Save the Children is seeking a Technical Director for an anticipated five-year USAID-funded RISE II Health Services Delivery Activity program in the Centre-Nord region of Burkino Faso and the Maradi and Zinder regions of Niger. This transformational program focuses on achieving improved health, family planning and nutrition outcomes for women of reproductive age and children under five years old. The foundation of success depends on working with a number of partners, multiple complementary USAID investments, and most importantly, the governments of Burkina Faso and Niger. This position will be based in either Ougadougou, Burkino Faso or Niamey, Niger with frequent travel between both countries (up to 50%).
- Lead and oversee the development and delivery of a high quality, innovative, cost effective and sustainable program resulting in improved health, family planning and nutrition outcomes for women of reproductive age and children under five years old.
- Provide technical leadership to implement the program to achieve four intermediate results: 1) Strengthened health systems, 2) Increased supply of quality health, family planning and nutrition services, 3) Improved health, family planning, hygiene and nutritional practices, and 4) Increased access to affordable, nutrition safe foods.
- Provide technical and program oversight in the design and day-to-day management of implementation, keeping in mind that although the technical approaches may be conceptually similar in both countries, the implementation may vary significantly.
- Ensure the technical and methodological soundness of activities and, in collaboration with the project team and partners, support the design of service delivery strategies, based on sound and current scientific evidence.
- Collaborate closely with the Ministries of Health in each country and key USAID Implementing Partners and other donors and key stakeholders. Based on collaboration and in consultation with USAID, refine and adjust technical approaches and annual work plans.
- Document and disseminate innovation and good practices.
- Minimum of 8 years’ experience with progressively increasing responsibility for designing, managing and implementing complex health, family planning and nutrition programming in developing countries involving multiple stakeholders and implementing partners
- Five years’ experience implementing large scale USAID funded projects and designing and implementing Health Delivery Services preferably in West Africa
- Demonstrated hands-on experience in building community and Ministry of Health capacity to provide quality health services
- Ability to collaborate and liaise with senior MoH officials, other USAID implementing partners, other relevant health sectors programs, and senior members of the donor community
- Proven track record managing a project team composed of several technical experts from multi-cultural backgrounds and fostering team work
- Strengths in inspiring and enabling others through training, and capacity building to realize organizational objectives.
- Ability to travel up to 50% of the time.
- Strong oral, written, and presentations skills in English and French.
- Familiarity with the political, social, and cultural context of Burkino Faso and Niger is preferred.