Haiti: Country Project Director, Leadership Management and Governance

The Country Project Director is responsible for overseeing and managing all activities for the Leadership, Management and Governance Project (LMG) in Haiti. S/he shall be responsible and accountable for the development, regular update, and implementation of the country work plan and budget to ensure attainment of the program goals and objectives in line with the LMG mandate and approaches, to contribute to the goals of the local USG Mission and that of government partners. S/he is the primary liaison between LMG and the local USAID Coordinator/US State Government Health Officer, Government counterparts, stakeholders, and partners involved with pharmaceutical management activities and/or implementing related programs in the country. The Country Project Director is accountable for the management of the LMG/Haiti office, provides strategic and technical guidance, and works closely with the assigned Medford, MA-based Country Portfolio Director, other LMG and MSH home office technical and operational staff, and other MSH and USAID projects in the country to ensure that MSH/HPG/LMG plans and activities effectively achieve the LMG/Haiti Project objectives.

Overview of the LMG/Haiti project

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Leadership, Management and Governance/Haiti (LMG/Haiti) field support project, implemented by Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in partnership with the World Bank and under the guidance of the Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population (MSPP), has been working in Haiti since September 2012 to generate inspired leadership, sound management, and transparent governance for stronger health teams, services, organizations, and healthier Haitians. The project’s four objectives are:

• Strengthen the capacity of the MSPP contracting function to manage all sources of funding (including United States Government [USG] funds) to improve the quality of and access to health services;
• Strengthen the MSPP's capacity to better regulate, manage, and monitor the health system;
• Strengthen the leadership, management, and governance (L+M+G) capacity of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) to improve financial oversight and accountability as well as improve performance and coordination; and
• Strengthen the strategic communication capacity of the MSPP and local Haitian journalists, and support USAID/Haiti to engage, inform, and elevate awareness of the Haitian public, diaspora, and US-based policy makers on key health issues for the country.

Specific Responsibilities

Vision, Technical Strategy, and Results

• Develop and manage the Results Framework, Performance Monitoring Plan, Technical Strategy, annual project work plans, technical assistance plan, and budget for LMG technical assistance in the country, in collaboration with Cambridge, MA-based Country Portfolio Director, the Deputy Director for Financial Management, the Performance and M&E Specialist, and Technical Advisors, according to USAID Mission requirements, obligations, MSH/CLM technical frameworks, approaches and standards, and Results Management Systems (RMS) guidelines.
• Manage the implementation of LMG technical activities at all relevant levels of the health system, ensuring that all activities are adequately implemented in a timely fashion and that they adequately address management, leadership, and governance needs at the different levels of the system, especially within the MSPP, to meet the expectations of clients, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate the identification and provision of required short-term technical assistance in support of program activities.
• Provide overall oversight and guidance to LMG technical units responsible for technical assistance, training, and on-site capacity building activities, ensuring the development of local institutional and personal capacities needed to maintain the creation and function of a Contracting Unit, the development of a national policy on referral networks, and planning health infrastructure projects while ensuring country ownership and sustainability of interventions.
• Maintain close interaction with the Country Portfolio Director based in Cambridge to ensure adequate support to the country program, completion of work, and the achievement of targets in a timely fashion and within budget. Also, ensure that workplan adjustments are made and documented as necessary.

Project Management

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the country office and serve as a liaison with the home office to ensure that logistics, contracts, letters of agreement, and any approvals are adequately in place in support of program activities. Also, ensure adherence to MSH office management and accounting procedures.
• Conduct budget monitoring and cost control activities on a regular basis based on sound financial and accounting principles, MSH Standard Operating Procedures, and LMG requirements.
• Oversee the implementation of activities in compliance with the LMG cooperative agreement, MSH and USAID policies, regulations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Promote and facilitate staff participation in MSH's Technical Exchange Networks (TEN) and other Knowledge Exchange activities, including south-to south exchanges.
• Manage human resources as per MSH values, policies and guidelines, and implement an effective performance-management program focusing on results.
• Manage project staffing, structure and reporting relationships such that they are aligned with country needs, local context and available resources.

Documentation, Communication, and Client Relations

• Facilitate the review of technical reports developed by other team members and/or consultants, ensuring the quality of delivered products and that reports/recommendations are appropriately disseminated among partners.
• Maintain all verbal and written communications with the local USG team and represent LMG/Haiti in meetings with external partners including the USAID Mission as well as other donors and partners implementing health activities. Identify and coordinate management, leadership, and governance priorities in support of national and USAID priorities.
• Oversee the development of regular activity updates, quarterly and annual progress reports, financial reports and other reports, as required, and their timely submission to the local Mission and MSH’s home office.
• Ensure submission of technical documentation to MSH's central Institutional Memory System (IMS), clients, partners and stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong working relations with key internal and external stakeholders, beneficiaries, subcontractors, suppliers and partners. Provide effective and timely responses to inquiries and concerns.
• Seek out new and strategic partnerships in the public and private sectors to advance program objectives and promote innovation.

Other

• Ensure harmonious collaboration with, and cost-effective use of, the MSH Country Operations Management Unit.
• Collaborate with the MSH Office of Strategic Development and Communications in aspects of strategic communication, etc.
• Ensure effective collaboration, coordination and internal partnerships with other MSH projects, offices, and groups to build synergies across programs for maximum impact.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Masters, PhD, or MD) in a health-related field or management field, required.
• At least 8 years of experience in senior level position(s) in international public health is required.

Preferred:

• 10+ years of experience in the areas of leadership, and governance and health systems strengthening strongly preferred, particularly in developing countries.
• Experience with public health programs supported by bilateral agencies, such as USAID, and international agencies, such as World Health Organization and World Bank, preferred.
• Experience managing and supervising technical staff.
• Demonstrated experience achieving project results with available resources.

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of Haiti and the Caribbean region is strongly preferred.
• Technical knowledge in capacity building in the areas of leadership, management, and governance is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated managerial and organizational skills in a developing country setting with flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse staff, clients, and consultants.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in fluent English and fluent French are essential.
• Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Google platform, and other relevant software) are required for effectively operating in this position. Strong computer skills are required to implement, analyze, and monitor, and manage activity goals, inputs, outcomes, and achievements.

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to assess priorities and manage a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality.
• Proven record of aligning diverse, multi-level teams with project mission and vision.
• Demonstrated ability and strong commitment to, transparency and collaboration, as demonstrated by sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives, and sharing acknowledgement for achievements.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior-level colleagues, particularly interacting productively, proactively, and comfortably with government agencies, NGOs, private sector groups, USAID, Collaborating Agencies, and donor organizations.
• Demonstrated strategic agility, diplomacy, conflict management, team building, written and oral communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to travel, as required, to support the progress of program activities.

EEO Statement

Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or veteran status.

Reports To

Regional Director

Visit the MSH website to apply!