Job type: Full-time

Institute Overview

Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) is a leading research organization in Africa with a strong track record in developing, testing and validating innovations for health. Driven by a core strategic mandate for research, training and services, the Institute’s work now spans a wide spectrum, covering biomedical and ecological sciences, intervention studies, health-systems research, service delivery and policy translation.

Position Summary

The Ifakara Health Institute is seeking a qualified Chief of Party (COP) to provide strategic leadership as well as technical and operational oversight for an anticipated 5-year USAID-funded Regional Implementation Science (IS) Research for Improved Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Programs in East and Southern Africa. The program supports USAID strategy to generate evidence that supports Improved SRH outcomes whilst supporting local partners progress towards leadership in developing innovative solutions through implementation science research. The COP oversees management, administration, and finance matters in collaboration with consortium partners and compliance with US Government (USG)’s regulations. Primary roles include leading in the developing and evaluating the effectiveness of strategies, interventions, and activities that address the needs of different populations throughout their life course.

International applicants are encouraged to apply particularly from West and sub-Saharan Africa. The Institute will provide support for work authorization.

The selected candidate will take part in writing grants for an anticipated USAID grant, such that employment will depend on funding of the grant.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversees and provides strategic direction of all project activities ensuring that programmatic directions are technically sound, evidence-based, and consistent with USAID priorities.
• Ensures that project performance objectives and mandates are implemented in a timely fashion and meet donor’s requirements.
• Serves as the Project’s main point of contact to USAID, host country government agencies and partners, and counterparts. Cultivates and strengthens positive, productive relationships.
• With USAID, leads outreach out to priority country Missions to explore interest in program buy-in.
• Participates in country co-creation activities to ensure alignment between global-level and country-level plans, priorities, roles, and expectations.
• In collaboration with the Project Management Team, establishes and maintains financial and grants operations, ensuring compliance with IHI and USAID contract provisions.
• Conducts monthly reviews to ensure accountability of all project activities as well as the accurate and timely reporting of programmatic and financial deliverables.
• Ensures systems are established to measure accomplishments, track work in progress and use of project resources, and evaluate impact of services provided by implementing partners.
• Establishes and oversees relationships with subcontractors, resource partners, private sector partners, and collaborators to create synergy and ensure that project responsibilities are carried out in accordance with donor requirements and regulations.
• Works with Project staff and team members’ long-term advisors to design and operationalize an annual project planning cycle based on comprehensive, integrated annual project workplans and budgets.
• Actively participates in relevant technical advisory/working groups and professional forums representing the project consortium.
• Works successfully with financial, technical, and operations officers by providing accurate and timely reporting and updates on the project progress.

Qualification and Experience

Has a master’s degree or higher in public health, healthcare, international development, or a related field, with at least fifteen (15) years’ experience in international health programming, including at least ten (10) years’ experience in senior-level management positions. Experience leading large and complex projects primarily focused on SRH, youth, HIV, and implementation or operations research will be an added advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• Extensive experience interacting closely with government agencies, host-country governments and counterparts, and international donor agencies.
• Has demonstrated experience in effectively engaging partners and managing multi-partner consortia.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with USAID policies, rules and regulations.
• Demonstrated track record in managing results.
• Demonstrated international credibility as a leader on matters of designing, implementing, and strengthening integrated health service delivery, training, supervision and quality improvement systems.
• Demonstrated leadership, management, coordination, teamwork, and planning skills, with proven ability to liaise effectively with and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including global (WHO, UNICEF, FP2020, Gavi, etc.), regional (WAHO, ADB, etc.), national, local, public and private partners.
• Strong interpersonal speaking and writing skills in English; proficiency in additional foreign languages highly preferred and Willingness to travel extensively.
• Passion for Sexual and Reproductive Health: Commitment to work with underserved and marginalized population, youth, family planning, reproductive health services, gender, maternal, child health services, and eradication of harmful traditional practices.
• Self-Management and Teamwork: Ability to work independently or as a member of the team, ability to be detailed-oriented, and ability to manage stress effectively in a fast-pace environment.
• Matrix Management: Ability to thrive in a matrix organization.
• Confidentiality: Ability to maintain confidentiality on work related matters.
• Communication and Influencing Skills: Proven ability to influence others through diplomacy and proven oral and written communication skills. Adhere to IHI core values.

Remuneration

An attractive and competitive remuneration package will be offered to successful candidates as per IHI salary scales.

Equal Opportunity

IHI is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit intentional biases or discrimination and harassment of any kind at the work place and during recruitment. All employment decisions are based solely on job requirements and individual qualifications, and our recruitment process is governed by the labour laws of Tanzania.