Project Director

Jhpiego seeks a Project Director to provide vision, leadership and direction to ensure the strategic, programmatic, technical, and financial integrity for an upcoming USAID-funded resilient health systems project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  The project aims to support stronger, more resilient health systems at all levels; save lives; decrease morbidity and disability; and increase the potential of women, newborns, children, families, and communities to thrive. These future activities will support DRC Ministry of Health priorities including to advance universal health care coverage; complement other donor investments; leverage previous health and other US Government (USG)

investments; build on evidence-based practices to achieve and sustain health outcomes; and

mitigate the need for humanitarian assistance.  The project will operate over a 5 year period.

The Project Director will have the overall responsibility for leadership and management and reporting of project activities. The Project Director will be responsible for making key decisions and solving problems in short timeframes while ensuring operational and project quality and integrity. The Project Director will serve as the project’s main point of contact with USAID on routine and strategic matters. The Project Director will also ensure effective organizational management and communication with host country governments and key stakeholders at all levels, including international entities.

This position is contingent upon award from USAID. Congolese nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Provide leadership and strategic direction to ensure programmatic and financial integrity of the project and to achieve rapid and sustained goals, objectives and targets
• Ensure the project is technically sound, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of countries, its people and donors
• Ensure compliance with the terms of the award
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with USAID, DRC Ministry of Health as well as private sector partners and other key stakeholders in DRC to maximize resources and avoid duplication of effort
• Represent Jhpiego and the project’s progress, achievements and lessons learned to donors, other key stakeholders, and through meetings, conferences, and presentations
• Provide technical leadership and ensure the quality and sustainability of interventions
• Collaborate with project team to build capacity in the health systems strengthening areas of maternal and child health, family planning, nutrition, malaria, HIV, WASH, health systems strengthening, and global health security.
• Lead the work planning process in close collaboration with USAID, DRC Ministry of Health, key stakeholders, and the project team
• Oversee the quality, preparation, and timely submission of project reports to donor
• Mentor, support, supervise and manage a team of highly qualified staff and align their efforts to ensure rapid and sustainable results
• Provide guidance, in collaboration with staff, to subcontractors and sub-grantees
• Write and/or review project materials and publications
• Work with finance and project staff to develop and track project budgets
• Work with Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) staff to develop M&E frameworks and effectively track data/results

• Advanced degree in public health or a related field;
• 10+ years’ experience successfully managing large, multi-partner, multi-year international health sector development projects that have implemented successful activities in maternal and child health, family planning, nutrition, malaria, HIV, WASH, health systems strengthening, and global health security.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in establishing project systems and overseeing project start-up and close-out
• Previous experience working in DRC with intimate understanding of local health system and gaps and opportunities in health systems strengthening
• Experience hiring and supervising personnel and ensuring they acquire the necessary training and skills to meet evolving project needs
• Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with USAID, host-country counterparts and representatives from other key stakeholders such as NGOs and CSOs
• In-depth knowledge of USAID regulations, compliance and reporting requirements
• Expertise in research to practice—identifying and adapting best practices to specific project contexts
• Excellent skills in facilitation, team building, and coordination
• Excellent verbal, written interpersonal and presentation skills in English and French
• Ability to coach, mentor and develop technical capacity in regional and national projects and technical staff
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally