Technical Director for Primary Health Care

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Afghanistan has awarded MSH’s Leadership, Management, and Sustainability Program (LMS) an Associate Award to implement the Technical Support to the Central and Provincial Ministry of Public Health Project (TechServe). The objective of TechServe is to improve the capacity of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) to plan, manage, supervise, monitor, and evaluate the scaling up of access to quality Basic Package of Health Services and Essential Package of Hospital Services. TechServe is providing technical support to the MOPH at both the central and provincial levels to improve management and leadership capacity so that more of the Afghan population has access to quality services, especially those individuals at highest risk.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

 The Technical Director for Primary Health Care (PHC), together with the Technical Director for Management and Leadership, ensures that TechServe meets the technical requirements of the Associate Award. Under the direction of the Chief of Party and in line with the Scope of Work (SOW) of the project, he/she oversees the implementation of the project’s technical strategy relevant to PHC, the mobilization and proper alignment of technical resources, the maintenance of technical standards and the achievement of program results as established in TechServe’s approved Performance Monitoring Plan. The Chief of Party, both Technical Directors, and the Director of Finance and Operations form the TechServe Directors group, who together make technical, strategic and management decisions for the project.  As Technical Director for PHC, he/she supervises the Program Managers of four technical units (Drug Management, Monitoring & Evaluation, Hospital Management, and Scaling-up Family Planning). He/She is the primary TechServe technical liaison regarding PHC with the Ministry of Public Health, partners and the international donors, including USAID.  The position is based in Kabul and requires travel in the project target area as appropriate given security constraints. This assignment is until September 30, 2011.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Leads four TechServe technical program teams (DMU, M&E, Hospitals, and Scaling-up FP) in defining and implementing their technical strategies in close consultation with the USAID Agreement Officer’s Technical Representative (AOTR), MOPH and under the direction of the Chief of Party. 

1. Supports MOPH to develop, update and modify strategies and interventions that support health sector partners to further integrate health issues and public health interventions with the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

1. Supervises the formulation and approval of annual work plans and coordinates work plan modifications as required, for the four programs he/she is responsible for.  He/She is responsible for ensuring all key program decision makers are included in discussions and consensus-building, including the TechServe team in Kabul and US, USAID and MoPH stakeholders as appropriate.

1. Leads interactions among his/her four program teams and ensures the synchronization of related program activities so that capacity building efforts of the MoPH, relevant to PHC, are addressed in an integrated fashion.

1. In collaboration with the Chief of Party and the Cambridge-based backstop team, supports the development of PHC technical priorities for appropriate allocation of TechServe resources.

1. Identifies areas where technical assistance from sources outside of TechServe are needed to support the four technical areas, develops Scopes of Work, supports the hiring of consultants, and coordinate and supervise their work.

1. Coordinates with the MoPH, technical agencies, international donors and the NGO community to ensure that TechServe’s technical strategy and PHC programs are aligned with national policies and complement the efforts of other programs.

1. Stays informed of existing and emerging issues affecting the Afghan (and global) health sector, and of TechServe’s tools and methodologies so that project interventions remain relevant and effective.  

1. Monitors timely achievement of program objectives in annual work plans, identifies obstacles, and mobilizes the Senior Management Team to address program challenges.

10.  Performs any other relevant assignments requested by the COP.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. At least five years experience as a manager of public health programs, with significant experience directing international programs funded by USAID.
2. Graduate degree related to international public health or equivalent combination of training and experience.
3. Professional working experience in Afghanistan or in other recovering and/or fragile state(s) is preferred.
4. Experience managing complex national level public health programs with evolving requirements and need for rapid, visible results.
5. Demonstrated ability to inform a broad range of audiences about the capability of technical strategies to translate resources into public health results.
6. Demonstrated maturity and ability to motivate staff to fulfill workplan objectives and function as an effective team, with mutual respect and support, in achieving common objectives.
7. Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to translate technical issues and terms into user-friendly language.  Must be an effective public speaker; able to present to small groups as well as larger audiences that could include donors, partners and/or MOPH 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 USAID-supported provinces, as the security situation allows.

10.  Proficiency in English (FSI 4 or equivalent) required; working knowledge of local languages is an asset.