Project Coordinator – Human Resources for Health (HRH) Development System Strengthening project

About the Ethiopian Medical Association (EMA)

The Ethiopian Medical Association (EMA) is the national professional association representing medical doctors in Ethiopia. Established in 1948, EMA is a historic, resilient, and pioneering institution in the country’s health sector and a model for other professional associations. With over six decades of experience organizing Annual Medical Conferences and continuously publishing the Ethiopian Medical Journal, EMA has established itself as a leading institution in advancing the medical profession and shaping Ethiopia’s health sector.

EMA contributes to excellence in medical education, accreditation, continuing professional development (CPD), institutional capacity strengthening, medical research, ethical practice, and the standardization of medical services. It advocates for physicians’ interests and well-being, influences national health policies and strategies, and represents Ethiopian physicians nationally and internationally. Through its professional networks and strategic partnerships, EMA promotes professional leadership, unity, accountability, and a stronger, more equitable health system.

Vision

A strong and united medical association advancing a healthier Ethiopia.

Mission

EMA exists to advance the medical profession in Ethiopia by contributing to excellence in medical education and lifelong learning, empowering physicians, upholding ethics and professionalism, advocating for physician well-being, and contributing to a high-quality and equitable health system.

Core Values

Integrity, excellence, professionalism, collaboration, unity in diversity, service, and innovation.

The Ethiopian Medical Association (EMA) has established a partnership with Jhpiego Ethiopia under the U.S. Department of State (DOS)-funded Human Resources for Health (HRH) Project. In this regard, EMA invites qualified, experienced, and competent candidates to apply for the following positions.

Position Title: Project Coordinator – Human Resources for Health (HRH) Development System Strengthening Project

Organization: Ethiopian Medical Association (EMA)

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (EMA Headquarters)

Employment type: Fixed term, project based

Reports to: Executive Director, Ethiopian Medical Association

Technical Coordination: Jhpiego Project Team

Supervises: Six Woreda-Level HRH System Strengthening Project Officers and M&E Officer

Coordinates with: EMA Finance and Administration Department, CPD and membership department, Preservice education experts, Volunteers, branch offices and other relevant technical and administrative units.

Background and Position Summary

The Ethiopian Medical Association (EMA), in partnership with Jhpiego-Ethiopia, is implementing activities under the U.S. Department of State (DOS)-funded Human Resources for Health (HRH) Project, guided by the Government-to-Government (G2G) Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and Jhpiego.

The broader HRH Project aims to strengthen Ethiopia’s health workforce system by improving the production, development, regulation, and management of a competent, motivated, and resilient health workforce capable of delivering high-quality, equitable, and people-centered health services.

Through this partnership, EMA contributes to strengthening professional competencies, improving pre-service education and continuing professional development (CPD), promoting evidence-informed professional practice, supporting workforce motivation and retention, and advancing professional leadership and accountability.

The Project Coordinator will provide overall national-level programmatic, technical, operational, and administrative coordination of EMA’s HRH Project activities. The position will lead project planning and implementation, supervise field-level project personnel, coordinate technical interventions and stakeholder engagements, oversee project performance and budget implementation, and ensure compliance with grant requirements and agreed deliverables.

The position will be based at EMA Headquarters in Addis Ababa and will work under the overall institutional supervision of the EMA Executive Director, with regular technical coordination and reporting to Jhpiego.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Project Planning, Coordination, and Implementation

• Lead the preparation, implementation, and periodic review of annual project implementation plans, activity schedules, budgets, and deliverables in consultation with Jhpiego and relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate and oversee the implementation of all agreed HRH project interventions across the designated implementation hubs and target woredas.
• Ensure timely achievement of project milestones, outputs, and targets in accordance with the approved Scope of Work, work plans, and partnership agreement.
• Coordinate and facilitate the implementation of technical interventions related to competency-based education and assessment, CPD, clinical mentorship, workforce development, and institutional strengthening.
• Identify implementation bottlenecks, facilitate timely corrective actions, and ensure effective coordination between national and field-level project teams
• Coordinate project sustainability initiatives and contribute to the Association’s business development and resource mobilization efforts.

