Hellen Keller International is recruiting to fill the following positions:

1.) Program Director
2.) Health System Strengthening (HSS) Officer (Neglected Tropical Diseases)

See job details and how to apply below.

1.) Program Director

JOB ADVERTISEMEMT

Program Director

Job Type:          Full time

Location:           Freetown, Sierra Leone

Start Date:        15th October, 2023

End Date:         14th October, 2024; Annual contract (renewable)

Reports to:        Country Director

Open to Expatriates: No

Grade: M

Introduction

Helen Keller International is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and diseases of poverty. Helen Keller Intl partners with communities that are striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty and is devoted to scaling up evidence-based, cost-effective solutions to improve care practices and ensure that basic health interventions reach vulnerable people, with a focus on women, youth, and children.

Helen Keller Intl has been operating in Sierra Leone for nearly 20 years in support of the Nutrition and Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) components of the National Health Development Plan of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, as well as food security component of the ministry of Agriculture. The organization is also committed to generating evidence, carrying out robust research and a high input into research publications.

The Program Director will provide strategic overall leadership of the Helen Keller programs and the program team in Sierra Leone. The PD is expected to be a seasoned manager with acute political acumen and strategic thinking with proven ability to deliver the Country Office’s strategic and program goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a team of seasoned program managers and experts
  • Develop job descriptions (as needed) and ensure competent staff are hired
  • Set annual objectives with the direct reports and review performance on a regular basis in line with Helen Keller’s People & Culture policy and guidance
  • Build team cohesion and effectiveness
  • Coach/mentor staff to strengthen both technical and management capacity
  • Approve and manage leave for all direct reports
  • Ensure annual workplans are in place, resources, implemented and monitored
• Be a part of the Country Management Team (CMT) and make meaningful contribution to overall running of the office as mandated at CMT
• Co-lead program risk management across the country portfolio
• Provide leadership and coordination oversight to all proposal developments within the CO and ensure a participatory approach to proposal design
• Lead/co-lead the development of strategic plan, its implementation and review for the CO
• Lead/co-lead donor relations and discussions
• Ensure budgets are realistic and able to deliver agreed deliverables as per deadlines
• Liaise with regional and global teams as needed to ensure there is regular engagement and oversight of the country program
• Lead/co-lead the program coordination for all budget vs actuals meetings, ensuring follow up action points are delivered/met
• Ensure budget utilization across the country portfolio
• Ensure all program work is in accordance with the grants and contracts policies of the organization and donor compliance
• Work closely with MEL Manager on all program measurement related initiatives
• Oversee the quality assurance of all program activities
• Ensure production of timely and high quality workplans and donor narrative and financial reports of all programs
• Participate in and contribute to all relevant meetings, platforms, workshops in the country and represent Helen Keller at these platforms (as needed)

• Establish and maintain good relationship with Government counterparts key amongst these being MoPED, MAF and MoHS

• Carry out additional tasks, as delegated by the Country Director.

Qualification and experience

• A master’s degree in a relevant field – international development, nutrition, public health, social sciences, etc.
• At least 6 years’ of proven in an INGO in a similar senior role
• Successful experience writing and coordinating high value proposals for major donors (USAID, FCDO, Irish Aid, UN, etc.)
• Demonstrated experience of directly managing and leading diverse teams
• Demonstrated sharp political acumen and leadership
• Must possess highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiating and coaching
• Willingness to travel to the field
• Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal guidance
• Proven experience in research, analysis and publication an added advantage
• Excellent written and verbal English language skills

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to SierraLeone.Recruitment@hki.org; or hand-deliver to: Helen Keller Int Office at 16H James Macarthy Drive, off Spur Road, Wilberforce, Freetown.

• • Please mark your application as per the references stated in the position above (referencing the SUBJECT heading)

• Closing date for the receipt of applications for the above vacancies is 17:00hrs on 5th October 2023 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

“Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

2.) Health System Strengthening (HSS) Officer (Neglected Tropical Diseases)

JOB ADVERTISEMENT

Health System Strengthening (HSS) Officer (Neglected Tropical Diseases)

Job Type:      Full time

Location:       Freetown, Sierra Leone

Start Date:    1st October, 2023

End Date:     30th September, 2024; Annual contract (renewable)

Reports to:    Neglected Tropical Diseases Manager, dotted line to HSS Advisor

Open to Expatriates: No

Grade: I

Introduction

Helen Keller International is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and diseases of poverty. Helen Keller Intl partners with communities that are striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty and is devoted to scaling up evidence-based, cost-effective solutions to improve care practices and ensure that basic health interventions reach vulnerable people, with a focus on women, youth, and children.

