USAID/Uganda/Technical Director/Strengthening Local Health Systems (SLHS) Activity

MSH is seeking a Technical Director for an expected 5-year, estimated $30 million, health systems strengthening (HSS) project in Uganda. The USAID-funded Strengthening Local Health Systems (SLHS) activity is expected to include the following technical areas: human resources for health, health financing, information systems, and community health systems.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

This position will be responsible for all SLHS program activities and technical direction, ensuring that staffing is aligned with SLHS vision, goals, and plans to achieve the expected program results. With guidance and support of the Chief of Party (COP), the Technical Director will coordinate the provision of technical services, mentor the project’s technical team, harmonize efforts, and maximize synergy and integration between project program areas. The Technical Director will set a positive tone for the entire project and inspire staff to apply results-based approaches for timely delivery of services to the clients we serve, including but not limited to timely production of high-quality documentation of project’s successes and lessons learned for local and international audiences as well as quarterly reports and technical work products.

SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITY

• Provide technical leadership and oversight for the project and ensure the efficient implementation of project activities and the timely reporting of those activities to the donor and MSH headquarters.

• Coordinate project liaison and collaboration with partners, donors, counterparts and other stakeholders, including MSH headquarters. Maintain a partnership between the project, counterparts and the donor that engenders trust and respect and builds confidence in MSH’s ability to get the job done.

• Work in close collaboration with the rest of the project leadership team to ensure coordinated and effective operational support for the project.

• Serve as a member of the SLHS Project Leadership Team.

• Promote a team approach that emphasizes high level performance, creative approaches, the achievement of personal and project goals and a collegial approach among team members that is focused on assisting one another to succeed.

• Ensure effective coordination is established and maintained with the relevant MSH country Operational Support Team (OST) in headquarters.

• When appropriate, act in place of the COP.

• Advise the COP on alignment of human resources with project work plans and emerging requests from USAID and the Government of Uganda.

• Set direction and coordinate annual workplan development, implementation, and review, and ensure alignment with USAID and Uganda’s national frameworks and strategies.

• Identify opportunities for integrated planning and implementation, creating synergies between various program areas and other USAID projects in Uganda.

• Guide and coach project staff in leveraging project, non-project and community resources through the establishment and maintenance of partnerships and networks.

• Contribute to a knowledge management system and that learning from activities is documented and shared to influence new programming at all levels.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A recognized university degree in social or medical science, public health, health economics, or other relevant area is required.

• At least 10 years of experience in the implementation and/or management of health system strengthening activities with technical experience in two or more technical areas such as healthcare financing, human resources for health, information systems, and/or community health.

• At least 5 years of supervisory experience of teams and fostering collaboration in order to achieve goals, meet milestones, and produce high quality written qualitative, quantitative, and narrative deliverables.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior-level colleagues, particularly interacting productively, proactively, and comfortably with government agencies, NGOs, private sector groups, USG and other organizations.

• Track record of strong commitment to sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives, and sharing credit.

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

• Fluency in English is required.

• Local candidates strongly preferred.