Job Vacancy @ Partners in Health : Program Associate – Safer Systems for Childbirth

Job Description

Job title:  Program Associate – Safer Systems for Childbirth

Work Location:  Kono, Sierra Leone with regular travel to Freetown-Sierra Leone                            

Department:   Clinical                                    

Reports to:  Reports to RMNCAH Director and Director of Primary Care  On partnership/grant topics, works with Director of Policy & Partnership.

Line Management: No

  Travel: With regular travel to Freetown                                                                            

Duration of Contract: Twelve (12) Months with possibility of extension

Application Status: External Advert

Organization Profile:

Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change. Our delivered services in the field are based in our partnership with the Governments and Ministries of Health and the support to education, training and mentorship to Health care workers and students is one of our pillars for the Health care system strengthening.

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.

Our Work In Sierra Leone:

Partners In Health (PIH) began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health center and to referral hospitals.

Position Overview:

With funding from a large private sector partner, PIH-Sierra Leone is now further increasing and improving our maternal and newborn health work in Kono district, at hospital, primary care and community levels, to strengthen systems for childbirth. This new 3-year program will complement our existing work and our Maternal Center of Excellence at several levels, aiming to radically reduce maternal mortality. We will increase our traditional birth attendants program (TBA) to reach vulnerable women in the community. We will increase support to the primary care sector and strengthen referrals. And we will deploy innovative technologies to improve blood management and identify high-risk pregnancies earlier. This project will scale our reach and impact, and help us to improve the health of vulnerable women. It includes development and management of multiple new partnerships and deepening of our existing partnership with MOHS.

This is an exciting position for a motivated individual and all-rounder, looking to benefit the health of vulnerable women in Sierra Leone. The Associate will bring together all aspects of the project, supporting program management, partnership development and management, and donor relations. S/he will have experience relevant to global health, a track record of managing complex projects successfully and an ability to build strong relationships with a broad range of stakeholders. S/he will work across our 500+ person organization, working closely with Clinical, Policy and Partnerships, Operational and Financial staff to ensure this program is a success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

RMNCAH (Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, Adolescent Health) Program Support:

• Support the RMNCAH Director, RMNCAH Manager and TBA Program Manager in delivering traditional birth attendants (TBA) and maternal health related activities

• Create program documentation, presentation and analyses for the RMNCAH Program

• Organize and manage logistics for trainings, workshops and meetings related to the program and other RMNCAH activities linked to the program 

• Conduct supervisory visits to monitor RMNCAH activities at  Wellbody Clinic and all PIH supported rural PHUs 

Primary Care Program Support

• Support the Primary Care Director in the management of the primary care program as needed

• Create program documentation, presentation and analyses for activities at primary care Hubs

• Organize and manage logistics for all workshops and meetings as related to the PHUs and the program

• Conduct supervisory visits to monitor activities at the rural PHUs 

Project Management

• Develop and maintain workplan for Safer Systems for Childbirth Initiative, ensuring all activities are implemented on time and as planned 

• Together with Grants Manager, monitor budget vs. actuals and project spend

• Act as focal points on all project compliance topics, training PIH staff on any requirements and assuring all necessary project documentation is in hand and completed

• Work with procurement team to ensure project procurements and equipment  occur rapidly 

• Set up, monitor and manage pilot programs for new technologies to be deployed in Kono district 

• Work with M&E team, to make sure monitoring & evaluation systems are in place and data is collected and reported adequately and regularly to internal and external sources and indicated

• Work with HR and Clinical Teams to ensure all project roles are posted, and staff are recruited and onboarded 

• Set up and run regular project meetings with all relevant internal and external stakeholders

Keep internal stakeholders, such as Boston-based Private Sector Partnerships team updated of project activities

Mentoring and Coaching

• Mentor local frontline staff on project management, writing, presentations and other topics as required

Partnership Development and Management 

• Develop and manage strong partnerships with National Emergency Medical Service, Kono District Health Management Team, National Safe Blood Service

• Develop and manage strong partnerships with local community partner organization as well as technology organizations that will pilot their technologies in Sierra Leone 

• Together with Director of Policy and Partnerships, manage all aspects of donor relationship and communications; organize visits by donors and partners, ensuring visits go smoothly and partners achieve their goals in Sierra Leone; and set up and attend regular meetings with project partners and project donor

• Support Director of Policy & Partnership in management of other partnerships related to RMNCAH and primary care as needed

Grant Management

• With support from Director of Policy and Partnerships and Legal Team, develop and establish partnership agreements with all project partners
• Monitor sub-grants and disbursement and troubleshoot any issues
• Create first draft of all project reports, and any other donor communications, working closely with Policy & Partnerships Team, and ensure all grant documentation is submitted on time
• Ensure alignment with other grants in RMNCAH and primary care

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment:

At Partners In Health, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members – as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partners In Health’s PSEAH policy. Partner In Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.  By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Essential

• Excellent academic track record – strong Bachelor’s degree from reputable institution OR track record of highly relevant field experience
• Experience and/or credible interest in health care, global health, social justice, international development
• Track record of managing complex multi-stakeholder partnerships including with sensitive stakeholders such as
• Track record of delivering/managing complex projects with multiple deliverables in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent people skills
• Confident public speaker and facilitator with experience in running trainings, workshops etc.
• Strong writer with experience drafting complex official documents
• Highly numerate with experience analyzing and presenting data
• Motivated by social justice and willing to permanently live in rural Sierra Leone, working in challenging, resource-constrained conditions

Strong advantages

Any of the following:

• Nursing, midwifery, pre-medical or similar background
• Masters of Public Health
• Deep knowledge in RMNCAH, primary care, technology implementation
• Prior work experience in Sierra Leone or similar Sub-Saharan African country
• Prior experience with donor-funded projects in global health
• Prior experience with an international health NGO similar to Partners in Health (PIH)
• Prior private sector experience

Social Justice:

We are a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most. We strive to ease suffering by placing patients at the center of all care, bringing the benefits of modern medicine to all.

Method of application:

Interested candidates are required to apply through our website: www.pih.org/employment.   In your application, please ensure to include names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) referees not later than 12:00pm GMT (Midnight) on Wednesday 29th June 2022