Technical Coordination and HRH System Strengthening

• Coordinate the compilation, standardization, and dissemination of competency-based education and assessment packages, including assessment blueprints, workplace-based assessment tools, PBL cases, practice syllabi, and OSCE station designs, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate professional development interventions, including need-based competency-based blended CPD, Category II workplace-based learning, clinical mentorship, clinical attachments, and structured assessment of learning outcomes.
• Facilitate the strengthening of CPD provider capacity, including the establishment and strengthening of instructional design and CPD teams/offices and orientation of PHCU CPD focal persons.
• Coordinate organizational capacity assessments (OSCAR or equivalent) and oversee the implementation of prioritized institutional capacity-strengthening plans through training, mentorship, technical assistance, and systems improvement.
• Facilitate technical support for workforce motivation, retention, and well-being interventions, including work climate assessments, self-care initiatives, and non-financial motivation packages.
• Coordinate professional accountability and patient safety interventions, including medico-legal case reviews and targeted orientations on ethical practice.
• Promote the use of digital HRH information systems, CPD monitoring dashboards, and workforce data for performance monitoring and quality improvement.
• Facilitate the engagement of relevant technical experts and business analysts to support institutional sustainability, income-generation strategies, digital systems, and business process improvements.

Team Leadership and Field-Level Supervision

• Directly supervise, mentor, and provide technical and operational guidance to six woreda-level HRH System Strengthening Project Officers and the M&E Officer.
• Ensure effective performance management, accountability, and coordination of project personnel.
• Provide regular supportive supervision and conduct field monitoring visits to assess implementation progress, provide technical support, and address emerging challenges.
• Coordinate regular project review meetings and ensure timely follow-up on agreed action points.
• Facilitate collaboration and information sharing among field teams, implementation partners, and relevant government structures.

 Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Reporting

• Oversee implementation of the project monitoring, evaluation, and learning framework in collaboration with the M&E Officer.
• Ensure systematic tracking of project indicators, targets, milestones, and deliverables.
• Ensure data quality, proper documentation, and timely consolidation of project performance information from implementation sites.
• Coordinate the preparation and submission of quarterly technical, narrative, and performance reports to EMA and Jhpiego.
• Document implementation progress, challenges, corrective actions, good practices, and lessons learned.
• Facilitate quarterly integrated supportive supervision and hub-based HRH performance reviews, ensuring follow-up on agreed improvement actions.

 Financial and Grant Management

• Oversee project budget implementation, expenditure tracking, financial forecasting, and budget utilization in collaboration with EMA’s Finance and Administration Department.
• Ensure alignment of project expenditures with approved budgets, implementation plans, deliverables, and Jhpiego’s financial and procurement requirements.
• Coordinate timely preparation and submission of financial reports and supporting documentation in collaboration with the designated Finance Officer and EMA Finance Department.
• Monitor budget performance, identify variances, and recommend appropriate budget adjustments and corrective measures.
• Ensure efficient utilization of project resources and compliance with grant agreements, donor requirements, and EMA financial and administrative procedures.
• Coordinate project procurement, logistics, travel, training, and other operational requirements in accordance with approved procedures.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Coordination

• Maintain effective working relationships with Jhpiego, the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus, Woreda Health Offices, health facilities, Higher Education Institutions, professional associations, and other implementing partners.
• Represent EMA in relevant national, regional, and subnational HRH coordination meetings, technical working groups, and performance review forums.
• Facilitate joint planning, technical reviews, and coordination meetings with project partners and government counterparts.
• Strengthen collaboration with relevant stakeholders to support competency-based pre-service education, CPD, clinical mentorship, workforce management, and professional development.
• Promote alignment of project interventions with national HRH priorities, MoH policies, standards, and implementation frameworks while minimizing duplication and promoting complementarity.

 Compliance, Risk Management, and Institutional Sustainability

• Ensure compliance with the approved Scope of Work, grant agreements, donor requirements, EMA policies, and applicable government regulations.
• Identify programmatic, financial, operational, and implementation risks and facilitate appropriate mitigation measures.
• Ensure proper project documentation, records management, and audit readiness.
• Promote institutionalization and sustainability of project-supported interventions within EMA’s existing structures and systems.
• Facilitate documentation and dissemination of implementation evidence, professional learning, and good practices to inform future HRH programming and scale-up.
• Perform other related duties assigned by the EMA Executive Director in line with project objectives.

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Systems Management, Health Administration, Project Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of relevant professional experience, including at least 3 years in project coordination or management, preferably in HRH, health systems strengthening, or institutional capacity development.
• Demonstrated experience managing donor-funded projects, including program planning, budget management, grant compliance, and performance reporting.
• Proven experience supervising multidisciplinary teams and coordinating with government institutions, professional associations, and development partners.
• Experience in CPD, competency-based education, workforce development, institutional capacity strengthening, or health workforce management is an advantage.

Required Competencies and Skills

• Strong program and project management, planning, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, team supervision, and coordination abilities.
• Knowledge of financial management, grant administration, and donor compliance.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and partnership management skills.
• Knowledge of HRH systems, CPD, health workforce development, and institutional strengthening.
• Excellent analytical, report-writing, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to coordinate multiple activities and manage competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and project management tools.