Strategic Information (SI) Director

Reporting to the Country Director, the Strategic Information (SI) Director provides overall leadership, management and technical direction on SI activities for all projects and studies managed by the ICAP-Lesotho country program. The SI Director will ensure that all M&E and surveillance activities are consistent with ICAP’s goals as well as donor initiatives and in support of the government of Lesotho.

This position is grant funded.

Duties and Responsibilities

Technical responsibilities:

• Supply technical assistance to all ICAP Lesotho programs on any SI issue including reviewing routinely collected data to monitor and evaluate programs and improve performance.
• Identify short and long-term objectives toward strengthening Health Strategic Information systems in country and develop proposals to accomplish these goals.
• Promote data quality standards and provide feedback to ICAP, MOH, donors and staff to reinforce the standards.
• Implement training and on-going technical mentorship on SI for ICAP-Lesotho.
• Spearhead the conceptualization and implementation of operations research utilizing available routinely collected service delivery data.
• Work with MOH and CDC Lesotho technical groups related to SI.
• Develop and implement system for providing routine information and feedback toICAP-supported facilities, Ministry of Health (MOH), and ICAP technical staff in-country.
• Work with ICAP NY SI Unit to develop feedback materials (i.e. routine indicators results and study results).
• Contribute to the documentation of program successes including the development of manuscripts, abstracts and posters.
• Assist ICAP Lesotho technical areas on developing key indicators, data collection tools and define information flow to meet project needs.

Management responsibilities:

• Oversee development and monitoring of work plans and budgets to support Strategic Information activities.
• Manage human resources under SI Unit including regular appraisal of staff.
• Promote skills, technical capacity and abilities to be performed by SI Unit staff.
• Organize, conduct and attend national SI technical meetings to inform and improve program planning and implementation.
• Develop professional/expert network within and beyond Lesotho that could be utilized to support the ongoing ICAP Lesotho SI Unit projects.
• Liaise with other technical areas within ICAP Lesotho, ICAP NY and CDC Lesotho to establish work plans, ensuring consistency of activity and communication related to SI.

Advocacy responsibilities:

• Promote collaboration between various in-country stakeholders involved in Strategic Information themes.

Reporting responsibilities:

• Assist country staff in ensuring compliance with government and donor agencies’ reporting guidelines and monitor accuracy of data included in all projects reports.
• Support all ICAP Lesotho programs/projects with the development/maintenance of tools/databases to assist with data analysis and reporting.
• Ensure that program activity data reported by ICAP are verified by quality assurance procedures and ensure quality, timely reports on projects progress to ICAP NY,PEPFAR, HRSA and other stakeholders and funders.
• Review regular reports (including quarterly, semi-annual and annual progress reports; both internal and those addressed to funders) and provide feedback on the quality and timeliness of the submissions.

Education

• Master’s degree in public health or a related discipline. MD or PhD preferred.

Experience, Skills & Minimum Required Qualifications

• Minimum seven (7) years of experience in the design and implementation of strategic information activities in HIV or a related area in a developing-country context.
• Fluent English language skills. Fluency in Sesotho preferred.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.
• Excellent team building and capacity building experience.
• Experience working with government at the national or regional level in resource-constrained settings, preferably in Lesotho.
• Experience working with US government donors.

Travel Requirements

• Travel (up to 20%) within Lesotho may be required.

Application Instructions

Please send cover letter and CV to icap-jobs-lesotho@columbia.edu.

Please indicate you are applying for position “Strategic Information (SI) Director” in the subject line of your e-mail.

Columbia University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. It does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, sex, gender, religion, creed, national and ethnic origin, age, citizenship, status as a perceived or actual victim of domestic violence, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, status as a Vietnam era or disabled veteran, or any other legally protected status.