Deputy Chief of Party

MSH seeks a Deputy Chief of Party for the 5-year, USAID Assistance for Families and Indigent Afghans to Thrive (AFIAT) program in Afghanistan. AFIAT strives to improve the quality of primary and secondary health and nutrition services in targeted rural areas; increase access to high-impact and evidence-based health and nutrition services; enhance adoption of optimal health and nutrition behaviors by communities and households; and Collaborate with Partners to Plan, Finance, and Manage the Public Health System.

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will support the Chief of Party (COP) in the design, roll-out, and day-to-day management and implementation of program interventions. Working closely with the COP, AFIAT Technical Director and Technical Strategy Lead, s/he will lead program implementation of evidence-based technical strategies to achieve program objectives.

Responsibilities include continually improving the implementation quality of activity interventions and enduring that interventions are working in synergy across the project to achieve the greatest impact; providing technical direction and leading country teams to develop technical strategies, approaches and plans; implementing activities and monitor progress towards outlined project milestone/deliverables/ approved workplans; and managing and building the capacity of country teams. In collaboration with the Operations Director, Technical Director, and Technical Strategy Lead, and Portfolio Director, supporting the COP to implement and monitor robust risk management and mitigation strategies and ensuring project and staff compliance with OFAC licenses, USAID regulations and local government requirements is an important aspect of this role.

REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATION:

• An advanced degree in public health, or a relevant discipline. Pharmaceutical management experience preferred

REQUIRED MINIMUM EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in leading or advising complex health care service or public health programs in developing countries. Previous program implementation experience in Afghanistan is required.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Demonstrated technical knowledge and experience managing and overseeing national level/country-wide public health programs in one or more of the flagship areas of maternal, neonatal, adolescent and child health, family planning, nutrition, infectious diseases, and health systems strengthening

• Demonstrated diplomatic, leadership and management skills and the ability to coordinate a diverse team to a common goal.

• Demonstrated leadership and facilitation skills to direct and drive teams to achieve results.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with donors, project stakeholders, in-country collaborators, and staff at all levels of the organization.

• Experience working with USAID-supported projects is required.

• Familiarity or experience with the Afghanistan health system is required.

• Appropriate computer skills necessary to conduct research, and to conduct analysis of study data.

• Strong analytical and computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, web-based research) – this includes data analytics.

• Ability to multi-task and keep track of concurrent activities and deadlines.

• Willing to travel within country, as appropriate and allowed.

COMPETENCIES:

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required. Proficiency in one local language strongly preferred. Ability to deliver presentations at high level meetings. Excellent interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse staff.