Senior Advisor, Newborn Health MCHIP

Job Description

The Senior Advisor, Newborn Health provides day to day technical leadership and program support for newborn health programming on the USAID flagship Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP) at global and country levels with emphasis on the introduction and/or expansion of key newborn interventions: essential newborn care, neonatal resuscitation, care for preterm births including Kangaroo Mother Care, use of antenatal corticosteroids, and identification and management of newborn infections.

S/he supports the integration of newborn health interventions into other MCHIP technical areas such as maternal and child health, and family planning as appropriate. S/he maintains coordination and collaboration with key stakeholders in newborn health for MCHIP including other partners, professional associations and academic entities, and host country governments. S/he contributes to the expansion of newborn programming at Save the Children.

This position is based Washington D.C. and requires substantial international travel (30%).

Responsibilities

• Provide overall vision and global leadership for MCHIP’s newborn strategy including program learning priorities and establish and maintain links with key global stakeholders
• Contribute to global strategies for addressing the three leading causes of newborn deaths – birth asphyxia, preterm births and newborn infections – through participation on relevant global working groups, conferences and meetings
• Provide technical leadership in the development, implementation and monitoring of MCHIP field programs with a newborn component
• Support capacity building of MCHIP newborn health team at HQ and relevant country offices
• Lead the documentation and dissemination of MCHIP’s newborn health program learning on the introduction and/or expansion of the key newborn health interventions
• Identify and work with short-term consultants to support MCHIP newborn health activities as appropriate
• Be a member of SC’s newborn health team and work with the Department of Health & Nutrition Office of Health and Save the Children International in regard to newborn health, providing technical advice for the strategic direction and program support for the Agency.
• Represent MCHIP and Save the Children at relevant global, regional and national meetings by presenting and participating in appropriate conferences and meetings.

Requirements

• Medical or Nursing degree, with advanced training in public health.
• At least 10 years’ experience in management, design and implementation of newborn health programs particularly in Africa and South East Asia.
• Experience with key international organizations working in newborn health (e.g., UN agencies, donors, academic institutions, and USAID-funded Cooperating Agencies).
• Ability to develop and monitor new approaches and apply best practices in newborn health
• Ability to travel at least 30 percent internationally.
• Excellent English writing and communication skills in maternal, newborn, and child health policy and research issues. Experienced and persuasive speaker.
• Demonstrated management, planning, supervisory, and leadership skills. Ability to think critically, strategically, and operationally.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work both independently and as a team leader and member with diverse headquarters, field office, and partner agency staff.
• Ability to work well under pressure and in team situations and meet deadlines.
• Computer literacy in word processing, graphics, and spreadsheet software packages and particularly use of PowerPoint.

About the Organization

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. Recognized for our commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, our work takes us into the heart of communities, where we help children and families help themselves. We work with other organizations, governments, non-profits and a variety of local partners while maintaining our own independence without political agenda or religious orientation.

When disaster strikes around the world, Save the Children is there to save lives with food, medical care and education and remains to help communities rebuild through long-term recovery programs. As quickly and as effectively as Save the Children responds to tsunamis and civil conflict, it works to resolve the ongoing struggles children face every day — poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease — and replaces them with hope for the future.

Save the Children provides an attractive benefits package including competitive salaries, a matching retirement plan, health and welfare benefits, life insurance, an employee assistance program, generous time off and much more.

Save the Children provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.