Chief of Party

Job Title: Chief of Party

Location: Windhoek, Namibia

Posting Date: 12/17/2013

Deadline Date: 12/27/2013

Starting Date: 01/01/2014

Description:
The Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services is the custodian of health and social services and oversees, provides and regulates all public, private and non-governmental sectors in the provision of quality health and social services. USAID is a partner to the Ministry’s efforts and provides technical assistance, directly and through specialized local and international organizations, to support the Namibia's delivery of high quality evidence-based public health programs to all Namibians.

Based on USAID’s technical assistance program to support public health objectives the Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP) is expected to provide specialized technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Social Services and national and regional stakeholders in the following areas: Supporting the Namibia Health Extension Program; Strategic models HIV/AIDS service integration; Addressing Teenage Pregnancy Prevention; and Health Information Systems.

MCHIP provides technical assistance that is designed to achieve impact at scale by maximizing the contributions of each level of the health service--from the community to the national level. MCHIP will work collaboratively with all key stakeholders, specifically the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services to focus on USAID’s Principle of Transition and reflect country ownership of the collaborative design and management of the MCHIP program in Namibia. John Snow Inc. (JSI) leads MCHIP’s work in child health, immunization and pediatric HIV/AIDS and brings several decades of experience in health systems strengthening and MNCH to the project team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief of Party (COP) will work under the supervision of the MCHIP Country Support Team Leader to: lead the MCHIP Namibia team and the overall management of MCHIP activities in country; coordinate with the USAID Mission in Namibia, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), other partners and the MCHIP office in Washington DC; coordinate and participate in relevant national working groups; act as the MCHIP representative in country; report and document interventions and comply with the approved reporting schedule as defined in the workplan; and, support all technical areas of this project.

Specific Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities include, but will not be limited to the following:

A. Act as the primary MCHIP point of contact with USAID Namibia, MCHIP Head Quarter office in Washington D.C., MoHSS of Namibia, and with MCHIP partners in Namibia

B. Provide strategic leadership to MCHIP Namibia, ensuring completion of the country workplan activities

C. Assist in identifying, monitoring performance and supervising the work of consultants, subcontractors and partners as needed

D. Establish synergies and coordination mechanisms with other partners

E. Supervise MCHIP technical and administrative staff:

• 1) Conduct field trips to oversee and supervise interventions
• 2) Participate in selected operational activities
• 3) Assure the development of activities by each technical advisor as defined in the workplan, as well as quality of the interventions and overall results of the MCHIP program 
• 4) Conduct annual performance evaluation of technical staff

F. Conduct regular team meetings to follow-up on project activities:

• 1) Present overall implementation of the project, including finances
• 2) Guide team meetings, with emphasis on achievement of results, barriers and problems, as well as joint problem solving
• 3) Facilitate the integration of the team and close collaboration across technical areas and interventions

G. Develop all USAID and MCHIP-required reports, in line with donor-reporting requirements and schedules

H. Support the Finance and Administration Manager in human resource management, financial follow-up of project activities, and other relevant administrative and financial decision making

I. Maintain ultimate responsibility for all financial decision making and transactions

J. Assure compliance with MCHIP communication and branding strategy

K. Perform other duties commensurate with training and experience, as assigned by the MCHIP Country Support Team Leader

QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate credentials in public health, public policy or management are highly desirable
• Proven capacity in strategic planning
• Previous experience in managing USAID funded project or comparable externally funded health sector program in Namibia
• Proven team building and project management skills 
• Excellent written and verbal communications and interpersonal skills
• Strong representational and interpersonal skills
• Proven capacity to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Experience working with MoHSS and other government institutions in Namibia or another developing country are an advantage
• Candidate must be legally authorized to work in Namibia

Salary commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and cover letters online by 12/27/2013.

Click to apply