Senior Project Support Officer

Job Description

As a member and main focal point of the Project Support Team, the Senior Project Support Officer (SPSO) works in partnership and in close collaboration with the project’s Project Director (PD), Senior Manager (SM) and Technical Strategy Lead (TSL). to ensure adherence to the DNA and alignment with the operations principle of Empowerment, Efficiency, and Effectiveness and Accountability and Authority (3E+2A). The SPSO’s primary accountabilities are to:

• Serve as a key point of contact with the Project Director to coordinate and ensure effective and efficient provision of management and operations support to project(s);
• Serve as home office lead to plan for and execute the full project lifecycle (start up, implementation and close out);
• Partner with the PM@MSH and corporate offices to ensure that MSH project management standards and methodologies continue to be appropriate and relevant; and champion/ ensure its implementation on the project

Project Management - Home Office Operational Support to Projects

• Serve as the main point of contact for the PD regarding requests for services, questions, needs, or challenges related to management and operations functions.
• Coordinate with corporate support offices (HR, FP&A, Contracts, Accounting, Procurement, etc.) to deliver services needed.
• Partner with HO, COMU and others to facilitate process to ensure timely and responsive services or resolution of challenges or issues involving field accruals, level of effort, local procurements, invoicing and local accounting payments.
• Support PD and SM to anticipate, address, and, when needed, escalate project implementation and operations challenges requiring Home Office or COMU guidance and/or support.
• Coordinate/lead home office support team, including supervision of PSO and/or PA, and planning and delegation of tasks to meet project deadlines.
• Provide home office budget oversight, including developing appropriate financial coding strategies to monitor project expenses. Develop cost share plan and monitor implementation, with support for documentation and approval of contributions, as appropriate. Work in close partnership with the SM and FP&A to review monthly budget report and pipeline and identify financial implications of technical activities.
• Manage home office procurement plan and processes. Review and approve (signature authority) travel, purchase requests and invoice payments to ensure adherence to MSH policies, contractual requirements and donor regulations.
• Lead planning and execution (in collaboration with PD, SM, TSL, corporate and country offices) of project orientation and team onboarding plans, project start up and close out.
• Provide support developing, drafting, and editing deliverables as needed, including quarterly progress reports, STTA reports, and other technical deliverables.
• Provide support to develop SOW for subawards, monitor sub-award implementation progress and deliverables.
• Manage consultant hiring with ATLAS, including SOW, consultant agreement,payment, and supervisions, as needed.
• Draft project briefs and reports, presentations, documentation and other communication materials and collaborate with PD, SM and TSL and communication staff in final development and production.
• Supervise project associate staff to ensure cataloguing and electronic archiving of project documents; submission of documents to DEC; and maintenance of project web page.
• Represent MSH and Project through communication with donor, partners, and stakeholders.
• Provide STTA to project, including support for workplanning and strategy development, monitoring of project implementation and management, development of technical deliverables, or to provide additional staff coverage as needed, etc.
• Assist the PD, SM and TSL in work plan strategy development, drafting, and annual work plan reviews; annual budgets, and PMP (if applicable).
• Assist the PD, SM and TSL in articulating STTA and consultant needs to successfully implement the project’s work plans, develop scope of works and maintain the STTA and consultant plan for the project.
• Provide support to PD and SM in monitoring project work plan and PMP.

Project contribution to MSH’s Global Agenda

• Work with PD to monitor project risk management strategy.
• Serve as the contact between the Group and Business Development, IT, PLI, HSI, internal audit, internal and external communications, etc. to understand priorities and strategies, be an advocate and representative of MSH global agendas and priorities, and support projects in their contribution to these.
• Coordinate with the SM to manage the agenda and schedule of field visitors to Home office, and supervise the Project Associate staff to provide support for successful visit to MSH.

Synergy and Cross Fertilization

• Provide support to MSH global initiatives and priorities including pre-positioning and business development.
• Provide input to Country Strategic Roadmap development, annual country office work plans and budget as needed.

Supervision of Staff

• Supervise PA staff, as assigned. Ensure learning and growth opportunities for staff within the project support and technical functions.

Required:

• Bachelors or postgraduate degree in field of study.
• 7 years of experience providing project operational support for international development development programs in developing countries.
• Knowledge of donor-funded program requirements.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree
• 8 years of experience supporting health programs.
• Comprehensive knowledge of US Government funded programs, regulations, and requirements.
• Direct overseas project work experience.

Knowledge and Skills

• Proven track record in financial management of international projects and project management overseas.
• Strong writing and oral presentation skills in English and a second language as appropriate for assigned projects.
• Experience in the management of USAID-funded activities. Understanding of USAID and field Missions; USG audiences, trends and requirements.
• Significant experience as a strong leader with, mentoring, management, analytical and organizational skills as demonstrated by ability to work both independently and within a team. Demonstrated ability to assess priorities, and manage a variety of activities with attention to detail. Requires strong conceptualization, facilitation, and planning skills. Excellent cross-cultural communication and active listening skills.
• Demonstrated track record supervising, coaching, and mentoring professional staff.
• Successful experience working in a home office environment.
• Knowledge of MSH technical areas.
• Experience and knowledge includes all stages of the project lifecycle of complex and inherently high risk projects.

Competencies

• Action Oriented, Business Acumen, Drive for Results, Information Sharing, Managing and Measuring work, Negotiating, Priority Setting, Problem Solving, Listening Skills, Managerial Courage, Time Management, Motivating Others, Conflict Management, Delegation.
• Core MSH competencies: Adaptability, Communication, Problem Solving, Creativity and Innovation, Quality and Timeliness of Work, Quality of Work and Team Relationships

Physical Demands

• Up to 25% local and International Travel, Keyboard use, Pulling drawers, Lifting papers <10lbs.

About the Organization

Management Sciences for Health, an international nonprofit organization, is dedicated to closing the gap between what is known and what is done about public health problems. MSH saves lives and improves health by helping public and private organizations throughout the world to effectively manage people, medicines, money, and information. Working from more than 30 country offices and our US headquarters, our staff from 65 nations is highly regarded for its technical expertise, integrity, and commitment to making a lasting difference in health.

Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.