Associate Director, Technical

Job Summary:

The Associate Director, Technical will oversee the design and implementation of the STRengthening Infectious Disease DEtection Systems (STRIDES) project to enhance global health security in Malawi. S/He will establish and continually refine  the technical frameworks, approaches tools and activities for STRIDES project in line with relevant normative guidelines and technical standards. S/He will direct and drive the technical development and technical development and implementation process of STRIDES, identify relevant partnership needs and engage qualified partners to ensure technical performance. The Associate Director, Technical will monitor all the technical aspects of STRIDES assigned project from initiation through close out and ensure that the standards project technical deliverables are  completed on schedule, within budget, and meet or exceed quality standards.  S/He will supervise and mentor technical staff and guide project implementation to ensure technical objectives are met. S/He will contribute project experience and learning to global thought leadership initiatives in Global Health Security.

Accountabilities:

• Serves as the technical lead providing technical oversight and direction for the STRIDES project in Malawi.

• Monitors technical delivery and ensures that the STRIDES project meets project work plan milestones and targets, and that all program activities are conducted in close coordination with the Government of Malawi (GoM) and other stakeholders to ensure alignment with GoM standards, protocols and policies, and United States Government policies and priorities.

• Liaise with counterparts within the Malawi health system and other GoM structures at national and regional levels to ensure quality service delivery.

• Provide or oversee technical capacity strengthening of project subrecipients for effective delivery of quality and sustainable life-saving interventions.

• Ensures high quality technical deliverables, including work plans and annual reports are developed, submitted and approved on schedule and within budget parameters in collaboration with the Country Project Director and FHI 360 STRIDES headquarters team.

• Organizes STRIDES project activities and ensure completion of the project on schedule and within budget constraints.

• Provides direction to ensure technical activities are compliant with donor requirements, GOZ regulations and FHI 360’s policies and procedures.

• Responds to donor and GOM requests and questions on technical matters and ensures timely drafts and submissions of requests

• Manages and guides a team with training and developing process improvement initiatives to ensure compliance with FHI 360 and government standards.

• Works closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Advisor to provide technical management expertise with monitoring and evaluating STRIDES project and is involved in the decision making for technical issues on the project.

• Oversees the direction, budgetary planning, and technical process of the project to ensure project deliverables are met.

• Supports performance management and professional development of direct reports, including ongoing feedback, coaching, and career support

• Designs, monitors, and evaluates activities regarding recruitment, orientation, and supervision of teams who lead these activities.

• Supports capacity building and contributes to the overall strategic goals of STRIDES project.

• Creates or revises proposals as needed to facilitate strategic goals.

• Trains a team on procedures and policies to achieve project and organizational goals.

• Supports management with recommendations for process improvement to achieve strategic goals.

• Supports performance management and professional development of direct reports, including ongoing feedback, coaching, and career support.

• Works with personnel or teams to design, monitor, and evaluate activities with recruitment, orientation, supervision of a team to complete project functions.

• Contributes and provides support to overall strategic goals for STRIDES project.

• Develops objectives that align with strategic goals and oversees STRIDES project for technical and compliance standards.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Comprehensive technical knowledge of theories, concepts, and practices with project management.

• In depth understanding of infectious disease preparedness, prevention, detection, and outbreak response principles, strategies and technical approaches (including laboratory strengthening and surveillance, etc.)

• In-depth familiarity with Zambia public health sector and donor-funded programs.

• Demonstrated working knowledge of Zambia health information systems and monitoring and evaluation processes as it relates to data collection for performance-based reporting and use of data.

• Demonstrated ability to perform and/or understand complex data analyses, fluently present results of the analyzes and make recommendations based on findings.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

•  Excellent organizational and analytical skills.

• Demonstrated project and technical leadership.

• Ability to motivate, influence and work well with others to achieve FHI 360’s goals.

• Articulate, professional, and able to communicate in a clear, positive manner with clients and team.

• Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Works on problems of complex scope that require analysis of situations and data of various factors.

• Exercises judgment within broadly defined practices and policies in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.

• Decisions made will generally have major implications on the management and operations of a project.

Supervision Given/Received:

• Manages a team to meet project and organizational goals.

• Manages the budgets, methods, and strategies of the project.

• Coordinates with the Project Director and FHI 360 home office to set budgets, goals, and develops procedures and training for project.

• Recommends solutions to management on strategy, operational, and business decisions

• that affect the project.

• Typically reports to the Project Director, STRIDES Malawi.

Education: ****

• Master’s degree or its international equivalent in Health or a related fields.

• A Medical Degree (MBBS/MBChB or MD) with a Master’s Degree is strongly preferred

Experience: ****

• Typically requires 10+ years of relevant technical/project management experience in a specialized technical, product and/or service area (including 3+ years of leadership and line management skills).

• Experience with design and implementation of innovative technical support to local entities and frontline service delivery teams.

• Knowledge and experience working on Global Health Security projects or activities preferred; experience working across multiple sectors (human, animal, and environmental health) desirable

• Experience working in a non-governmental organization (NGO).

• Prior experience working for a USG contract is an added advantage.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.

• Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.

• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

• Ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs.

Technology to be Used:

• Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

Travel Requirements:

• Ability to travel more than 25%