Project Lead Jhpiego

PROJECT SUMMARY

Delivering Innovation in Self-Care (DISC) is a 3-year sexual and reproductive health (SRH) program to be implemented by Population Services International (PSI) and Jhpiego Zambia, with funding from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). DISC will support women to assume greater power and control over their SRH by using contraceptive self-care methods like DMPA-SC self-inject (SI). In partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH), healthcare provider networks, and other implementing organizations, DISC will integrate self-care into health systems in selected health facilities of Luapula, Muchinga, Eastern, Southern Central and Northern Provinces of Zambia, bringing care closer to women and amplifying their voice, choice, and urgency.

POSITION PURPOSE

The DISC Project Lead will provide program and technical leadership to support the Ministry of Health (MoH), healthcare provider networks, and other implementing partners, integrate self-care into health systems in selected health facilities of Luapula, Muchinga, Eastern, Southern Central and Northern Provinces of Zambia, bringing care closer to women and amplifying their voice, choice, and agency. DISC’s scope consists of demand generation and provider capacity-building interventions aimed at improving women’s access to SI and strengthening the quality of care. He/ She will coordinate closely with FHN and MCGL leadership at national level to align DISC ‘Bolt-On’ strategies and leverage resources for operational and cost efficiency.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical (60%)

• To facilitate voluntary and age-appropriate SRH counseling and services with an increased focus on comprehensive information on all available contraceptives and informed choice for Adolescents and women, while strengthening the capacity of providers through training and mentorship.
• Provide strategic direction for the project to ensure the programmatic and integrity of the project within Zambia to achieve rapid and sustained goals, objectives, and targets.
• Ensure that the project is technically sound, evidence-based, and responsive to the needs of Zambia, its people, and donors, including alignment with CIFF’s sustainable development aims.
• Provide technical leadership and ensure the quality and sustainability of DMPA-SC SI interventions in conjunction with technical staff.
• Advocate with the national, district, and community-level health institutions to raise awareness about DISC’s role in improving health outcomes among specific sub-populations such as adolescent girls, youth, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women.
• To support provider capacity building workstream centers on the rollout of empathy-based SI training which addresses common barriers to adopting SI—including fear of needles and a low sense of self-efficacy to correctly apply the technique.
• To provide program and technical leadership, and responsible for the coordination of project planning, implementation and monitoring to ensure it delivers on the stated objectives.

Leadership (20%)

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with CIFF, the Government of Zambia’s Ministry of Health, as well as implementing partners, and other key stakeholders to maximize resources and avoid duplication of effort
• Provide guidance and leadership on strategic and programmatic shifts as determined by evolving public health issues
• To ensure effective organizational management and communication with all levels of the Zambian government, as well as with international partners and agencies.
• Provide leadership and strategic direction to ensure financial integrity of the project within Zambia to achieve rapid and sustained goals, objectives and targets
• Supervise and provide leadership to key staff such as Technical, Financial, and Monitoring and Evaluation teams

Management (15%)

• Ensure compliance with CIFF terms of the award and operational policies, rules and regulations
• Work with finance and project staff to develop and track project budgets
• Work with Monitoring, Evaluation and Research (MER) staff to develop M&E frameworks and effectively track data/results
• Oversee the quality, preparation, and timely submission of project reports for donor consumption

Partnership (5%)

• Advocate with national, district and community-level health institutions to raise awareness about DISC’s role in improving reproductive health outcomes among specific sub-populations such as adolescent girls, youth and women.
• Collaborate and closely coordinate with DISC consortium partners to ensure effective programmatic implementations
• Represent DISC and project progress, achievements and lessons learned to donors, other key stakeholders, and through meetings, conferences, presentations and Technical Working Groups (TWG)

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced degree or Master’s degree in public health, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and child health, health administration/management, social services, international health, business administration or a related field.
• At least five years of demonstrated technical experience as senior staff in SRH;
• Experience in program management and administration, financial management,
• Award contractual compliance and tracking project performance and costs via specific funding streams
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in establishing project systems and overseeing project start-up and closeout
• Previous experience working in Zambia with intimate understanding of local health system and SRH gaps and opportunities, and solid relationships at government agencies
• Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with CIFF, host-country counterparts and representatives from other key stakeholders such as NGOs, CSOs, and CBOs, as well as create synergies among stakeholders
• Knowledge of CIFF programs, regulations, compliance, and reporting requirements
• Good management skills, strategic vision, leadership qualities, interpersonal skills and oral presentation skills to fulfill the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the project description
• Excellent verbal, written interpersonal and presentation skills in English
• Ability to coach, mentor and develop technical capacity for national, sub national program and technical staff
• Proficiency in word processing and Microsoft Office
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally