Project Management Officer, Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) Project - International Development Division

Job Description

Opportunity Summary:

Abt Associates seeks a qualified Project Management (PM) Officer for the USAID-funded Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) project. The LHSS project is USAID’s flagship initiative in integrated health systems strengthening, with a goal to help low- and middle- income countries transition to sustainable, self-financed health systems as a means to support universal health coverage. The project will support country-level efforts to reduce financial barriers to health care, ensure equitable access to essential health services for all people, and improve the quality of health care. We are looking for individuals who are committed to exceeding expectations and who strive to improve the lives of people worldwide.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Working under the supervision of the LHSS Activity Managers, the PM Officer will support various technical teams in the administration and implementation of project activities. This position will support multiple core-funded and country program activities and will be an integral member of teams designing and implementing health system strengthening interventions around the world.

Specific duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Facilitate the day-to-day activities of the project including team meetings/communications
• Supports desk research and literature review needs for technical deliverables and technical products/reports.
• Coordinates, contributes to and produces near-final drafts of quarterly reports and annual reports and other technical products/reports; provides formatting and editing support for all products.
• Draft consultant SOWs
• Drafts communications products such as success stories, newsletter articles, web updates, and features for the LHSS website and other external sources.
• Supports administrative needs of the technical team including note-taking and dissemination for team meetings, organizing project documents and project files, and other tasks/duties, as needed.
• Manages implementation and deliverable trackers and timelines (such as a Gantt chart).
• Serves as the focal point for the LHSS online monitoring and evaluation platform, MandE. Liaise with the LHSS MEL team to ensure MandE is updated on a regular basis and accurately reflects broader program status.
• Coordinates particular activities’ knowledge management with the LHSS Communications team, including maintaining activity files on various platforms, disseminating key knowledge products on the LHSS website, and submitting deliverables to USAID’s Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC) when necessary.
• Supports project reputational capital activities (presentations, abstract development, impact reports, etc.)
• Other programmatic and administrative tasks/duties, as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong organizational and communication skills when dealing with project stakeholders
• Understanding of project risk and importance of timely monitoring and escalation
• Thorough understanding of procurement, budgeting and financial management processes
• Understanding of hiring process for international positions
• Ability to organize a team to tackle day to day issues and identify when appropriate to escalate
• Supervisory skills
• Ability and willingness to travel to project locations overseas
• Four to seven years of experience managing administrative and technical aspects of large international development programs, preferably USAID-funded projects, with successful track experience, PEPFAR experience preferred.
• Quick learner with a willingness to grow through stretch assignments.
• Ability to work under pressure and independently.
• Strong writing, proofreading, and formatting skills.
• Previous experience in designing and implementing programs related to human resources for health.
• Previous experience drafting work plans, quarterly reports, and technical documents preferred.
• Strong project management skills.
• Experience conducting literature reviews and research.
• ​Computer skills especially in MS Teams, MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint.
• Working proficiency in Spanish required.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, multi-task, and be detailed-oriented
• Ability to work in teams, including supporting and mentoring team members
• Working proficiency in Spanish Required

Minimum Qualifications:

Project Manager 3: Bachelor’s Degree + Five years of relevant experience, or Master’s Degree + Three years of relevant experience, or PhD

Project Manager 4: Bachelor’s Degree + Nine years of relevant experience, or Master’s Degree + Seven years of relevant experience, or PhD + Four years of relevant experience

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Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer: Abt Associates will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.

This position offers an anticipated annual base salary range of approximately $64,000 to $110,000 and may vary by ten percent depending on candidate geographic location. Salary offers are made based on internal equity and market analysis.

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About the Organization

Abt Associates is a mission-driven, global leader in research and program implementation in the fields of health, social and environmental policy, and international development. Founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1965, Abt Associates was built on the concept that sound information and empirical analysis are the best foundations for effective decision making. The firm blends the subject matter expertise of our staff with technical capabilities in applied research, program implementation, and data collection to shape policy, strengthen systems, measure performance, and deliver other solutions to our public and private sector clients. Examples of Abt Associates’ work include nationally recognized research, evaluation, and technical assistance to improve the efficiency of healthcare systems, the effectiveness of government housing programs, the production of food, and the measurement of public opinion. Abt’s staff of more than 2000 includes national and international experts who are known for their understanding of communities and governments worldwide, innovative research techniques, and insightful—and often groundbreaking—analyses and recommendations. Approximately 51 percent of our staff has graduate degrees; one in six has a doctorate. Our staff’s educational and professional disciplines include economics, engineering, environmental analysis, epidemiology, food security, health, housing, international development, psychology, social science, statistics, and survey methodology. Abt’s research staff is experienced with prominent statistical software packages, including SPSS, SAS, and STATA, along with qualitative software such as NVIVO and Atlas. In 2011, Abt Associates was ranked among the top 20 global research firms and one of the top 40 development innovators. Abt has offices in Atlanta, Ga.; Bethesda, Md.; Cambridge, Mass.; Chicago, Ill.; Durham, N.C.; and New York City and program offices in nearly 40 countries in Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa. www.abtassociates.com