Program Manager, CORE Group Partners Project

Job Summary:

The Program Manager (PM) provides technical and programmatic support to implement the CORE Group Partners Project (CGPP) in DRC, based in Bukavu, with support from Secretariat team members. The position holder is also expected to work with CGPP’s Global Chief of Party, Global Deputy Director, and Senior Technical Advisors on high level matters. She/he will work directly with World Vision DRC, the Implementing Partners (IP), and the Local Partners to implement the project in the South Kivu region, and other areas as determined. This will also include working with Government of DRC and other critical stakeholders in the Health and Humanitarian space. The PM will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and continuously work towards increasing program impact. The PM will serve as CGPP’s primary point-of-contact in DRC for communications with USAID’s Mission in DRC and with stakeholders. The PM will be hired as a CORE Group, Inc. consultant and based in Bukavu.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary point-of-contact for USAID’s Mission in DRC and polio partners.
• Share relevant information, announcements, and major events related to polio eradication to the CGPP global headquarters team.
• Advise the project team on safety and security-related matters in accordance with WV DRC security team.
• Work closely with partners to ensure all program and related reports are collated, reviewed and are of high-quality for submission to the CGPP HQ team on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• Make sure guidance from USAID’s Mission in DRC is properly applied within the project.
• Provide support to capture and share success stories, case studies, and lessons from the project.
• With guidance from the CGPP HQ Senior Technical Advisor, develop strategies to ensure that the regions achieve project targets as approved in the activity MEL plan.
• Actively monitor project performance using the project’s performance tracking system.
• Monitor and track the implementation of planned activities in the approved workplan.
• Monitor and track expenses to ensure burn rate is optimal to avoid over-spending or underspending.
• Conduct supervisory visits to regions and districts to ensure high-quality activities are conducted across the communities up to the hard-to-reach and international border communities.
• Monitor and mentor the program teams and volunteers to ensure they reach program participants in mapped out areas, working together with the international partners and the local partners.
• Represent the project at high-level government stakeholder’s meetings on health, be a member of the polio and immunization related technical working groups such as social mobilization, surveillance, and the provincial EPI/surveillance team.
• Build and maintain healthy relationships with the government and polio and immunization actors to ensure coordination and the implementation of polio and immunization strengthening activities.
• Report timely information from all meetings as may impact and/or affect the project.
• Work closely with UNICEF on community engagement activities and service delivery at health facilities.
• Engage with the IPs to develop program strategies to increase project performance using the SIA calendar and annual and quarterly work plans with close guidance from the CGPP HQ team.
• Ensure the program priorities are understood and promote buy-in from partners.
• Provide the technical oversight to conduct training on AFP surveillance, immunization system strengthening, MEAL, and social mobilization, working with the IP to determine the training needs under the guidance of the Secretariat.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Health or Social Science. Master’s Degree in a health-related field is desired.
• At least 5 – 7 years of professional experience with at least 3 years working in Public Health involving immunization programs and community-level work with significant program management responsibilities.
• Basic computer and software skills.
• Professional level understanding of program monitoring and evaluation, immunization data analytics.
• Experience in polio programming will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrate ability to manage a public health project, including working with government authorities.
• Proven experience working with and through partner organizations, including the public sector.
• Working knowledge of and experience with UN, USG or GF projects will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of the local terrain in Eastern DRC and South Kivu regions will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrate understanding of and commitment to promoting gender equity and the interests of vulnerable people.
• Experience with and a demonstrated commitment to a community-based approach to development.
• Ability to interface with multiple stakeholders, representatives, and partners in a professional manner.
• Have experience working in Bukavu in primary health care and related contexts.
• Have experience working with civil society organizations.
• Ability to travel and work in difficult conditions.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and French is mandatory. Ability to speak local language is an added advantage.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to detect and report inconsistencies.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Capacity to work with minimal supervision.
• Must be a team player with good problem-solving skills.
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Ability to multitask and deliver high quality work on tight deadlines.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time and stay and work in difficult environments is mandatory.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with USAID and UN donor regulations is a plus.
• Proficient in Excel and experience with Word and PowerPoint. Knowledge of financial reporting software a plus.
• Females are encouraged to apply.

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: CGPPGlobal Chief of Party, Global Deputy Director, SBCC Advisor, MEAL Advisor, other Secretariat staff as hired.
• External: Ministry of Health, USAID, WHO, UNICEF, CDC, and other state actors

Duration of consultancy contract: Consultancy contract will be for one year, with the possibility of extension.