Position:  

Chief of Party II (7.4), Democratic Republic of Congo
C-CHANGE
Center for Global Health Communication & Marketing

Supervisor:  

Senior Communication Specialist

Project Summary:  

Communication for Change (C-Change), implemented by AED, is USAID's ?agship project to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of social and behavior change communication(SBCC) applied to programs, activities, and tools. C-Change works with global, regional, and local partners to incorporate knowledge about the social determinants and underlying causes of individual behaviors and takes into account research and lessons learned from implementing and evaluating activities. Employing innovative and tested methods, C-Change works to meet the continuing challenges posed by evolving health issues that require a SBCC approach. C-Change also works to strengthen the capacity of local organizations to plan, implement, and manage programs, thus ensuring sustained local knowledge and skills.

The project adresses major health areas, including family planning and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, maternal and child health, TB and malaria. The project also provides communication support to other sectors, including environment and democracy and governance.

USAID/DRC has charged C-Change with providing technical assistance in design, development and implementation of SBCC programs and to provide technical support to USAID staff and partners. In the DRC C-Change works across 6 health areas: malaria, HIV and AIDS, MCH, family planning, water and sanitation and tuberculosis.

C-Change works closely with the Ministry of Health and with various Departments within the Ministry to support national planning for SBCC strategies and programs and to assist with implementation planning in the provinces. C-Change also provides technical support to two large health systems strengthening projects to improve utilization of health care services and to improve the skills of community level staff to implement effective SBCC programs. C-Change works with a variety of partners to implement SBCC programs including CARE/DRC.

Position Summary:  

The Chief of Party II (COP) leads the activities funded by USAID/DRC to support the implementation and to strengthen/build the capacity of key government, academic, NGO and other organizations working with USAID in DRC. The COP is responsible for working closely with the USAID/DRC mission to plan, implement, monitor and report on social and behavior change (SBCC) program activities for each of C-Change’s designated health issues. These include HIV and AIDS, family planning, malaria, maternal and child health, water and sanitation and TB. The COP is responsible for financial and administrative management of the office and staff in DRC. The COP supervises all technical, financial and administrative personnel.

Essential Job Functions:  

Specific responsibilities include but will not be limited to:

Communicate options and ideas to the Mission informed by SBCC best practices and the C-Change SBCC planning model and approach.

Critically analyze requests for SBCC assistance from the mission and offer innovative programmatic recommendations that are tailored to the county’s context and the funds available for the program. This includes: developing country workplans and strategies, providing technical and managerial support, and ensuring appropriate reporting and delivery on targets and indicators.

Recruit skilled staff and organizations that can execute program interventions and deliver results in a timely manner.

Provide technical input on project implementation and ensure the quality of interventions and materials.
Understand and respond to all USAID and AED/C-Change administrative and reporting requirements and be able to involve staff in responding to these requirements.

Work closely with Washington based staff program manager, technical, finance and administrative staff to manage the overall operation of the C-Change program in the DRC

Provide overall technical and managerial leadership in the design, implementation and evaluation of social and behavior change communication strategies and overall approaches at the community, district and national levels.

Coordinate program implementation activities with relevant sub grantees and partners and monitor their technical and financial performance

Develop C-CHANGE annual work plans with clearly defined outcomes and report performance quarterly though stardard reporting formats.

Communicate/interact regularly with USAID/DRC and AED Washington.

Carry out other tasks as required ensuring the overall success of the project.

Security-related duties:
Responsibilities:
• Final decisions in all crisis situations.
• Disciplinary or dismissive action when lapses occur in security management.
• Decisions based on his/her assessment of the operational context.
• Ensure the fundamental elements of safety and security management are fulfilled, including a basic level of training for all staff.
• Keeps Headquarters aware of the current security situation, possible scenarios and any anticipated concerns for safety and security.
• Updating regularly and circulating of Safety and Security Contingency Plan (SSCP) and the Security Management Plan (SMP).

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with a job.

Education:  

Masters in one of the following or related fields: International Communications, International Marketing, Mass Communications, Public Affairs, Public Health, Social Marketing and Social Science required or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Experience:  

12 year(s) of relevant experience required

Specific Knowledge Requirements:
• At least five years experience managing USAID-funded programs and project field offices.
• Knowledge of U.S. government regulations (22CFR226, Omb circular A-122), procedures, and contracting requirements and financial management.
• Knowledge of behavior change communication planning and implementation.
• Expertise in one or more health areas including family planning, HIV and AIDS, malaria, TB, MCH.
Experience and a high degree of competency using Windows-based computer programs.
• Experience with financial management of program and office budgets. Experience with imprest accounts preferred.
• Knowledge and experience with safety and security measures.

Special Requirements:  

This job will require a criminal background check.

Skills:  

• Technical skills in social and behavior change communication and experience in two or more health areas required.
• Ability to manage and lead a team and to catalyze the work of other technical specialists for program planning and implementation.
• Strong technical and programming skills as well as effective financial and staff management abilities required.
• Ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and multitask.
• Ability to work with multiple organizations simultaneously and coordinate a diverse set of activities.
• Excellent interpersonal and oral/written communication skills.
• Must be fluent in French (reading, writing and speaking).
• Ability to respond to changing situations in a flexible manner.
• Solid interpersonal and negotiating skills.
• Ability to produce exceptional quality and a strong commitment to work.

Additional Information:  

Equipment To Be Used:
Computers, fax machines, telephones, calculators, and/or similar devices.

Typical Physical Demands:
Most work is in the office and requires minimal physical effort.

Working Conditions including Travel and Overtime:
Must be willing to travel at least 20% time. Conditions for travel in Kinshasa and outside the city can be difficult due to congestion and poor road conditions.

We thank all individuals for their interest in AED, however only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Individuals responding to job postings are considered applicants if you meet the following criteria: (1) have expressed interest through the Internet, email or other related technologies, (2) are considered by the AED for a particular position, (3) possess the basic qualifications for the position and (4) do not at any point remove yourself from consideration.