Helen Keller Intl has been operating in Sierra Leone for nearly 20 years in support of the Nutrition and Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) components of the National Health Development Plan of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, as well as food security component of the ministry of Agriculture.

NTDs are a core focus for Helen Keller not just in Sierra Leone but globally. Sierra Leone has made significant gains in the control and elimination of four of the five preventive chemotherapy NTDs- lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths.

Scope of Work

The HSS Officer will provide technical leadership to the NTD country team to design and implement NTD sustainability technical framework and strategies. S/he will establish and maintain relationship with high-level government and other key stakeholders to influence and build consensus toward collaboration across sectors. S/He will be required to work closely with the NTD Coordinator to provide direction for all program activities and support to the national NTD Program at Ministry to achieve sustainability objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Advice

• Provide technical assistance to specific HSS challenges
• Provide technical support towards implementation of HSS components of the NTD portfolio in country
• Conduct/contribute to quantitative and/or qualitative analysis on technical and policy issues related to HSS especially health financing and NNTDP diseases-specific transition
• Advocate for the national NTD program is adequately funded/co-funded and included in annual budgets of the MoHS
• Monitor commitments made by the MoHS for NTDs and follow-up as needed
• Advocate for the full integration of NTD program into the national health system and other cross-sector platforms for sustainability
• Advocate that NTDs are integrated in the national policies, strategies, plans and structures at national and sub-national levels
• Leverage cross-sector interventions and non-traditional public health platforms for implementation of NTD interventions
• Lead the inclusion and monitoring of NTD indicators among national health indicators in national HMIS
• Lead the development of position statements for cross-sector sustainability advocacy/domestic resource mobilization activities with NNTDP.

Project management

• Support the cascade of NNTDP inventory management control training

• Coordinate implementation and supervision efforts at district, and health facility levels

• • Plan and implement budgets and work plans for coordination, mainstreaming and sustainability activities

• Contribute to quality assurance of program activities

• Carry out additional tasks, as delegated by the NTD Manager

• Contribute to proposals, as needed.

Research, M&E and reporting

• Support the NNTDP with monitoring of progress of the Sierra Leone sustainability plan and quickly identifying implementation issues, backstopping the TWGs to resolve issues
• Support bi-annual Partners Network Forum meetings to implement and monitor the NTD sustainability plan
• Contribute to all donor reports
• Contribute to any global reports, as needed
• Contribute to the CO matrix and strategic plan, as needed

• Participate in all monitoring activities and or assessments
• Work closely with the NNTDP M&E staff and other program staff to collect and analyse cross-sector sustainability program data
• Review, analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and make recommendations for enhancements.

Representation

• Establish and develop good working relationships with national and district stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration to deliver project objectives
• Liaise with Consortium and donor colleagues on HSS, as needed, in line with internally agreed pathways
• Liaise with the national NTDP and Partners’ Network Forum (PNF) to ensure cross-sector sustainability activities are effectively implemented
• Ensure that HSS program implementation activities adhere to the appropriate global strategy and remains technically sound and in accordance with donor expectations
• Represent Helen Keller in external and internal meetings as designated by NTD Manager and Country Director.

Qualification and Experience

• A bachelors’ degree in a relevant field – health systems, public health, biological sciences, etc. Masters’ degree will be an added advantage
• At least 3 years of proven experience in a similar role
• Experience working with national government stakeholders to enact policy change and/or domestic resource mobilization for health
• Previous experience in implementing robust and successful NTD and/or HSS programs in a developing country context, with
• Technical expertise in one or more of the following areas: health financing, policy reform, service coverage, workforce alignment and/or related areas of health system strengthening; and
• Experience providing facilitation support on issues related to HSS for example supporting a country-led process that has broad stakeholder buy-in and develops the capacity of country partners
• Ability to effectively facilitate and present at high level meetings
• Ability to work with minimal guidance
• Must be able to work in a dynamic and complex environment
• Excellent written and verbal English language skills

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to SierraLeone.Recruitment@hki.org; or hand-deliver to: Helen Keller Int Office at 16H James Macarthy Drive, off Spur Road, Wilberforce, Freetown.

Please mark your application as per the references stated in the position above (referencing the SUBJECT heading)

Closing date for the receipt of applications for the above vacancies is 17:00hrs on Thursday 28th September, 2023 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

“Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.