Project Director, Cervical Cancer Elimination

Location:

Nigeria-Abuja
Ethiopia-Addis Ababa
South Africa-Capetown
Mozambique-Maputo
Senegal-Dakar
Kenya-Nairobi
Rwanda-Kigali
South Africa -Johannesburg
Malawi-Lilongwe
Cameroon-Yaounde

Organization: Management Sciences for Health (MSH)

Closing Date: Apr 17, 2026

Job Description

MSH is recruiting a Project Director for a potential upcoming Unitaid global activity. Unitaid is seeking proposals to accelerate cervical cancer elimination through secondary prevention by strengthening national screening and treatment programs, expanding access to innovative diagnostic technologies, and improving the availability and affordability of cervical cancer commodities.

The initiative will support countries to establish and scale integrated cervical cancer screening and treatment services aligned with the World Health Organization elimination strategy, with a focus on increasing access to HPV testing, screen-and-treat approaches, and innovative delivery models that reduce loss to follow-up and improve service coverage for underserved populations. Activities are expected to generate evidence and implementation approaches that inform national scale-up, improve health system efficiency, and accelerate progress toward global cervical cancer elimination targets.

This position is subject to project award and funding.

Role

The Project Director will lead overall activity implementation and be accountable for the timely and high-quality delivery of project outputs and deliverables. They will regularly engage with Unitaid to align on priorities, report on progress, and adapt implementation strategies as needed to ensure results, impact, and compliance with donor requirements. The Project Director will mobilize and coordinate consortium partners, technical advisors, and country teams across multiple countries to implement integrated cervical cancer screening and treatment programs. Working closely with senior technical leads, the Project Director will ensure coordinated delivery across service delivery, innovation, health systems, and commodity access workstreams, while supporting effective implementation, risk management, and problem-solving across countries.

In addition, the Project Director will serve as the senior lead for stakeholder engagement, working closely with ministries of health, national cancer control programs, donors, civil society organizations, and implementing partners to ensure alignment with national cervical cancer elimination strategies and broader health system priorities. The Project Director will facilitate coordination and shared accountability across partners and stakeholders to promote sustainable implementation, learning, and scale-up.

QUALIFICATIONS

Proven leadership in large-scale, multi-country health programs with at least 8–10+ years of progressive experience in project leadership, management, and implementation within global health or development sectors. 12 years of progressively responsible experience is preferred.

Advanced degree in public health, health systems, global health, medicine, or another relevant field is required.

Track record of managing complex consortia and coordinating diverse stakeholders, including governments, donors, implementing partners, civil society organizations, and private sector partners.

Demonstrated experience supporting national health programs and working closely with ministries of health to strengthen health systems and scale integrated service delivery.

Hands-on experience implementing programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, including coordinating technical assistance and supporting in-country implementation teams.

Strong experience in stakeholder engagement and diplomacy, including facilitating coordination across governments, partners, and donors to align program strategies with national priorities and global health initiatives.

Familiarity with cervical cancer prevention programs, women’s health initiatives, or related areas such as HIV, reproductive health, or non-communicable disease programs is an advantage.

Experience working with major global health donors (e.g., Unitaid, the Global Fund, USAID, WHO) and familiarity with donor reporting and compliance requirements.

Demonstrated experience overseeing monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive program management processes to ensure evidence-based decision making and continuous learning.

Strong communication, negotiation, and leadership skills, with experience facilitating high-level coordination meetings and building consensus among diverse stakeholders.

Experience in health systems strengthening, procurement systems, supply chains, or market access for health technologies across multiple geographies is an advantage.

Fluency in English required; fluency in French and/or Portuguese is advantageous.

Preference will be given to candidates based in Sub-Saharan Africa.

MSH is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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