The SPO, Health System Performance Management, is part of a team of Program Officers who share the goal to build performance-oriented and equitable health systems capable of improving India’s health outcomes and sustaining these gains. Success of the SPO is measured by the team’s innovation, intelligent risk-taking, and progress towards this goal. The SPO, Health System Performance Management, brings unique and complementary expertise to this team -- specialized expertise in the development and use of tools such as (and not limited to) scorecards and incentives in a public healthcare setting, with the aim of improving team and individual performance in the administration and delivery of healthcare. Health systems performance is driven by key inputs and processes but also dynamics as determined by norms, power relationships, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and accountability within the system. In all settings (developed and developing countries) and sectors (health and non-health), the decisions and performance of an individual actor (whether frontline health worker or mid-level bureaucrat) are dictated by “means” (i.e. inputs, knowledge, skills, tools, data), “motive” (i.e. incentives and accountability), and “opportunity” (i.e. role clarity, authority, and autonomy). Many health systems strengthening efforts emphasize “means” (e.g. supplies, capacity building) without adequately addressing “motive” and “opportunity”. To maximize impact and sustainability, technical assistance must shift from filling system gaps to changing system dynamics that influence how humans act within the system.
This is a newly created role. The foundation’s health system strengthening efforts have over time increased emphasis on individual and collective performance management, incentives, and accountability mechanisms. We are are seeking to amplify and accelerate this shift by introducing the role of SPO, Health System Performance Management.
The SPO will both originate investments and advise on investments originated by ICO Health System Strengthening (HSS), Human Resources for Health (HRH), and Policy Program Officers. These investments will support innovative approaches to improve performance-orientation and ownership of key actors (e.g. providers, bureaucrats, technocrats) in India’s public health system, whether through national or state-level action. This role also entails building strong relationships with and acting as expert advisor to external partners, particularly government and institutions that can help to ensure sustainability of foundation-supported initiatives and innovations in the field of performance management. S/he will manage relationships with national and state government, grantees, and development partners as needed to ensure coordination and collaboration for greater collective impact.
This position reports to the India Country Health Director and will work most closely with the ICO Bihar initiative team, UP initiative team, and Policy team.
- Contribute to foundation’s Integrated Health Strategy for India, by helping to evolve bodies of work related to performance management and accountability, with particular emphasis on strengthening Bihar and UP health and nutrition systems and diffusing successful models and practices nationwide
- Work in teams to develop, advise, and manage well-scoped, well-structured investments (grants and/or contracts) to execute against bodies of work related to performance management and accountability, aiming for innovative approaches that can be scaled in the public sector
- Collaborate with ICO Bihar initiative team, UP initiative team, and Policy team, offering expert input and review on investments that provide technical support / technical assistance for strengthening health administration and delivery systems
- Work closely with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Woman & Child Development, and supporting institutions such as NHSRC to help shape their approaches to performance management and incentives that impact national and state level outcomes
- Provide impactful thought leadership on performance management and incentives that can shape national and state policies and practices
- Work in partnership with foundation colleagues in India and Seattle to build and manage relationships with donors, government, researchers, implementers, and other external partners to develop innovative results-driven plans and interventions
- Collaborate with the Measurement, Learning, & Evaluation (MLE) team at ICO to ensure high quality results frameworks, monitoring, and evaluation of grants and to enhance use of data to improve program performance and to inform strategic decisions and future investments
- Use data and learning from foundation-supported investments and global evidence to consult with grantees and other partners to ensure continuous learning that shapes strategy, policy, and programs.
- Organize partners meetings, convene technical and strategic consultations as needed
- Conduct thorough analyses of grants and contracts, grantee progress reports; write high quality briefing documents that synthesize results and learnings for leadership and the Health Team.
- Extensive experience in designing and implementing balanced-scorecard-based or other innovative and impactful performance management and incentive systems in public and/or private sectors, preferably for healthcare delivery
- Passion for solving complex problems related to administration and delivery of health care, particularly improving ownership and continuous improvement in public sector
- Experience managing complex and high stakes change processes requiring significant change management expertise
- Experience in engaging government, donors, and implementing partners to develop and effectively manage strategic partnerships
- Experience working in developing country setting. Knowledge of India, particularly as relates to health administration and delivery, strongly preferred.
- Proven ability to structure and manage high-return, well-risk-mitigated grants, with clear milestones and outcomes
- Demonstrated ability to work in a highly matrixed and diverse work environment, with strong collaboration and diplomacy skills
- Excellent analytical thinking and communications skills, including writing and public speaking skills
- Familiarity with policy, advocacy, and strategic communications for advancing programmatic goals
- Results-driven and self-motivated with ability to inspire the pursuit of excellence
- Ability to travel up to 40% of time domestically and internationally
- 15 years of relevant experience