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Field Director , Mae Sot


POSITION: Field Director
POSITION SUMMARY: Unique opportunity to lead a team of public health professionals partnering with community based health organizations, building partner capacity to deliver appropriate and high quality health interventions to displaced, conflict affected, and otherwise under-served populations in Burma/Myanmar's border areas. Work with a diverse staff team, including people from Burma/Myanmar, and foreign nationals, supporting their work providing technical assistance, training, and one-on-one capacity building, in targeted program areas as well as organizational development and health systems strengthening, fostering a positive and productive work environment, and ensuring their continuing professional development. Contribute to convergence of central Burma/Myanmar and border area health initiatives, working with the central Burma/Myanmar branch of the organization to support partners in other areas of Burma/Myanmar, and assist partners as they transition their roles in the evolving political and civil society context. Interface with regional and international policy makers and donors. Help partners to advocate for their work, the health needs in Burma/Myanmar's border areas, and human rights for Burma/Myanmar's ethnic minorities.
The Field Director is responsible for overseeing all work on the Thai border with Burma/Myanmar, overseeing a team of 17 in Thailand, through two Program Directors and a Manager of Finance and Administration. The Field Director reports directly to the Executive Director, who is based in Rangoon/Yangon.
GHAP’s work emphasizes development of CBOs to effectively plan, manage, assess, and coordinate efforts to provide quality health services to their communities. Capacity-building work at GHAP includes long-term commitments to work with partners to build organizations that have the ability to manage and plan their own work as well as having the ability to know how and where to seek additional support as needed.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:
Reports Directly to: Executive Director
Direct Reports include: Program Director, Health Systems Strengthening Director, Finance and Administration Manager
WORK SCHEDULE: Full-time, 40 hours/week, Monday – Friday with some Saturday availability
COMPENSATION: Initial salary will be based on experience and skill level, increasing over time commensurate with performance. GHAP has an egalitarian salary structure between local and expatriate staff. The position includes 3 weeks per year of paid vacation leave and visa costs will also be covered. Other benefits can be discussed with applicants who are shortlisted for the position Location: Based in Mae Sot, Thailand, with 10% travel inside Thailand and 10% international travel.
LENGTH OF TERM: Minimum two year commitment.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Management and Administration
• In conjunction with the Program Directors, oversee recruitment, supervision, motivation, evaluation and personal development of GHAP staff and volunteers to ensure the delivery of high-quality products within set deadlines, effective working methods, a positive working atmosphere and good communication.
• Oversee, in conjunction with Manager of Finance and Administration, GHAP financial administration based in Mae Sot, including promoting high standards of personnel and financial management, including regular review of field personnel and financial policies and review of project budgets, reports, and sub grants,
• Oversee production of the eastern border team annual budgets. Maintain an overview of all GHAP eastern and western health activities, and evaluate distribution of resources supporting those activities
• Maintain strong communication links and coordination with San Francisco and Rangoon/Yangon offices
• Review requests from partner organizations, and make recommendations regarding which activities to pursue
• Oversee in conjunction with Manager of Finance and Administration, establishment of MOUs with all partner organizations
Development and Donor Relations
• In conjunction with the Program Directors and Manager of Finance and Administration, oversee preparation of GHAP’s narrative and financial donor reports
• Lead or participate in writing or LOI, concept papers, and proposals, in cooperation with pertinent program staff
• Meet with prospective donors or partners as needed and facilitate burgeoning relationships. Ensure donor requests are handled promptly and effectively.
• Find new funding to secure sustainability of existing programs and launch new projects.
• Explore, review and approve new projects and partnership opportunities
Programs
• Lead strategic planning efforts for the eastern border-based programs as a whole, and participate in the development of strategic plans for specific program activities
• Act as strategic coordinator between Rangoon/Yangon office and Mae Sot, to ensure consistent approach, to then grow towards making overall regional strategic decisions
• Keep up to date with major developments in all projects
• Facilitate staff being up to date in public health best practices
• Facilitate annual internal monitoring activities
Advocacy & Field Building
• Participate in the prioritizing, writing and release of reports and briefings
• Represent the work of CPI/GHAP and local partners at regional and international conferences such as Global Health Council and at sectoral coordination meetings
• Represent CPI/GHAP and local partners in coordination meetings, with those interested in learning more about the work, with government representatives, or others, as needed
• Meet regularly with leadership of main local partner organizations and ensure GHAP support continues to meet their needs and support their mission
• Stay up to date on the Burma/Myanmar political situation and border based NGO and CBO activities
GHAP provides a dynamic working environment in which duties and responsibilities may change. Employees are expected to be flexible and responsive to changes in the scope of their duties. All employees are expected to be familiar with and adhere to GHAP’s Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Essential Skills:
• Ability to quickly and independently find solutions to problems that arise
• Ability to manage and follow through to completion numerous simultaneous tasks with a high degree of organization and limited resources
• Ability to establish priorities in a time sensitive environment and meet deadlines with strong attention to detail and quality
• Ability to navigate complex interpersonal situations and relationships
• Ability to make independent decisions or lead a group process, as needed, to inform decision-making and provide clear leadership for decisions
• Able to assimilate information provided, especially in meetings, into meaningful concise / digestible reports and actions.
• Flexibility to respond and adapt to a changing environment.
Experience/Knowledge:
• 3+ years’ experience leading project development and all aspects of the project management cycle
• 3+ years’ experience overseeing a team of about 10 staff
• Experience in managing multiple projects and budgets, with multiple donors, including bilateral sub-grants, and partners
• Experience in reporting and communicating with donors and acquiring new funding
• Strong understanding and delivery of M&E needs for an organization, including financial management
• Knowledge of international and regional related projects, and experience of working with a wide range of partners and networking groups
• Capacity building and training experience, ideally with community based organizations
• Strong understanding of the local cultural and political context and ability to work successfully within these contexts. Most suitable would be someone with multiple years of experience working in this region and our specific local sites
Education: Relevant academic qualifications (MPH or similar degree, or equivalent experience)
Languages:Fluency in written and spoken English
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:Proficiency in Burmese, Karen, and/or Thai
How to apply:
PLEASE SUBMIT A COVER LETTER. To do so, click on the "Add Cover Letter" button once you have submitted the application. Applicants without a cover letter will not be considered. Please be aware that you will need to answer a brief questionnaire completely about your qualifications and availability at the time of applying. If you need time to answer these questions, please do not close the browser.
Because of the large volume of applicants only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We thank you for your submission.