Background

JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) is a global nonprofit dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities throughout the world. Founded in 1978, JSI collaborates with government agencies, the private sector, and local nonprofit and civil society organizations to identify and implement solutions to the most pressing public health and education challenges. In Ethiopia, JSI has been working to improve health outcomes for more than 25 years, implementing more than 60 projects and working in every region. JSI has historically managed a large portfolio of projects focusing on the quality, and equity in access to, reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services, primary health care (PHC) including community health programs, digital health, health information systems (HIS), supply chain management, public health emergency responses, and social and behavior change. 

Projects Overview 

Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Children Investment Foundation (CIFF) , JSI is implementing suits of projects - the Strengthening Service Delivery (SSD) and improve PHC Service Delivery (IPHCSD) project and eCHIS project in nine regions of Ethiopia. 

Improve Primary Health Care Service Delivery (IPHCSD) project is a five-year project, launched in 2022, co-implemented with Amref Health Africa, and operationalized with local partners and national organizations. IPHCSD aims to improve the efficacy of, and linkages between, PHC delivery platforms, including health posts, community health actors, health centers, primary hospitals and private facilities for improved reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health, and nutrition (RMNCAH-N) outcomes. It has three interrelated outcomes: improved access to and utilization of essential health services, quality of essential health care and technical oversight, and bi-directional accountability systems. 

On the other hand, the Strengthening Service Delivery (SSD) in Ethiopia Project is a recently awarded project aimed at building upon the substantial innovative investments the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has made toward improving the lives of people in Ethiopia. This specific project focuses on building upon and leveraging previous and current BMGF and other donor investments to improve the quality of downstream, supply-side integrated services, and supply of commodities in three high-impact areas: 1) strengthening provider competencies to deliver integrated, high-quality services; 2) improving service delivery structures and processes required for high-quality care; and 3) improving the last-mile delivery of the supplies and commodities, without which high-quality services are not possible.

Overview of the position 

The position involves ensuring the successful implementation of projects at regional, zonal, and woreda levels by providing technical support to regional and zonal teams and coordinating the activities. It also includes working with stakeholders including the MOH, RHBs, and other partners.  The position holder consistently identifies and resolves implementation bottlenecks, documents lessons learned, and coordinates activities with health systems and stakeholders. The role also entails monitoring activities, collaborations with different workstreams for seamless implementation of the activities, facilitating finance and logistics support to the regional teams, promoting teamwork and integration of activities, close collaboration with the sub-grantees, and facilitating joint planning and review meetings. S/he leads the coordination and facilitation of joint planning, and partnership with the JSI and other stakeholders to ensure harmonization and alignment of activities with other JSI’s projects, and health system priorities. Additionally, it involves synthesizing data and providing regular updates to senior management and stakeholders, as well as representing the project at national and regional forums.

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

• Coordinates regional and zonal project planning and ensures operationalization of the master work plan into annual regional/zonal work plan with details of objectives, tasks, targets, and budget.

• Ensure the projects’ expected outcomes and activity plans are cascaded and operationalized at the regional, zonal, and woreda levels.

• Provides programmatic and leadership oversight to the regional and zonal coordinators as well as the sub-grantees to ensure timely delivery of the IPHCSD and SSD activities with the required quality.

• Provide backstopping support to Afar and Somali regions in operationalizing the project activities and overall regional efforts to improve the MNCH services 

• Regularly identify, analyze, and communicate bottlenecks in the implementation of the program activities and devise innovative solutions for the bottlenecks 

• Ensure the project activities are well coordinated and integrated with health systems through regular engagement in national and regional platforms 

• Document lessons from the field level to inform the project planning, regional and national programming

• Leads the coordination and facilitation of joint planning, review meetings, and partnership with the JSI and other stakeholders to ensure harmonization and alignment of project-supported activities with other JSI’s projects, and health system priorities.

• Monitor the implementation of all activities with the required quality standard using the activity tracking systems

• Work closely with finance and operation teams to coordinate the finance and logistic support to the regional staff

• Work in collaboration with the technical advisors and primary outcome leads to promote teamwork and integration of activities across the primary outcomes.

• Work closely with M, E and research team to timely identify and document best practices, monitor the performance of the project, and adapt and implement the key activities.

• Synthesize data, provide regular bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual updates to senior technical management team and that will be submitted to donors and other relevant bodies.

• Represent the project on relevant national and regional forums and promote JSI’s works 

• Undertake other project-related tasks assigned by the supervisor 

Required skills, experiences and functions 

• Master’s in public health or related field with a background in public health or medicine

• 10 years of total experience , at least five years of work experience should be in international NGOs and well-versed with the national and sub-national health systems

• Project management experience in areas of primary healthcare, community health program and RMNCH

• Strong written and verbal communication and supervisory skills

• Fluency in English language proficiency is strongly preferred, and fluency in another local language is a plus

• Ability to frequent travel to regional and woredas (up to 50% her/his time)

• Superb communication, negotiation and presentation abilities, along with skills in facilitation, team building, and coordination.

• Capable of multitasking and managing multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously.

• Proficient in analytical and computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and conducting research online.

• Exceptional interpersonal skills to engage with specialists and partners from various fields, sectors, and cultural backgrounds, coupled with a remarkable capacity for leadership, mentoring, and team support.

• Familiarity and existing working relationships with project operational regions are an added advantage

How to Apply

Interested applicants who met the above minimum requirements should send and apply at THIS LINK.  Please submit Only your application letter and CV in English detailing your experience and skills that are relevant to the post. Please do not attach copies of your transcripts, academic degrees or recommendation letters with the application. You will provide them upon request.

WOMEN ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY!

NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Application Deadline:  July 7, 2024