Technical Advisor – MNCH

Job Summary:

The Maternal, Newborn Child Health (MNCH)Technical Advisor I will provide strategic and technical leadership for the Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems (STRIDES) Activity with respect to MNCH surveillance, skilled care and USG-endorsed life-saving interventions for pregnant women, newborns, and children. The Advisor ensures alignment of STRIDES MNCH activities with global guidance, national policies, and donor regulations, while delivering high-quality strategic assistance in Madagascar. S/He will provide technical oversight of in-country implementation, working closely with regional and country teams to ensure fidelity to STRIDES’ technical approaches, troubleshoot implementation challenges, and adapt interventions to evolving epidemiologic and operational contexts. The Advisor will contribute to MNCH technical portions of the workplan and lead project activities and sub activities. S/He will play a central role in supporting capacity strengthening of MNCH systems, mentoring, and strategic assistance to the country level teams, local partners, and government counterparts across integrated MNCH surveillance, laboratory operations, specimen management, data quality, and related domains, ensuring alignment with the United States Government’s global health security priorities.

The MNCH Advisor will contribute to FHI 360’s technical thought leadership by developing tools, guidance, learning products, and public goods that strengthen STRIDES’ MNCH portfolio and enhance the organization’s visibility and credibility in effective integration of MNCH services with polio and infectious disease surveillance. S/He will represent STRIDES-MNCH consistently with key donors and global health actors, including the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD), UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), national programs, and other related technical groups, ensuring effective communication, strategic alignment, and strong positioning of STRIDES within the global MNCH architecture. Working closely with the STRIDES Technical Director; technical leads; MEL Director; and Program Implementation Director, the MNCH Advisor will cascade and operationalize the Activity’s technical strategy and is accountable for the successful, timely, and compliant delivery of all MNCH-related technical components across the Madagascar work plan. S/He will collaborate across FHI 360, consortium and local partners to ensure coordinated implementation, responsive technical support, and rigorous reporting that meets or exceeds contractual, programmatic, and quality standards.

Accountabilities:

• Provides evidence-based MNCH technical leadership to support the design and implementation of the STRIDES- MNCH Activity based on local and global guidelines and best practices.
• Provides technical leadership to the STRIDES MNCH Activity design, implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning through active collaboration with project teams, and the MOH structures at the national, provincial, and district levels.
• Networks with project team members, STRIDES HQ staff, and in-country forums
• Leads the day-to-day technical and operational activities including tracking of delivery of project outputs
• Responds to and coordinates requests from CO (Country Office), USG, and Ministry of Health for technical assistance
• Contributes to planning and making recommendations for STRIDES operations and implementation at country level.
• Develops and refines MNCH capacity strengthening project tools (training, mentoring, coaching guidelines, and standards) to support MNCH program implementation
• Ensures technical implementation is compliant with USG regulations and procedures
• Tracks delivery of project outputs
• Participates in meetings with USG, MOH, other implementing partners, and coordinating bodies providing technical input.
• Provide technical direction to and/or monitor the quality of work performed by local FHI 360 subcontractors engaged in MNCH activities.
• Draft workplans, quarterly and annual reports
• Lead staff members’ assignments and supervise field staff and local consultants to ensure technical quality.
• Prepares and delivers presentations, technical briefs, and summaries for USG personnel
• Gathers and aggregates data to provide a summary / high level overview.
• Identifies areas for improved program efficiency or effectiveness

Applied Knowledge & Skills

• Ability to manage projects, set realistic priorities, and plan for successful implementation of activities.
• In-depth functional knowledge around MNCH, surveillance, laboratory services, reporting, and related areas.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to exchange information, present recommendations, and collaborate with colleagues and peers within the organization and possibly externally.
• Ability to ensure the quality of implemented technical activities and systems at all levels.
• Ability to manage projects, set realistic priorities, and plan for successful implementation of activities.

Problem Solving & Impact

• Demonstrates the ability to assess needs within agreed upon duties and considers course of action best to meet those needs.
• Applies knowledge of MNCH to solve a range of problems.
• Keeps informed about current development in the technical area of expertise.
• Works under board direction with considerable latitude for independent action.
• Demonstrates the ability to develop solutions to problems that cannot be solved using existing methods or approaches.
• Problem solving involves evaluating and resolving discrepancies with data, analyses, processes, etc.

Supervision Given/Received:

• May supervise junior to mid-level staff members and/or consultants.
• Coordinates own workflow and sets individual priorities.
• Accomplish results through managers or senior team members.
• May serve as mentor to more inexperienced technical staff; may assist in team management as necessary
• Typically reports to the STRIDES Country Program Director on technical matters.

Education:

• Master's Degree or International Equivalent in Health, Life/Social Sciences, International Development, or Related Field.
• Project Management (PM) Certification a plus.

Experience:

• Typically requires 8+ years of relevant experience in designing and evaluating applicate programs/services - may manage activities of lower-level staff and/or consultants, however, main function is individual contributor.
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in MNCH public health programs, especially in developing countries, with a focus on MNCH infectious illnesses, surveillance, and infectious disease control.
• Experience with MNCH-focused surveillance, laboratory support, and Global Health Security.
• Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency or private organization engaged in MNCH programming.
• International Program Development or Program Management experience preferred.
• Proven expertise in developing and implementing effective partnerships with partners, government entities, and donors.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at a computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

Technology to be used:

• Personal Computer, Microsoft Office 365 (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype/TEAMS, email), office telephone, cell phone and printer/copier.

Travel Requirements:

• 10-25% local and regional travel.

The expected hiring salary range for this role is MGA 60,000,000 - 80,000,000 for annual basic salary. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, market pay, and budget.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

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