Program Director - CDC Strategic Use of Surveillance and Epidemiology - Kenya at Palladium International

Project Overview and Role

The aim of this project is to foster collaboration with the Government of Kenya (GOK) Ministry of Health (MOH), county health departments, and US PEPFAR program partners in the development, refinement, and implementation of HIV surveillance and epidemiology efforts, in order to contribute to program effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. Activities under this project will be aligned with the surveillance and epidemiology direction of the Kenya National AIDS Strategic Framework, National HIV Surveillance Strategy, and PEPFAR Kenya Country Operational Plans with an emphasis on HIV case surveillance (CBS; i.e., reporting and analysis of cases diagnosed with HIV for prevention, control and action) and recent infection surveillance (i.e., a system to rapidly detect, characterize, and intervene on recent infection among newly diagnosed HIV cases). Successful applicants will demonstrate understanding of the Kenyan HIV epidemiological context and evidence of a history of relevant fieldwork. The recipient(s) will support the GOK and partners to strengthen capacity to design, implement, analyze, disseminate, and use data from epidemiologic studies and surveillance to focus on sustained HIV epidemiologic control including accurately measuring outcomes and impact, while informing the HIV response. The project will emphasize analytical and epidemiological skills, geospatial analyses, costing studies, and strategies for capacity-building at national and sub-national levels.

Responsibilities

Program Management and Strategy Setting

• In collaboration with the Principal Investigator (PI), MOH, donor and other stakeholders develop the strategy and guiding principles for surveillance and strategic information activities
• In collaboration with the PI and team leads, ensure the effective execution and management of a portfolio of initiatives in alignment with international standards and best practices including risk management and mitigation, with a focus on data security and protection
• Ensure that the organizational structure, staffing skills sets and culture are aligned to achieve the objectives of the project
• Lead the team towards the development of an effective HIV surveillance strategy to inform HIV program planning and investments to support achievement of the 95-95-95 goals
• Lead the team towards the development of an effective stakeholder engagement approach.
• Lead the team towards the development of an effective capacity strengthening approach.
• Lead the team towards the development of an effective data analytics and data use strategy.
• Oversee the development of annual project workplans and monitor implementation of project activities as planned.
• Provide intellectual leadership, technical input and management support to all project technical assignments.

Project Operations

• Oversee the preparation of regular periodic reports to CDC on progress towards project objectives.
• Oversee the preparation of documents related to the cooperative agreement in line with the CDC guidelines.
• Ensure that Palladium hiring policies and procedures are adhered to during the recruitment and hiring of staff and consultants.
• Oversee project staff performance, including conducting annual performance reviews.
• Directly manage and mentor the team leads and sub-awardees.
• Oversee management of on-boarding and termination of staff, ensuring that all CDC and Palladium policies and regulations are adhered to.
• Ensure that all project-related contracts are developed and executed in compliance with CDC and Palladium policies and procedures.
• Conduct regular meetings with the project team as a vehicle for monitoring progress on, and providing leadership to project staff.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Maintain regular communication with CDC, Kenya counterparts, other US Government Cooperating Agencies, Palladium HQ and other relevant organizations.
• Articulate and communicate the project's vision to the SUSE project team, Kenya counterparts, other US Government Cooperating Agencies and other relevant project organizations.
• Prepare and deliver formal and informal project-related presentations upon request by CDC, or as needed for other parties.
• Promote the project among GOK Ministry and country department heads, professional groups and other relevant parties.
• Represent the project in best-practice knowledge-sharing forums and through special studies that document lessons learned.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent (e.g. Health Informatics, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Information Science).
• Public health academic or fellowship training (e.g., MPH, FELTP, epidemiology, health informatics, behavioral science, etc.) strongly preferred but not required.
• 10+ years of experience in public health program management, health governance, health information systems strengthening, monitoring and evaluation, health informatics or other field related to international health programs are required.
• Strong reputation and relationships with MoH and/or PEPFAR stakeholders/beneficiaries required
• An in-depth understanding of, and ability to effectively function in the Kenya political, cultural, and social landscape.
• Previous experience as a Chief of Party/Deputy Chief of Party/Senior Manager /Team Leader of a comparable multi-dimensional donor project.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Professional and diplomatic demeanor and conduct, especially during interactions with the client and its constituents.
• Fluent written and spoken English and Swahili required.
• Experience working with CDC and CDC and/or USAID partners is required.

Preferred

• A capacity builder: Experience in building institutional, local technical, management and leadership capacity.
• Be results oriented: Knows how to design and successfully implement, monitor, and disseminate results, adapting as needed to achieve the greatest impact.
• A responsive manager: Able to motivate staff to perform effectively toward project objectives.
• A motivator: Have the ability to re-energize a team and steer them towards high productivity
• A collaborator: Demonstrated success in collaboration and coordination across sister projects, partners, sectors and with home office.
• Analytical: Demonstrated problem solving, analytic, financial and evaluative skills.
• Agility: Ability to anticipate, respond and adapt quickly to changing requirements and competing demands.
• Autonomy: Ability to take initiative and/or respond independently to situations.
• Diligence: Attention to detail and ability to effectively and efficiently perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities often within a required timeframe.