Summary
Save the Children is seeking a Technical Director, Health Systems Strengthening (HSS), for an anticipated 5-year USAID/Nepal Better Health Activity. This activity will support the three tiers of government to improve the health system, focusing on governance, demand-side barriers and community accountability, and quality of health care at the facility and community level. The activity will improve the quality of care for maternal, newborn, and family planning services, and will also strengthen readiness of health facilities and the health system for possible future health emergencies.
The Technical Director reports directly to the Chief of Party (COP) and will lead the strategic direction of the design, management, implementation and monitoring of high-quality evidence-based health systems strengthening (HSS) interventions, working closely with relevant units at all levels of the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) and with respective partners at the national level and within target regions and districts. The Technical Director will represent the project at various national technical working groups and committees, ensure deliverables within these technical areas are implemented according to the set work plan, oversee the work of program advisors and managers, and ensure efficient operational support for the project team.
This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.
What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)
- In collaboration with the COP, ensure that the program is delivered according to the contractual requirement with the donor and government, i.e., that all activities and deliverables are completed within the agreed timescale and budget, reports are submitted per agreed schedules and any other requirements or criteria are fulfilled.
- Provide overall technical leadership and guidance to the project team.
- Lead the design, planning, roll-out, and monitoring of evidence-based health systems strengthening approaches to support local health authorities to identify and address systemic issues preventing them from achieving high quality and equitable primary health care services in their areas.
- Lead the development and review of project work plans and strategies, and writing project technical documents
- Support the identification and targeting of health inequities and the inclusion of vulnerable groups to ensure equitable access to quality health services.
- In collaboration with project staff and stakeholders, innovate, develop, document and disseminate new approaches to identify and address emerging health system challenges.
- Maintain good working relationships with officials, government ministries, implementing partners and the international and national NGO community.
- Work with program staff and technical advisors based in the country office to identify the technical support needs of the program and ensure this support is provided.
- Together with the MEAL Director, spearhead development of routine sub-component project reports in accordance with donor requirements including monitoring country-level activities, identifying challenges and developing appropriate reporting and results of project activities to the COP.
- Work with project staff and stakeholders to document, share learning and represent the project as appropriate at national and international events.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in public health, health systems research, medicine, international development or other relevant discipline is required.
- Minimum seven to 10 years of professional experience designing and implementing health system strengthening programs.
- Personal and professional commitment to health system capacity building and addressing health equity issues
- At least five years of senior program experience working and living in Nepal or other countries in Asia.
- In-depth knowledge of USAID approaches and regulations.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government representatives, private sector entities, non-governmental organizations, donors and other stakeholders, particularly at the sub-national level.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations.
- Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to work effectively in resource-constrained environments.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Nepali.
Qualified local national candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
About Save the Children
No matter your role when you join Save the Children, each and every day you will challenge yourself to devote your skills, talent and expertise to changing the world for kids. It’s an ambitious goal, and a meaningful one no matter how you see yourself professionally: an accountant, a writer, a data analyst, a teacher, a driver, a designer, or any one of the hundreds of dozens of roles we’re looking to fill every day.
You see, Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.
Our work for children and their families requires that we commit—at every opportunity—to work together to identify and dismantle persistent systemic and structural racism, inequality, and any other forms of discrimination in this country and beyond. As an anti-racist organization, Save the Children will not tolerate discrimination in any form—in our employment practices, amongst our staff, in our leadership or toward the people we serve. We stand in solidarity with all people to fight for equal rights, justice, inclusion, and belonging.
We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.
Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation.
Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.
