Child Health Advisor

Job Title: Child Health Advisor

Location: Harare, Zimbabwe

Posting Date: 12/18/2013

Deadline Date: 01/03/2014

Description:

MCHIP is the USAID Bureau for Global Health’s flagship maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) program, which focuses on reducing maternal, neonatal and child mortality and accelerating progress toward achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5. MCHIP works with USAID missions, governments, nongovernmental organizations, local communities and partner agencies in developing countries to implement programs at scale for sustainable improvements in MNCH.

Position Overview

The Child Health (CH) Advisor will be based at the MCHIP office in Harare, work directly with the relevant Units of the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC), and represent MCHIP to USAID as needed. He/she will also actively participate on a number of national technical working groups and committees, including those related to prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and paediatric HIV care and treatment. He/she is responsible for supervising, monitoring, and providing guidance on technical CH activities in the program’s field sites.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute to strategic program planning within MCHIP.
• Use knowledge of best practices in CH to work within MCHIP in strategic planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of MCHIP program in Zimbabwe.
• Serve as both a technical resource and mentor to other MCHIP staff as appropriate, and provide technical input to the MCHIP team, MOHCC, and other partners in the area of CH to promote innovation, as appropriate, and the use of best practices at scale.
• Support the implementation of program activities—including training, supervision, mentoring, and building strategic partnerships with clinical and management staff—in the field sites. 
• Organize and lead clinical teams, in collaboration with the MOHCC and other partners, to implement and evaluate activities in fulfillment of MCHIP workplan activities.
• Lead the implementation of a quality of care improvement process in accordance with the work plan.
• Develop and maintain relationships with the MOHCC and other partners to foster productive collaboration toward the accomplishment of workplan objectives. Represent MCHIP in CH-related meetings and conferences with the MOHCC and other key stakeholders.
• Contribute to the program’s documentation, and reporting needs (e.g., technical reports, quarterly/annual reports, program learning documents, success stories, etc. Perform other CH-related duties as required by the program, per the Country Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications and work experience

• Medical doctor or post-diploma nurse, with advanced public health degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• 10+ years working experience, including delivering and teaching others to deliver quality child health services.
• Demonstrated experience in managing excellent working relationships with key multilateral agencies, bilateral donors, academic institutions, and/or USAID programs.
• Demonstrated planning, management, supervisory, and group facilitation skills.
• Strong policy and advocacy skills, including the ability to collect, use, and present evidence in a compelling way to guide policy decisions.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team leader/member with diverse staff.
• Excellent interpersonal/communications skills; experienced speaker on CH-related topics.
• Legal authorization to work in Zimbabwe.

Preferred work experience

• Demonstrated skills in the technical side of program implementation 
• Ability to interact with established networks of senior-level, national, and international health professionals, donors, universities, and other partners 
• Experience working with MOHCC systems and personnel 
• Knowledge of USAID reporting requirements 
• Field oriented, and comfortable with both a team-oriented approach to programming and managing several major activities simultaneously 
• Ability to work well under pressure to meet deadlines 
• Strong report writing and presentation skills 
• Excellent basic computer skills, and experience working with Microsoft Office applications

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Interested applicants please apply online or submit application letter, complete with CV and references, no later than close of business on 3rd of January 2014 addressed to:

The Country Director
MCHIP Office
Suite 3, House West,
Westgate Shopping Complex, Harare
Or email: dorothy@mchipzim.org

Salary commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and cover letters online by 01/03/2014.

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