This role reports to the ICO Deputy Director (DD) of Infectious Diseases and is dedicated to the LF elimination strategy (75%) and the VL elimination strategy (25%) in the foundation’s India Country Office (ICO). The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with the DD, two other dedicated ICO NTD Program Officers (focused on Elimination Programs and Strategic Data), ICO-Program Officers representing state teams, Seattle-based Program Officers, and multiple external stakeholders including government and grantees.
This individual will partner, develop, and manage a portfolio of grants and contracts to support the GoI to deliver on its LF and VL elimination goals. This individual will deliver on strategy and management in the field, diagnosing real time challenges and identifying solutions to move the elimination and integration goals forward. Specifically, this individual will own and manage grants in the areas of technical support to the GoI for elimination program management, program monitoring, strengthening government planning and review mechanisms, community engagement and demand generation, and advocacy. Strategic ownership and management of investments will be required at national and state levels. This position will have expertise in NTDs, working within the local Indian context, grant-making and management skills, ability to think in an integrated fashion, as well as strong expertise in program implementation and project monitoring and evaluation.
The PO will be expected to:
- Plan, manage and execute a wide range of activities in support of partner and GoI implementation of activities which will lead India to elimination of LF and VL
- Implement strategic thinking and management in the field, diagnosing real time challenges and contributing to solutions to ensure delivery of the government’s elimination goals
- Collaborate on strategic planning, develop investment opportunities, and manage grants and external relationships
- Review letters of inquiry and grant proposals; provide clear, concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for funding, including drafting and editing proposal summaries and progress reports for existing grants for review by foundation leadership.
- Consult with grantees to achieve desired impact of grants; conduct frequent site visits, provide technical guidance, convene meetings and apply and evaluate milestone-based performance objectives
- Manage internal processes and portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, grant budgeting and reporting and improve operational efficiency and effectiveness
- Prepare and write briefs and synthesize existing literature on VL and LF. Provide written analysis of key topics for foundation management and fulfill data requests from leadership
- Prepare technical documents such as concept notes, terms of reference, factsheets, memos, op-eds and presentations for leadership (ICO and Seattle)
- Lead meetings with grantees to take stock of progress and deliverables. Review progress reports and summarize developments for the both programs
- Ensure key data and grant learnings based on the deliverables submitted are documented to identify program gaps and for better execution of the LF initiative as per the strategic goals
- Extensive and proven superior program management and implementation experience, including knowledge and experience with microplanning and plan execution
- Strong competence working within a highly matrix environment where impact is achieved through collaboration with diverse colleagues/teams as well as externally within a network of stakeholders (e.g., grantees and partners)
- Demonstrated ability to work with a wide variety of partners (e.g. government, development, etc.) from a diverse range of geographies, cultures, across sectors and expertise
- Knowledge of infectious diseases/NTDs; preferably both lymphatic filariasis and visceral leishmaniasis
- Proven experience with grant/investment design and management
- Understanding of strategies for quality data collection in a variety of settings and sites
- Understanding of logistics (drug supply, diagnostics) management
- Experience with quality data acquisition
- Experience with analyses, writing and verbal skills for communicating with a broad and diverse audience
- Effective as a collaborator in complex internal and external organizations
- Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people
- Ability to work with efficiency and diplomacy
- Successfully worked in India for a significant period; gaining an appreciation for the complexities of implementing and managing field-based programs
- Experience working with governments, Ministries of Health, NGOs and Academic Institutions, as well as with regional, multi-country institutions such as WHO
- Proven ability to influence others in a constructive manner and to build and sustain collaborative relationships
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to convey complex strategies to audiences of varying levels
- Ability to travel up to 40% domestically