The Senior Manager/Senior Program Officer (SPO) will manage day-to-day operations of and technical assistance to selected countries within Save the Children’s Breakthrough ACTION Program (B-A) portfolio worldwide. Working closely with the B-A Senior Advisor for Community Health, the SCUS Team Leader for Behavior Change and Community Health, and other SCUS TA providers, program and finance teams, SCI country office staff, and B-A partner agency staff, the SPO will provide operational and programmatic support to the design and implementation of Save-led activities under B-A. For his/her designated portfolio, the SPO will ensure regular communication and strong collaboration between SC and B-A partners, with SCUS Department of Global Health (DGH) and SCUS support functions, including finance and awards management, and at times, also with donor representatives.
B-A is a new five-year cooperative agreement, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to lead USAID’s social and behavior change programming around the world. Primed by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP), B-A partners include Save the Children, Ideas42, ThinkAction, and Camber Collective. Further partners include the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and Viamo.
The vision of the project is to ignite collective action using next generation behavior change approaches to empower households and communities to become healthier and more prosperous. While the work will harness the power of communication – from mass media campaigns to community outreach – to inspire long-lasting change, the project will also take advantage of other innovative approaches such as market science, behavioral economics and human-centered design to drive progress. Using these state-of-the-art, evidence-based tools, Breakthrough ACTION will have a global reach and will work in partnership with host governments to encourage people in developing countries to adopt healthy behaviors, from using modern contraceptive methods and sleeping under bed nets to being tested for HIV, and preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases. The project is poised to venture into social and behavior change (SBC) for improved educational outcomes, democracy and governance, and economic opportunity, as well
Program Management/Coordination (65%)
Provide programmatic and management support to B-A country programs that are led by SC or have substantial technical involvement by SC staff. Specific responsibilities include:
- Serve as SCUS HQ lead on development/coordination of SC’s annual work planning inputs and processes;
- Facilitating/notetaking/scheduling of regular B-A calls with core technical, director, management and SCI teams ensuring the monitoring of program implementation and completion of deliverables against approved work plans;
- Proactively anticipate delays, challenges and opportunities, and lead or support country teams, partners and HQ colleagues to identify solutions;
- Ensure quarterly and annual narrative reports reflect SC’s efforts and inputs;
- Work collaboratively with awards management staff to prepare project budgets and track the progress of spending;
- In collaboration with SC Technical Advisors, ensure technical assistance is organized and aligned with program needs;
- Present program progress and results to both internal and external audiences, including USAID and partners;
- Ensure compliance with SC, B-A and USAID policies and regulations;
- Ensure efficiency of SC systems to support B-A country programming and work with Save’s Director of B-A country support to improve SC B-A program backstopping systems;
- Responsible for communicating general training requirements from CCP and for tracking all participants and requirements (e.g. certifications, etc.);
- Responsible for managing and updating staffing matrix and track updates on JDs, SOWs, etc.;
- Travel to country offices to provide management support and leadership (approximately 20%).
Knowledge Management & Program Documentation (15%)
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of assigned portfolio and represent SC to B-A partner agencies and USAID, both in Washington and in the field;
- Monitor new developments in relevant SBC/ Community Capacity Strengthening (CCS) technical areas fields, apply best practices within SC B-A country programs, and facilitate transfer and application of knowledge and program learning between countries;
- Contribute to the development of novel program innovation, knowledge management and sharing tools and processes;
- Coordinate input for SC B-A quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports;
- Promote and support knowledge management and sharing efforts.
Coordination and Partnership (10%)
- Foster program relationships between relevant SC B-A staff and DGH programs. Coordinate efforts on work in overlapping countries and on complementary technical programming;
- Work in close collaboration with the SC B-A technical and program team, SC B-A Awards Managers, and SC support functions to ensure smooth implementation of SC B-A programs;
- Management of communication with partners, technical teams, and SCI on non-financial deliverables and requests (e.g., MOUs, staff employment agreements and staff related matters, quarterly reporting, etc.);
- Develop and maintain relationships with SC International counterparts and country offices.
Human Resource Management /Other (10%)
- Provide leadership and mentoring to B-A Program Coordinator(s) assigned to support the portfolio;
- Manage consultants hired in support of portfolio activities;
- Support and mentor country office staff;
- Other duties, as identified by Senior Community Health Advisor
- Professional level of technical or managerial knowledge, skills, and experience to manage the operational activities of a unit or team, or provide the technical and management support related to various size programs, grants or projects;
- Minimum of 5-7 years’ experience managing international health programs including global USAID-funded programs, with a focus SBC and CCS and/or community health strongly preferred;
- Minimum of two years living and working in a developing country;
- Experience developing and managing strategic and operational plans in collaboration with others who represent a wide range of interests and needs;
- Able and willing to travel internationally up to 20% of the time.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree in public health or related field (MPH preferred);
- Experience managing USAID-funded health programs, including global mechanisms, and knowledge of USAID technical and operational requirements;
- Experience interacting effectively with established networks of senior global health professionals, donors, partners and networks;
- Working knowledge in French and Spanish;
- Field oriented and comfortable with a team approach to international programming and the ability to manage multiple programs and deadlines simultaneously;
- Appreciation for economic and socio-cultural differences in countries;
- Ability to work in a complex environment with multiple tasks, short deadlines and pressure to perform.
- Meaningful work, with a knowledge that you are changing the lives of children all around the world
- A family friendly work environment
- Highly collaborative and innovative teams
- Generous paid vacation days, holidays, family leave days, and sick time
- Healthcare plans including medical, dental, and life insurance
- Retirement savings account with matching company contributions
- Structured and formalized management development and coaching programs for mid and senior level managers
- Extensive e-learning opportunities on a variety of topics offered through our affiliation with several prestigious universities as well as language learning opportunities.