EngenderHealth
Apply By: 05 December 2008
United States
del.icio.usGeneral Information
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Date posted:
17 November 2008
- Organization(s):
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EngenderHealth
- Country/Region:
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United States
- Apply by:
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05 December 2008
Description
BACKGROUND:
There is encouraging momentum underway around the world to accelerate progress toward improving maternal health, one of the most neglected challenges in global public health. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has entrusted a large grant over three years to EngenderHealth to convene the Maternal Health Task Force. This is a new initiative that will build on existing momentum by invigorating and catalyzing collective efforts to save women's lives. Working closely with current and new stakeholders in maternal health, the related fields of neonatal, child and reproductive health and other sectors relevant to maternal health, the Task Force will be charged with making the grant pay off for women, families and communities around the world.
The Task Force that we envision will be dynamic, inclusive, collaborative, transparent and well coordinated. The Task Force does not aim to supplant any existing initiative. Rather, it will play a complementary role by coordinating closely with existing national and international maternal health initiatives, identifying and filling gaps in technical knowledge, creating a space for discussion and information sharing, catalyzing agenda-setting and, ultimately, action in the field of maternal health .Our goal is to strengthen the maternal health programmatic and scientific community so that we are all better equipped to build consensus and synergies, reduce redundancies and maximize our collective potential to work as efficiently and effectively as possible.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Director will have overall responsibility for establishing and coordinating the Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF) - setting strategy, engaging participation of stakeholders and ensuring achievement of the project's key goals. The MHTF is a special initiative of EngenderHealth and its director will report to the President, EngenderHealth.
KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. General
- Establish and coordinate the Maternal Health Task Force in accordance with its terms of reference.
- Lead and manage all project activities, ensure development of work plans to ensure achievement of the project's indicators and milestones including organizing annual meetings, documenting and adapting successful partnership models, identifying and cultivating strategically-chosen individual and institutional partnerships, recognizing critical areas of debate, building evidence-based consensus, commissioning work to fill the gaps, synthesizing and sharing knowledge.
2. Specific
- Identify key current and new stakeholders in the field of maternal health (with a special focus on experts from developing countries) and develop partnerships and linkages to ensure their participation to find a common vision and meet project goals.
- Establish productive links with the neonatal health, child health and reproductive health communities and allied sectors (e.g. labor, human rights, HIV/AIDS and education) and provide the opportunity for their active engagement.
- In consultation with stakeholders, the Task Force will provide strategic and critical input for setting priorities on research, programmatic and advocacy agendas, identifying the key areas of debate and gaps in the maternal health field.
- The Task Force will implement effective mechanisms to address and resolve issues, facilitate and enable innovative approaches to reach consensus, fill gaps, and move the maternal health agenda forward in the fields of programming and evaluation, research and evidence, and global and national policy.
- Working with partner organizations, develop, implement and ensure effective leadership of an internship program for young maternal health professionals from developing countries.
- Using a variety of innovative knowledge management techniques and tools, ensure effective dissemination of new knowledge and synthesizing papers, common agendas and evidence-based instruments and experiences that will move the maternal health agenda forward.
- Manage communications and relationships with the Gates Foundation, MHTF participants, and other donors and stakeholders.
- Recruit and manage the MHTF project team, and liaise with other EngenderHealth programs and colleagues as appropriate.
KNOWDLEDGE, SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
- Master's degree or higher in health sciences, public health or social sciences relevant to the focus of the MHTF, or equivalent professional experience.
- Minimum of 15 years of related international experience and demonstrated technical/programmatic competence in maternal health or closely-related area.
- Expertise in maternal health preferred, but candidates with demonstrated leadership and expertise in a related field will also be considered. The successful candidate, however, must demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the issues and complexities of advancing global and national maternal health agendas.
- Excellent interpersonal, diplomatic, and cross-cultural communications skills; high level of organizational sensitivity.
- Proven experience in fostering collaboration, consensus-building, and developing action agendas.
- Successful experience managing complex partnerships and/ or projects involving multiple stakeholders and grantees.
- Proven experience of leading and managing successful teams.
- Excellent analytical ability and capacity to synthesize information effectively and oversee its presentation in a clear and compelling style and format.
- Fluency and outstanding oral and written communication skills in English is essential. Fluency or good working knowledge of Spanish, French, Arabic or other relevant languages in addition would be an advantage.
To apply for this position, please send cover letter outlining your suitability for this role as well as a resume and salary requirements to hrinfo@engenderhealth.org. Please add "Maternal Health Task Force" in the subject line. All applications should be received by 12th December 2008.
EngenderHealth provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or status as a Vietnam era or special disabled veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
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