MCHIP Child Health Director - Washington, DC

Posting Date: 12/21/2012

Deadline Date: Open until the position is filled.

Description:
MCHIP is the USAID/Bureau for Global Health's flagship maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) program. Implemented by Jhpiego in partnership with JSI, Save the Children, MACRO International, PATH, JHU/IIP, Broad Branch Associates, and PSI, MCHIP addresses the barriers to accessing and using focused, evidence-based MNCH interventions from pre-pregnancy to age five. The Program is designed to achieve impact at scale by maximizing the contributions of each level of the health service--from the community to the national level. MCHIP works with countries based on their individual needs and circumstances and contributes technical leadership at the global and regional levels, as well. JSI leads MCHIP’s work in child health, immunization and pediatric HIV/AIDS and brings several decades of experience in health systems strengthening and MNCH to the project team. Areas of child health work of particular importance to MCHIP at this time include integrated community case management (iCCM) of childhood illness and control of diarrheal disease.

The MCHIP Child Health Director will serve as the principal focal point within MCHIP on child health matters, interfacing with USAID/Washington, USAID Mission offices and other external partners. In addition, the Child Health Director will lead, manage and coordinate the work of MCHIP's extended child health team, while providing strategic technical direction and leadership for MCHIP's child health portfolio. The MCHIP Child Health Director will also take primary responsibility for ensuring timely communication with donors, as well as the production of all workplans and reports.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Child Health Director's specific responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Provide strategic leadership to MCHIP’s global child health team, ensuring completion of global and country workplan activities and initiating efforts to expand the contributions of the MCHIP child health portfolio.
• Ensure MCHIP representation in appropriate global, regional and national child health technical meetings and conferences, ensuring that MCHIP is a leader in policy, programming and implementation discussions relevant to child health.
• Make substantive technical and policy contributions in collaboration with international and national partners such as WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, and international and local Non-Governmental Organizations in the development and implementation of the global child health agenda.
• Take overall responsibility for the development and implementation of MCHIP's child health global, regional and country strategies, workplans, and budgets.
• Provide leadership to the MCHIP child health team as Secretariat of the CCM Task Force (TF) by nurturing relationships and partnerships on the TF and by ensuring momentum of the TF workplan.
• Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships with existing and new partners in child health to support identification, implementation, scale-up and sustainability of key child health interventions.
• Supervise and mentor a team of technical officers, junior technical staff, and program officers/coordinators assuring that policies, procedures and donor requirements are adhered to as well as ensure that the child health team is high functioning and motivated.
• Assist in identifying, monitoring performance and supervising the work of consultants, subcontractors and partners as needed.
• Provide direct input to countries for the development of national child health policies in child health-related areas including iCCM and ORT/zinc policies, and related strategies and programs.
• Provide on-site technical assistance to country programs and partners for the development and implementation of child health program activities.
• Perform other duties commensurate with training and experience, as assigned by the MCHIP Global Leadership Team Leader.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be an MD with an MPH or PhD and a minimum of 10 years of international child health program experience, including at least 5 years of experience in a leadership role.
• Experience is required in the design, implementation, management and evaluation of primary health care services related to child health.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in technical leadership, both internal and external- with other organizations- particularly with highly experienced qualified colleagues.
• Mastery of the technical issues related to the public health management of acute respiratory infections (ARI), diarrhea, fever and malnutrition; as well as with water, hygiene and sanitation interventions and malaria control programs are essential.
• Previous experience in integrated community case management (iCCM) of childhood illness is required, preferably working at various levels of the health system; prior experience at central level of an MOH or at a provincial/regional health office is preferred.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in successful team management, including experience in supervision, management and mentoring of staff.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communication skills are required.
• Demonstrated proficiency in time and task management, including the ability to manage multiple complex tasks concurrently in a fast-paced environment.
• Significant experience within USAID or in a USAID-funded project is strongly preferred, as well as experience working with technical staff in UN agencies (e.g. WHO, UNICEF).
• English fluency required; proficiency in other languages (for programs in Africa) will be an asset.
• Willingness to travel an estimated time of 30%.

Salary commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and cover letters online.

http://www.jsi.com/JSIInternet/Work/jobdescription.cfm?id=56865&intern=0