Overview
The Principal Investigator/Project Director (PI/PD) will provide overall vision, leadership and programmatic and managerial oversight for an anticipated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) project focusing on scaling-up Comprehensive High Impact Community Based HIV Prevention, Testing and Treatment initiation services in five PEPFAR districts in Lesotho. PI/PD will guide the strategic planning, design and implementation of the project and be responsible for reporting of activities and for all project deliverables. The Project Director will be the primary point of contact and manage all relationships with CDC/Lesotho, Government counterparts, PEPFAR implementing partners and other stakeholders. The Project Director will work closely with the MOH/HIV & AIDS Department and other relevant ministries to streamline efforts and ensure a coordinated effort in provision of quality HIV care and treatment services. The PI/PD will supervise a team of highly qualified staff. The project will operate over a five-year period. This position is contingent upon award from CDC. Lesotho nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities
- Provide leadership and strategic direction to ensure programmatic and financial integrity of the project and to achieve rapid and sustained project goals, objectives and targets
- Ensure high-quality program implementation that is consistent with Lesotho’s national health guidelines, protocols and standards.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships and alliances with the Ministry of Health, CDC, as well as other USG implementing partners, private sector partners and other key stakeholders to maximize resources, coordinate activities and avoid duplication of effort.
- Represent Jhpiego’s interests and present progress, achievements and lessons learned to key stakeholders including CDC/Ministry of Health and implementing partners in public and professional circles through meetings, conferences, and presentations
- Work with finance and project staff to develop and track project budgets and provide oversight on core funding agreements.
- Facilitate the development of innovative project approaches and interventions.
- Advise national counterparts on technical issues and participate in relevant technical working groups with counterparts and other implementing partners.
- Provide project leadership and strategic direction to ensure the project’s technical and financial integrity are guaranteed and to achieve project and donor goals, objectives and targets.
- Work collaboratively with other project team members to ensure necessary planning, development, resource availability and management activities function smoothly and efficiently.
- Lead the annual work planning and continuing application process, and other work planning efforts, in close collaboration with CDC, the Ministry of Health, respective Provincial teams, project team and project partners, and ensure effective resource planning and be responsible for the overall management of the project budget.
- Collaborate with the other project team members to oversee program activities, ensure timely implementation and timely, accurate reporting to donors, Ministry of Health and others as necessary.
- Supervise and manage a team of highly qualified staff and align their efforts in to ensure rapid and sustainable results.
- Provide updates on the progress made, direction, approaches and successes of the program to donor, MOH and partners and internally within Jhpiego.
- Work with M&E staff to develop M&E frameworks and effectively track data/results.
- Ensure compliance with CDC operational policies and regulations.
- Manage and support the capacity of national sub grantee partners to lead in the areas assigned to them.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in public health, health administration, international health or a related field.
- Proven track record of leading and managing medium to large (more than US$5 million per year) USG-supported public health programs and budgets in developing countries.
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in HIV prevention, care and/or treatment programs in Southern Africa, preferably in Lesotho.
- Demonstrated ability to manage large USG-supported public health projects and budgets.
- Experience in designing and managing complex HIV/AIDS prevention programs, with 8+ years of professional, progressively more responsible management experience of international public health program phases (design, implementation, monitor, reporting and financial management).
- Experience developing successful, replicable and sustainable programs in Southern Africa.
- Proven track record directing, motivating and managing a project team composed of technical experts and administrative staff.
- Ability to build capacity and collaboration between governmental and non-governmental partners and other project implementers.
- Understanding of CDC, USG and PEPFAR donor’s regulations and compliance, reporting requirements, and health strategic framework.
- Ability to ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations.
- Experience in leading annual work plans, incorporating national Technical Working Groups directives, and collaborating on local action plans.
- Capacity for analyzing technical problems and issues that impede efforts to provide improved health care to populations; developing technical solutions to these problems/issues and assisting in the design of operational research that could yield appropriate solutions.
- Ability to work in a complex environment charged with multiple tasks, short deadlines and intense pressure to perform.
- Proven leadership skills and expertise in strategic program planning, implementation and management.
- Solid understanding of Lesotho’s health system.
- Ability to communicate effectively, instilling trust and confidence.
- Excellent interpersonal and written and oral presentation skills.
- A team player accustomed to building team capacity, delegating working teams and developing communities of learning among host-country partners and counterparts.
- Ability to travel unrestricted within Lesotho and internationally.
Preferred Qualifications
- Proven track record of leading and managing HIV projects preferred. (HIV projects that are medium to large (more than US$5 million per year) USG-supported public health programs and budgets in developing countries)
- Lesotho nationals strongly preferred.
- Experience in HIV prevention, care and/or treatment programs in Lesotho preferred.