The aim of the position of SPO, UP Health Systems, is to advance the foundation’s health goals in the state of UP, with a primary focus on Family Health (maternal, neonatal, and child health; family planning; and nutrition). India, and UP within India, bears a large and disproportionate share of the global maternal, neonatal, infant, and under-5 mortality and morbidity burden. Interventions under the National Health Mission (NHM) have led to improved outcomes over the last decade, but many barriers remain, especially around health systems and quality of care issues. In addition, UP has high unmet need for modern contraception and high rates of malnutrition and stunting, which must be addressed. This position, collaborating closely with Family Health Initiative Leads and Channel Initiative Leads, is responsible for formulating and executing strategy to combat these issues in UP, through specific interventions as well as systems strengthening measures. This position is also a core member of the India Health Systems Design initiative, contributing to and borrowing from lessons learned and best practices/policies for restructuring and strengthening health system in UP and across India.
This position reports to the Deputy Director, UP Health Systems, and partners closely with Program Officers across the Health, Policy, and Poverty Alleviation Teams based in India and in Seattle.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead UP Initiative Team, responsible for UP health systems strategy for the India Country Office (ICO) of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Lead foundation efforts to improve health systems in UP, in line with foundation priorities and strategies. Representative areas of health system improvements include human resources, procurement / supply chain, budget and payments, outsourcing capabilities, platforms for outreach and for facility based care.
- Lead foundation efforts to improve accountability and performance management in health systems in UP.
- Act as a relationship manager with the senior-most bureaucrats in the health department of GoUP, so as to ensure success of foundation goals in the areas of MNCH, family planning, nutrition, and immunization.
- Scope, propose, shape, and manage health system investments (grants and/or contracts) to execute activities to support programmatic goals. Lead a portfolio of complex grants and contracts requiring high-level grant management skills, including applying and evaluating milestone-based performance objectives.
- Advise vertical strategy leads (e.g. MNCH, Family Planning, Nutrition, Vaccine Delivery, infectious diseases) on optimized strategies and execution, based on specific expert knowledge of UP environment, challenges, and opportunities. Facilitate implementation of vertical strategies in UP.
- Contribute to leading edge thinking on health systems design for India.
- Establish and nurture the external partnerships that will contribute to the success of our investments, including relationships with the senior-most bureaucrats in the health department of GoUP.
- Support advocacy efforts to ensure appropriate policies and plans for health systems in UP.
- Serve as a partner and resource to grantees and foundation program teams to facilitate accomplishment of strategic objectives.
- Synthesize and document results and lessons from grants and contracts, including preparation of briefings and portfolio reviews for presentation to leadership.
- Contribute to writing background documents, briefs, and presentations, including carrying out relevant literature reviews, landscape analyses, and data analysis.
- Plan and coordinate partner consultations and meetings to advance understanding of key issues for the strategy.
- Undertake and lead special projects, as requested.
Qualifications
We are looking for people who enjoy solving complex problems, using hypothesis- and data-driven approach and working through matrixed teaming to deliver break-through solutions. The qualified candidate should have the following experience:
- Demonstrated experience of critical and strategic thinking
- Leadership experience in a global health, development, or strategy organization, either public or private, including responsibility for program strategy, design, and implementation.
- Strong knowledge of family health domains and public health systems management, particularly in Indian context
- Demonstrated experience building and leading strategic partnerships with key stakeholders from diverse sectors including NGOs, government, and the private sector.
- Proven success using evidence and data to inform policy, programming, and management decisions.
- Strong ability to work with efficiency and diplomacy, particularly as part of a multi-disciplinary team effort. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse teams including scientists, business analysts, program implementers, and developing country stakeholders, from various cultures, over multiple time zones.
- Demonstrated curiosity and comfort in areas beyond current areas of expertise with proven ability to rapidly acquire knowledge and execute good judgment in a variety of scientific and political areas.
- Ability to organize/prioritize work and meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment with multiple and competing demands.
- Ability to structure and manage high-return, well-risk-mitigated grants, with clear milestones and outcomes
- Role model for foundation values of rigor, innovation, collaboration, and optimism.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills with the ability to solve problems with energy and optimism.
- Ability to travel locally and internationally, up to half time.