Pact seeks an experienced Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)/Technical Director for the anticipated USAID-funded Strengthening Primary and Community Health Care Activity in Cote d’Ivoire. This Activity will support an integrated package of health services and health promotion, including (but not limited to) MCH, FP, malaria, and global health security, at the facility and community levels in priority districts.
The DCOP will directly assist the Chief of Party by providing technical and strategic leadership and oversight of project implementation and management. This is anticipated to be a five-year activity. This position is contingent upon award. It is anticipated to be based in Abidjan with frequent travel to regional and/or district offices.
Key Responsibilities
The DCOP/Technical Director will work closely with the Chief of Party to provide technical leadership and expert advice on strategies and interventions to strengthen reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, and malaria service delivery capacity and generate demand for services to effectively increase uptake of facility and community-level health services for priority populations. The DCOP/Technical Director will also support the integration of interventions to strengthen capacity at facility and community-levels to prevent, respond to, and mitigate public health threats.
The specific duties to be carried out by the successful candidate are as follows:
- Lead the design and delivery of high-impact MCH, FP, malaria, and global health security interventions in collaboration with key stakeholders at all levels of the health system, with emphasis on primary care and community levels, and ensure adherence to internationally and and nationally endorsed and recognized guidance on MCH, FP, and malaria services.
- Coordinate development, implementation, monitoring and reporting on all project work plans.
- Supervise program monitoring, evaluating, and reporting activities, ensuring that all project deliverables are met and delivered in a timely and efficient manner.
- In coordination with the COP, serve as a Pact liaison to USAID and national and local partners, including government officials, civil society, and community leaders, particularly on technical matters.
- Coordinate with project partners and appropriate stakeholders in all aspects of project planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting.
- Supervise key technical staff, ensuring high-quality technical programming through hands-on guidance and support grounded in the program’s strategic objectives and adhering to expected technical quality and reporting requirements.
- Assist with all programmatic aspects, ensuring that objectives are met on time and within budget.
- Ensure rapid startup; day-to-day implementation of activities; working with the COP, oversee and coordinate the project’s technical activities and outputs, as well as sub-grantees, sub-contractors, and consultants.
- Serve as the primary point of contact with USAID in absence of the COP with regard to day-to-day implementation and management matters related to the agreement.
- Provide training and mentoring to partners to strengthen capacity for technical service delivery and compliance with donor rules and regulations.
- Under the guidance of the COP, help recruit and directly support project staff in line with Pact HR policies; oversee the management and development of project office human resources to ensure a diverse, skilled, and productive workforce, an effective leadership team, and an organizational culture where Pact’s values are practiced.
- Deliver technical presentations on program achievements to implementing partners, civil society organizations, government officials, donor, and other organizations.
- Support with other tasks, as assigned by the COP.
Basic Requirements
- Master’s degree and 9+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience, including 5 years of management experience. Bachelor’s and 11 years of experience. Professional degree from an accredited university in public health, social or behavioral sciences, or a relevant field strongly preferred.
- At least 5-7 years of experience in the successful implementation of international development activities, with preference given to direct implementation of primary and community health care, health systems and/or health policy programming.
- At least 5 years of experience as a DCOP, Technical Director, or in a comparable senior-level leadership position on international donor-funded projects.
- Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to perform and collaborate in complex and politically sensitive project environments.
- Possess qualities of subject matter expertise in health quality improvement/quality assurance, particularly for MCH, FP, and malaria projects.
- Be fully conversant on global, regional, and local best practices and evidence-based approaches in health systems strengthening to develop and/or adopt for the Cote d’Ivoire context.
- Demonstrated leadership skills with a track record of effectively managing a diverse team of employees and partners with conflict sensitivity.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, including local organizations, government institutions, private sector entities, and funders.
- Demonstrated skills in problem solving, negotiating, decision-making, and consensus building.
- Knowledge of the political, social, and economic context of Cote d’Ivoire.
- Fluency in English and French (oral, writing, and reading) required.
- Ability to travel within Cote d’Ivoire and occasionally internationally.
- Broad understanding of primary and community health care, health systems, and health policy and practice in Cote d’Ivoire.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working on and leading teams for USAID contracts and/or cooperative agreements and/or knowledge of USAID rules, regulations, and policies.
- Demonstrated experience working with integrated projects in West Africa or similar contexts.
- Cote d’Ivoire nationals, particularly female candidates, are strongly encouraged to apply.
