Deputy Chief of Party (Technical) at Palladium International

Palladium was awarded a cooperative agreement to implement the USAID County Measurement, Learning and Accountability Program (CMLAP) in Kenya. The purpose of this activity is to support ongoing activities by the national and county governments and other development partners to strengthen outcome measurements, learning and accountability (MLA) systems in order to provide quality data and synthesized information for planning, implementation, policy development and decision making. This activity focus its support on the following HIV, malaria and Martenal Neonatal Child Health programs in Homabay, Migori, Kisii, Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga, Bungoma, Kisumu, Baringo, Nakuru, Turkana, Nakuru and Samburu.

The Palladium led CMLAP team includes the Kenyan School of Government and Maseno University. Together we bring a deep knowledge of the country context—in particular, experience w orking on strengthening Leadership and Governance, M&E and HIS and analytics in devolved counties. We have a collective track record in governance, health M&E and data systems, ICT and analytics, data demand and use, and capacity building strategies at all levels of the health system. Team partners are currently working in the focus counties which favors continued technical assistance. Through our existing projects, the partners have established collaborative working relationships with local nongovernmental, community-based, and faith-based organizations (NGO/CBO/FBO) and the County Health Management Teams (CHMTs) that will facilitate work planning and the achievement of project results.

The project has two sub-purposes:
Increased leadership and management capacity of county governments for effective outcome MLA systems;
Increased availability, analysis and use of quality data

A 33-person team is to work in Kisumu and Nakuru to achieve the project results. The team is led by a Chief of Party also based in Kisumu. Palladium staff in Nairobi and our international offices will provide routine technical and administrative support and assistance.

Position Summary
Under the leadership of the CMLAP Chief of party, the Deputy Chief of Party Technical will lead and oversee activities related to in Analytics and Data Use for the project and provide technical direction and guidance to the CMLAP team. Along with the COP, s/he will coordinate and collaborate with other donor-funded M&E/SI programs in Kenya. The DCOP will also work with the COP to develop and implement the project work plan and assure timely provision of high-quality deliverables and routine project reports. The DCOP is the secondary point of contact for the USAID Agreement Officer (AOR) and will serve as the acting COP when needed.

The DCO P will have direct supervision of the following positions:

• Senior Analytics and Data Use Specialist;
• Sr. M&E RMNCAH specialist;
• Sr. M&E Malaria Specialist;
• Sr. CPIMS Specialist.

The DCOP will report to the COP. The position is based in Kisumu, Kenya. No expatriate or relocation benefits are associated with the position.

Key Responsibilities

• Serves as a member of the senior leadership team of CMLAP.As such, provides senior leadership, management oversight, and coordination on all matters project-wide;
• Provides subject matter expertise; technical assistance to the program, technical staff and administrators for CMLAP (Technical strategy formulation);
• Leads, reviews and monitors programmatic functions:
• Development of annual and operational work plans and budgets;
• Quality Activity implementation and employ use of work plan tracker. COP Benchmarks Tracker among other project tools;
• Ensure that activity implementation is aligned with project technical strategies and approaches during conceptualization (concept notes review);In collaboration with the Project M&E specialist, ensure proper documentation of the activity reports.
• Provides analytical and evaluative techniques to identify, consider and resolve issues or problems;
• Ensures technical excellence of project interventions and lead the learning agenda related to analytics and data use;
• Provides functional guidance to project staff, other USG IPs and stakeholders to ensure deliverables are met within timelines and budgets as needed:
• A. Regular engagement with the Technical specialists and CPLS; staff meetings, thematic team meetings;
• B. Routine meetings with the USAID IPs in the respective program areas: SI, HIV, Malaria and Family Health.
• Organizes and supports as needed, project trainings, conferences, workshops and meetings;
• Participates and represents the organization as needed in outside associations, conferences and symposia; prepares necessary project-related reports, including presentations and white papers;
• Organizes and supports as needed project trainings, conferences, workshops, and meetings;
• Leads and assists in research, data collection, policy formulation, training and capacity building efforts in support of contract/agreement activities and deliverables.
• Provides guidance to lower level staff members;
• Acts as the COP when needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Educational background and Experience:
• Advanced degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent;
• At least over 7 years of experience in public health program management, health governance, information systems strengthening, monitoring and evaluation, policy formulation, or other field related to international health programs are required;
• Demonstrated success in collaboration and coordination across partners, sectors and with home office;
• Demonstrated problem solving, analytic, financial and evaluative skills;
• Demonstrated experience managing projects or programs;
• Attention to detail and ability to effectively and efficiently perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities often within a required timeframe;
• Effective written and oral communication skills;
• Professional and diplomatic demeanor and conduct, especially during interactions with the client and its constituents;
• Ability to anticipate, respond and adapt quickly to changing requirements and competing demands;
• Ability to take initiative and/or respond independently to situations;
• Fluent written and spoken English and Swahili required;
• Experience working with USAID and/or USAID partners is required.