) by strengthening the full cycle of public health emergency management: preparedness, response and recovery. The project is anticipated to operate over a 5-year period.

The DCOP/Technical Director will work closely with project staff and local partners to ensure technical soundness of activities.  The position will also work with staff to ensure project deliverables are monitored and course corrections are identified and implemented as appropriate. Other responsibilities will include supervising project management or operational staff, overseeing annual work planning, leading the design, implementation and reporting of project activities, and the management of projects as required.  In the absence of the Chief of Party, the DCOP/Technical Director may be required to undertake the responsibilities of that position on a temporary basis.

This position is contingent upon award from USAID. Ethiopia nationals are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day technical and programmatic oversight for design, planning and implementation of activities in support of the project goals and objectives
• Establish and implement a system to ensure technical quality of all project activities
• Provide technical leadership to the development and implementation of project strategic approach, work plan, and project monitoring, in close collaboration with relevant government stakeholders, donors and local partners to ensure results oriented, impactful implementation and compliance with award
• Facilitate relationships with designated counterparts within USAID, subgrantees, departments in the MOH, as well as private sector partners and other key stakeholders in Ethiopia such as NGOs and CSOs, to ensure effective technical assistance and the smooth implementation of activities
• Assure use of evidence-based capacity building approaches, including training materials, standards, job aids, curricula and supervisory support systems
• Provide assistance, mentoring and capacity building at the individual and organizational levels in specific areas of expertise including but not limited to:
• Health systems strengthening
• Disaster risk management
• Public health emergency management
• Essential services – such as MNCH
• Develop service delivery strategies for accessing hard-to-reach populations, including the identification of opportunities to integrate services with non-health sectors, such as agriculture, democracy, environment, economic development
• Work with M&E staff to design and implement a plan to track, analyze and utilize data to inform adjustments in project implementation which mirrors the systems approach to quality improvement required for continuous quality improvement among public and private sector counterparts
• Document successes, challenges and lessons learned in implementation consistent with collaborative learning and adaptation, assuring such efforts are reflected in formal and informal project reporting
• Coordinate advocacy, demand generation, and policy support as required
• Lead the formulation of innovative approaches for further adoption at scale
• Actively participate in relevant technical advisory/working groups and professional for a representing the project and Jhpiego
• Supervise technical staff
• Manage technical contributions of sub grantees, including defining scopes of work
• Maintain excellent relationships with USAID and in-country stakeholders and develop rapid responses
• Serve as the Chief of Party in his/her absence

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Public Health, or related areas is preferred
• Deep understanding and knowledge of the health system strengthening, disaster risk management and the public health emergency management.
• At least 10 years combined experience implementing and/or providing technical assistance in public health emergency, a meaningful portion of which in Ethiopia
• At least 7 years of experience managing USG-funded projects or other internationally-funded projects.
• Previous DCOP or senior management experience in public health, public health emergency management, disaster preparedness and management, resilience, health system strengthening, and/or a related field in Ethiopia
• Experience managing complex public health emergencies involving coordination with multiple program partner institutions
• Community, national, regional and global level understanding of key approaches in primary health care as well as outbreak prevention, detection, investigation and response
• Management skill in designing, managing, and implementing, monitoring and evaluation of donor-supported programs as well technical skill in managing public health emergencies.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in mentoring and training in both clinical and systems levels approaches to improve health outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to provide oversight of local capacity development efforts
• Demonstrated success analyzing and using data to improve outcomes.
• Proven track record managing a project team composed of several technical experts and fostering team work
• Familiarity with USG administrative, management, financial and reporting procedures and systems
• Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with USAID, host-country counterparts and representatives from other key stakeholders such as NGOs, CSOs, and the private sector
• Excellent verbal, written interpersonal and presentation skills in English, Amharic preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Ability to travel nationally to project sites