Job Vacancy @ Crown Agents: Team Lead – Health System Strengthening in Sierra Leone

About the role

Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Timeframe: 5 years with expected start date around Q3 2022

Background

Crown agents is planning to tender for the FCDO funded Health System Strengthening programme in Sierra Leone.

The programme's intended impact will be to build on the gains from FCDO's current health programme in Sierra Leone to deliver sustainable improvement in health outcomes, particularly for mothers, new-born's, children, and adolescents. It will aim to do this by increasing uptake of quality and equitable health services by target groups within a more resilient and equitable health system, through:

• Strengthening the health system through improved policy and strategy at national level for health governance, leadership, financing, and delivery, more and better trained health workers, and efficient procurement and distribution of free healthcare commodities
• Enhanced delivery of quality, equitable and accessible health services, with clear sustainability plans developed
• Strengthened community engagement for increased accountability and demand for RMNCAH services

The Team Lead will lead Crown Agents’ team and consortium partner organisations and be the primary representative of the project to all key stakeholders, government officials, and donors at coordination fora and other related meetings. The Team Lead is expected to maintain strong relationships with the FCDO and other networks in the sector as well as communicate effectively and distribute information about programme achievements and lessons learned to a range of different audiences.

The Team Lead will be responsible for providing overall vision, leadership, and guidance of the project and will hold ultimate responsibility for programme delivery and results. She/he will have the overall responsibility for the oversight and delivery of outputs and results of the programme, overall project management and technical operations and will ensure that the programme is implemented as per the contract and in compliance with the FCDO agreement, regulations, and internationally recognised quality standards. She/he will also oversee management of partners and provide financial, and operations support that optimises resources through sound budgets, consistent financial tracking, and timely submission of reports to the donor. She/he will establish appropriate monitoring mechanisms to ensure that activity progress and specific implementation concerns are regularly and promptly reported and that project objectives are met.

The Team Leader will provide overall operational, administrative, financial, and personnel management for HSS, specific duties and responsibilities include:

Essential Job Functions: Duties and Responsibilities

Management and Leadership

• Lead the HSS programme team to achieve quality oversight and successful delivery of a national scale health programme
• Working closely with Crown Agents HO, as well as the Deputy Team Leader and Lead Technical Advisor, the TL ensures technical quality and provide oversight in relation to the delivery of all programme activities and deliverables
• Lead responsibilities for strategic planning and project troubleshooting
• Lead responsibilities for the programme’s national and local outreach, including engagement with key stakeholders in National, State and County Ministries of Health.
• Act as the primary representative for Crown Agents and the HSS programme in Sierra Leone
• Ensure full adherence to contractual Terms of Reference, manage potential scope creep by the client and flag to the Crown Agents HO as needed
• Ensure quality of programme delivery through mentoring the team and through providing feedback on their performance as well as areas for improvement

With substantial support from the Director of Finance (DF):

• Ensure project financial practices are in compliance with Crown Agents and FCDO contractual rules and regulations
• Monitor the in-country programme budget and IP expenditure
• With the DF support the preparations of annual audited documents
• Ensure that financial reporting is accurate and completed on time.

Operational

With substantial support from the DF and Operations Director:

• Ensure project management practices are in compliance with Crown Agents and FCDO contractual rules and regulations
• Alongside the Deputy Team Leader, direct and collaborate with consortium partners on overall programme strategy
• Ensure subcontractors are properly managed for the delivery of results in the field
• Supported by the Senior Programme Manager, oversee all short-term technical assistance required by the programme
• Ensure that a Programme Security Plan and SOPs are developed and kept up to date.
• Ensure adherence to duty of care obligations.

Candidate’s Profile

This is a senior position which requires outstanding leadership, strategic thinking, and organisational, team-building and representational skills. We are looking for the following skills, experience and attributes from the Team Lead:

• • At least 12 years’ experience in leading the management of large and/or complex donor funded programmes, and managing a diverse team of professionals and consortium partners
  • Advanced degree (or equivalent experience) in Public Health, International Development, or related field
  • Strong understanding of complex development programmes in developing countries with extensive experience working in Sierra Leone
  • Strong understanding and proven experience of working with different donors and familiarity with their policies and requirements, ideally through prior experience in managing large FCDO programmes
  • Demonstrated success across the whole range of project management responsibilities including: strategic program planning; work planning and budgeting; financial, administrative, contractual management and oversight
  • Experience and ability to provide leadership and direction in harnessing the multi-disciplinary skills of the technical personnel and consortium partners
  • Experience and ability to work with, and build effective partnerships between, a broad range of stakeholder groups including government, civil society, private sector, multi-laterals and other donors

• Prior experience in operating effectively within complex and high-risk environments and managing the needs of multiple stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal and intercultural skills with demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations, as well as mentor national staff
• Qualified candidates from Sierra Leone will be strongly preferred

Please note that the JD is high level and indicative only at this stage and may be subject to change once the Terms of Reference for the programme is released and as the opportunity develops.

How to Apply

Qualified and interested individuals should click on the button below to apply.

About us

You’ll be working with Crown Agents which is a high impact social enterprise passionate about transforming the future for millions of people. Since our creation in 1833 we have worked across the globe to improve public services and drive economic growth. Our expertise is finding new solutions to difficult problems for clients in the areas of health, governance, economic growth, humanitarian action and supply chain services. We work with and train leaders at local, national and international level to achieve lasting change drawing on our insight and experience.

About what's on offer

Crown Agents offers a competitive benefits package.