POSITION DETAILS

Position Title:

Project Director

Office Location:

Washington, DC

Supervisor Title:

Vice President of Programs

New or Replacement:

New

Full or Part-Time:

Full

JOB DESCRIPTION

Pathfinder Overview

Pathfinder International is dedicated to creating access to and improving the quality of family planning, reproductive health, abortion, and community- and facility-based HIV and AIDS care and services. In partnership with host country governments and nongovernmental organizations, we train facility-based health care providers to improve both the quality and range of their technical and counseling skills. Facility-based services are further improved through provision of equipment and facility renovations. We mobilize communities to advocate for quality services and improve access through trained community-based volunteers. Pathfinder improves youth’s access to health care by creating youth-friendly services and training peer educators to promote them. In each project, Pathfinder works with our partners to improve both their management and program implementation capacity. Through all that we do, Pathfinder strives to empower women, men, adolescents, and communities to make choices and create environments conducive to healthy reproductive behaviors. 

Program Overview

Pathfinder is currently seeking candidates for a Project Director role supporting an anticipated multi-country project headquartered in Washington, DC.  The anticipated USAID-funded family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) project is expected to strengthen FP/RH service delivery through the use and scale-up of evidence-based FP/RH service delivery interventions and best practices.    The project will also build global support for the use of FP/RH best practices and ensure that knowledge of the same is synthesized and disseminated to strengthen service delivery at community and facility levels.

Position Purpose

The Project Director has overall responsibility for leading and managing the project to achieve its intended impact in strengthening quality FP/RH service delivery (facility and community based) and globally increasing family planning use.  S/he provides strategic leadership and managerial oversight of the administrative, programmatic, technical, and operational aspects of the project. The Project Director oversees the day-to-day work and is responsible for the effective use and deployment of staff and financial resources to achieve project targets.  S/he is accountable for all aspects of the project’s effective management, including financial and budgetary oversight, timely implementation of activities, and stakeholder relationship management.

The Project Director prominently positions Pathfinder International as a leader in the field of FP/RH and as a successful partner in the development and cost effective implementation of USAID funded programs.  S/he is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with USAID, Government agencies, and other RH/FP programs operating globally. 

Key Responsibilities

·         Provide strategic direction of project activiities.  Develop and update the project strategic plan, ensuring that programmatic directions are technically sound, evidence-based and consistent with international priorities.

·         Ensure that project performance objectives and mandated deliverables such as technical activities, annual work plans and programmatic/financial/technical reports are carried out in a timely fashion and meet the highest quality standards.

·         Provide leadership and direction to monitoring and evaluation strategies, frameworks, plans and indicators to capture project performance and results.  Lead a periodic implementation review process to monitor progress and to identify specific actions that may be needed to achieve expected results.

·         In collaboration with project staff, establish and maintain the ongoing administrative and financial operations of project offices, ensuring compliance with Pathfinder International’s policy and USAID contract provisions.

·         Ensure that appropriate security guidelines and procedures are established, maintained, updated regularly and adhered to by the staff in all project offices.  Employ appropriate management procedures to ensure that all resources are in place, adhered to, and in compliance with donor rules and regulations. 

·         Work with Pathfinder International Headquarters to develop policies and procedures that improve efficiency and quality.

·         Select, hire, and supervise staff and subcontractors; assign roles and responsibilities, manage performance.

·         Develop, monitor and revise budget pipeline and conduct monthly reviews to ensure accountability of all project activities as well as the accurate and timely reporting of finance deliverables.

·         Manage funds and approve expenditures in accordance with Pathfinder International and USAID procedures, cost principles, and regulations.

·         In coordination with Pathfinder International Contracts Officer, contract with and manage local individuals/organizations for identified tasks according to USAID and Pathfinder International procedures.  Negotiate consultancy agreements and develop capacity of local partners in mandated program areas.

·         Partner successfully with Pathfinder International’s Vice President of Programs and Headquarters financial, technical, and operations backstop officers by providing accurate and timely reporting and updates on the project progress and difficulties.

·         Cultivate and strengthen positive, productive relationships with USAID, partners, Ministry of Health and other governmental agencies ensuring that Pathfinder International is consistently viewed as an effective implementing partner in meeting and achieving project targets.

·         Manage and coordinate activities of subcontractors and partners to create synergy and ensure that project responsibilities are carried out in accordance with donor regulations.

·          Document project achievements for communications materials such as the annual reports, brochures, and website updates.

·         Assist Development teams in planning for and developing proposal submissions for field support.

·         Perform other tasks to ensure effective implementation of the project as required.

Basic Requirements

·         At least 10 years of experience in designing and implementing health service delivery strengthening projects, with five of these years spent managing large, complex family planning projects while living in developing countries.

·         A Master’s Degree or higher in public health, social sciences, health systems, nursing administration, management, or a related advanced degree.

·         Demonstrated international credibility as a leader in health and health service delivery strengthening in developing countries.

·         Demonstrated experience in successfully fulfilling performance objectives, including the timely implementation and reporting of donor-funded program activities.

·         Significant operations and financial management experience in developing countries.

·         Proven experience in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating development and intervention activities, preferably with USAID, WHO, or other donor organizations working in the health sector.

·         Direct senior staff supervision experience required.

·         In-depth knowledge of public and/or private health systems, decentralization of services, and the latest professional developments in FP/RH.

·         Demonstrated management skills working with complex programs involving short deadlines, multiple tasks, intense pressure to perform, and coordination with multiple partners.

·         Thorough understanding of and ability to analyze finanical documents, projections, expenditures and accruals.

·         Excellent diplomatic, interpersonal and communication (written and verbal) skills.

·         Demonstrated capabilities in institutional capacity building, and high-level strategic visioning and leadership.

·         Proven ability to create and maintain effective working relations with senior Government personnel, international organizations, NGO partners, host country governments, and U. S. Government Agencies.

·         Demonstrated ability to manage, motivate, mentor and direct all levels of staff while creating a positive team environment. 

·         Familiarity with community-based approaches for service delivery and procedures in the implementation of donor assisted projects.

·         Excellent knowledge of the political, social, economic, and cultural context of working globally and thorough understanding of applicable US Government regulations and administrative procedures.

·         Strong presentation skills including the ability to present results and products to USAID and other key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health. 

·         Expert computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. 

·         Must be fluent in English.

·         Position requires up to 25% travel depending upon program needs.

Preferred Qualifications

·         Experience in FP integration with MNCH, nutrition and HIV/AIDS is highly desirable.

·         Experience managing USAID funded activities preferred.

·         Proficiency in a second language is desirable.