World Vision International September Jobs 2018

The key responsibility of this position will be to provide technical leadership and overall management of World Vision’s component of the USAID-funded Control and Elimination Project for Neglected Tropical Diseases (CEP-NTD) program.

The Regional Technical Director will lead operations in accordance with the expected program results as defined in the Program Framework. These include maximizing the utilization of existing government networks and well-established channels for implementation of NTD activities; partnering with Ministries of Health (MOHs) and other NTD stakeholders to strengthen MOHs and enhance local sustainable capacity in countries; and promoting country ownership in every step of the process. The Regional Technical Director will provide direct support and leadership to CEP-NTD Program Managers in 5 countries in World Vision West Africa operation areas (Ghana, Senegal, Niger, Mali and Sierra Leone) with extension to 6 other countries (Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Cameroon).

Job Description

Job Title: Technical Project Director, West Africa

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership and Management:

• Direct and oversee grant implementation, ensuring that all strategic objectives are met through proper design, staffing, implementation and quality assurance across the 5 countries and in extension to the other 6 countries.
• Provide leadership to and coordination of NTD integration and other relevant sectors across the 11 West Africa Countries.
• Provide strategic leadership and supervision of projects while ensuring the security, feasibility, and sustainability of the program and contribution to child wellbeing outcomes.
• Manage the country-based Program Managers to ensure quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all products and activities generated under the grant.
• Ensure that activities take place in a timely, cooperative fashion and conform to the highest technical level and quality possible. S/he will address any challenges that arise promptly and notify his/her supervisor accordingly.
• Develop a risk management plan to proactively mitigate potential risk to the success of the integration objectives. Also, in consultation with the prime, address risk management through the profiling of risk in the project and ensuring that appropriate action is taken to address findings and implement recommendations.
• Facilitate a working environment of mutual trust, respect, and care among all staff. Encourage effective teamwork, with staff members supporting each other.
• Conduct monthly staff meetings to ensure issues are raised and addressed and to encourage reflection on project progress and learning for improvement.
• Lead annual planning to ensure that work plans are made to meet the targets set out in the project design.
• Serve as a representative of the program externally and internally. He/she will liaise with counterparts from other agencies and organizations to coordinate activities and report out on results and or implementation challenges.
• Participate in strategic planning with the prime, FHI360.
• Ensure annual appraisal of line managed staff against responsibilities/performance objectives and key performance indicators are conducted appropriately.

Technical Support:

• Responsible for technical leadership and administrative oversight of the program. Will serve as the principal institutional liaison to the donor.
• Provide direct technical support to each country office in NTD integration with other sectors. Seek out and utilize other WVI technical resources where needed and ensure country Program Managers also have access to such resources.
• Provide a strong understanding of the unique political dynamics and work carefully and collaboratively to support the various entities in West Africa.
• Responsible for overall NTD integration learnings and best practices development and platform for dissemination.

Implementation and Monitoring:

• Oversee the implementation of planned activities to ensure targets are achieved.
• Ensure that project activities are carried out in a timely manner per USAID approved work plan, that the project achieves results in line with its annual approved work plan, and that the project achieves results in line with its annual
• CEP-NTD targets in each program area.
• Ensure each staff has a clear work-plan and that necessary resources are available for them to implement their responsibilities.
• Conduct monitoring visits to project activities to assess progress against targets and to provide coaching and direction to activities in areas where improvements are needed.
• Act as the initial trouble-shooter when difficulties in implementation are identified; meet with necessary project participants, listen to challenges and actively identify solutions such that projects can continue as needed.
• Monitor the local context and report on how changes in the context may affect program activities. This includes changes in the security environment.

Reporting:

• Establish and maintain effective program reporting, evaluation, and communication systems. Submit timely, accurate and professional reports that meet donor requirements.
• Ensure that there is a good flow of information between the national and the regional teams, such that issues are identified and reported on before they become difficult to manage.
• Communicate regularly with WVUS and WVI point persons for this project. Report any concerns in a timely manner and be responsive to communications.
• Ensure regular, responsive and productive communication with the prime (FHI 360) always copying the required WVUS and WVI point persons.

Internal and External Engagement:

• Represent the CEP-NTD Program internally to other WV departments and externally to the donor, government and CEP-NTD stakeholders to ensure positive relationships are built.
• Closely collaborate and network with the Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders in order to ensure transition and sustainability of the program, continued partnership and sharing best practices in various fields.
• Coordinate with other NGOs or similar organizations in the area to ensure complementarity of approaches.
• Host visits from local government, FHI360 and donor as required.

Other responsibilities:

• Communicate World Vision’s Christian ethos and demonstrate a quality of spiritual life that is an example to others.
• Carry out any other additional responsibilities as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Master’s degree in public health, social sciences, business administration or related degree is required. A postgraduate degree and/or background in health or biological sciences is an advantage.
• At least 10 years of experience with health in a developing country, preferably in Africa.
• At least 5 years of leadership experience managing large program requirements. Experience working in inter-agency consortiums across multiple countries preferred.
• Experience in managing or working on USAID funded projects is strongly preferred.
• Experience in multi-sectoral/integrated program design and implementation.
• Experience working in a complex political and operational environment.
• Fluent both in English and French.
• Must be a committed Christian, able to stand above denominational diversities.
• Attend and participate in daily devotions and weekly Chapel services.
• Perform other duties as required.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Proactive approach, good organization and time management skills, and ability to prioritize and manage workload.
• Strong budgeting and financial management skills.
• Leadership and teamwork capabilities that includes coaching and motivating staff to high level of performance, and engaging in effective cross cultural and cross functional working to achieve shared goals in the absence of direct line
• management authority.
• Experienced networker with strong negotiation skills and an ability to maintain a good up to date knowledge of the grant opportunities and trends in WV ´s priority sectors.
• Working knowledge of the WVI Partnership is an advantage, along with the ability to interface sensitively with people from various departments in both field and support offices.

Working Environment/Travel:

• Work environment: Accra, Ghana. Office-based with frequent travel to the field.
• Travel: Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 40% of the time.