Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Manager

Job Description

Abt Associates is seeking a Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Manager to join the London office.

The Programme

Accelerating the Sustainable Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (Ascend Lot 1), is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). The objective of Ascend is to achieve progress towards the 2020 NTD roadmap targets for the targeted NTDs across priority countries and to strengthen elements of the national health systems which are required for sustainable NTD control and elimination. The Programme will focus on five NTDs: lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, visceral leishmaniasis, and trachoma.

The role

The HSS Manager is a hands-on managerial and technical role, based in the UK, with occasional travel to East and Southern Africa and South Asia. The HSS Manager will work alongside the Global HSS Lead, Regional HSS Lead and Public Financial Management consultants to assure the effective delivery of HSS activities across eleven Ascend Lot 1 countries: Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia (up to 80%).

The HSS Manager will also provide business development and programme management support Abt Britain’s wider portfolio of activities, as required (up to 20%).

Some of the activities on Ascend the HSS Manager will be responsible for:

• Support the Global HSS Lead to maintain effective oversight, performance management, monitoring and reporting on the delivery of the Abt-led Health System Strengthening workplan (focused on governance and financing) across all countries
• Work with activity owners to ensure that timelines, milestones, deliverables and responsibilities are clearly-specified and attainable. Support activity owners to trouble-shoot and resolve operational constraints to maintain timely delivery
• Maintain weekly workplan updates snapshot (including pipeline) to ensure early identification of risks and problems
• Maintain workplan financial and LOE budgets, ensuring direct linkage with the workplan. Manage budget forecasting with particular attention to maintaining minimal monthly variances and oversight of the burn-rate and out-turns

Beyond Ascend, the HSS Manager will be responsible for:

• Supporting business development, including providing technical content for proposals, interviewing candidates, engaging partners, and representing Abt at relevant external meetings and events
• Providing technical assistance and strategic support across Abt’s wider portfolio of programmes, as required

Key Requirements

• Relevant qualifications with experience of health systems reforms in low- and middle-income countries (including in East African or South Asian countries)
• Minimum six years of global/in-country experience in implementation of HSS programmes, in cross-cutting areas
• Technical experience in following areas: public financial management, supply chain management, information systems human resources for health, domestic resource mobilisation and broader health financing
• Demonstrated success in building, managing and maintaining effective working relations with key stakeholders and communicating programme impact
• Demonstrated organisational skills with excellent writing and ICT skills
• Previous programmatic work with DFID and/or FCO, either programme management, or technical work – other donor experience welcome

For Further Information and Application Details
Applications should be submitted online via the Careers page of Abt Associate’s website, and should include a current CV, cover letter and a response to the key requirements as outlined in the advert and in the Terms of Reference available to download from the Vacancy Page (View Position Description)
The closing date for applications is 21 March 2021

We welcome and thank all applications however only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from experienced and capable women.

Please note, candidates will need to have the right to live and work in UK.

About the Organization

Abt Associates is a recognised leader in the international development sector. Working with our many partners, Abt Associates implements bold innovative solutions to improve the lives of the community and deliver valued outcomes for our clients. We provide a comprehensive range of services from policy to service delivery in the public and private sectors contributing to long term benefits for clients and communities. Operating in remote and challenging environments, we offer innovative solutions, extensive experience in the region, strong technical capacity, and a proven project management track record. We are committed to gender equity in our employment strategies and encourage applications from capable women. Abt Associates is a child safe organisation and promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children.

More information