Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

The DCOP/TD will provide technical leadership and steer the technical strategic direction for the project. S/he manages the technical aspects of the project’s scope of work and design and contributes significantly to the effective and timely implementation of the project. S/he will be responsible for providing leadership for integrated health program’s technical areas including reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH), nutrition, behavior change, family planning (FP), community health, and quality improvement. S/he will support the COP, the Director of Finance and Operations, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Director as part of the Leadership Team (LT). The DCOP will oversee the technical area leads and technical consultants.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Support the Chief of Party (COP) in the design, roll-out, and day-to-day management and implementation of program interventions.
2. Work closely with the COP and leadership team and lead implementation of evidence-based technical strategies to achieve program objectives; continually improve the implementation quality of activity interventions and ensuring interventions are working in synergy across the project to achieve the greatest impact.
3. Provide technical direction and lead country team to develop technical strategies, approaches and plans, implement activities and monitor progress towards outlined project milestone/deliverables/approved workplans; and manage and strengthen the capacity of country team and counterparts.
4. In collaboration with leadership team, support implementation, monitor robust risk management and mitigation strategies, and ensure project and staff compliance with USAID regulations, country requirements, and MSH policies.
5. Set direction and coordinate annual workplan development, implementation, and review in alignment with donor strategy.
6. Lead scale-up of program interventions in Afghanistan and interact with internal and external resources, partners, donors, and staff to coordinate efforts and bring new ideas to strategies and approaches.
7. Supervise and manage program staff and build technical team, including partner staff.
8. Contribute to the design and oversee implementation of the program’s quality improvement (QI) strategy, ensuring that the strategy is tailored to the local context and reflects national and internationally accepted norms and standards.
9. Lead, analyze, and use program data and incorporate collaboration, learning and adaptation (CLA) methods to make strategic and evidence-based decisions regarding program implementation.
10. Produce high quality technical deliverables and documentation of project’s successes and lessons learned for local and international audiences, as well as quarterly reports.
11. Contribute to business development efforts.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Advanced degree in public health, or a relevant discipline. Clinical training is considered an added advantage.
2. Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in leading or advising complex integrated health, quality improvement and/or public health programs in developing countries; at least three (3) years’ experience shall be within a conflict or post-conflict country; previous work experience in Afghanistan is preferred.
3. Demonstrated technical knowledge and experience managing and overseeing national level/country-wide public health programs in the flagship areas of reproductive, maternal, neonatal, adolescent and child health, family planning, nutrition, infectious diseases, nutrition, and health system strengthening.
4. Demonstrated diplomatic, management and interpersonal communication skills.
5. Familiarity with the structure, systems and policies of the health sector in Afghanistan.
6. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with donors, project stakeholders, in-country collaborators, and staff at all levels.
7. Must be an effective public speaker; able to present to external audiences that could include donors, partners and/or staff.
8. Excellent cross-cultural interpersonal skills; proven ability to interact professionally with culturally and linguistically diverse staff, clients and consultants.
9. Able to travel to provinces, as the security situation allows.
10. Proficiency in one local language is an asset, but not required; fluent English is required.

Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.