Director, Infectious Diseases

Job Summary:

Existing and emerging infectious diseases pose significant challenges to public health outcomes around the globe. Seasoned leaders are working with FHI 360 to address neglected tropical diseases, tuberculosis, COVID, and emerging and future emergent dangerous pathogens.

The Director, Infectious Diseases will serve as the leader of this newly created department within the Global Health, Population and Nutrition (GHPN) business unit. The Director, Infectious Diseases, will also serve as a senior leader within GHPN. GHPN is FHI 360’s largest business unit contributing to more than 50% of the projected total revenue for the organization this fiscal year.

The successful candidate will lead the department of more than 150 staff in on-site, remote and country-based locations in Africa, Asia and the US. Projected revenue for the current fiscal year is estimated at more than $60 million – and is poised to grow for the foreseeable future.

As Director, Infectious Diseases the leadership requirements are to:

• Provide strategic direction and oversight to this essential body of infectious disease work;
• Advance thought leadership and influence future programs/services;
• Collaborate with country and regional offices, as well as professionals across Global Health, Populations and Nutrition (GHPN);
• Assess and respond to business development opportunities; and
• Identify and mitigate risks to ongoing and future efforts.

The ideal candidate will be familiar with US government and other funders’ priorities and have established networks with key decision makers. They will also have in-depth knowledge of detection, surveillance, diagnostic, treatment and prevention dynamics in resource-constrained settings, evidenced, in part, by a documented history of long-term presence in at least one geographic location.

Accountabilities:

Leadership:

• Provide senior direction and oversight for the newly formed department, including senior public health leaders, to expand the Infectious Diseases portfolio, including business development (sales) and management of the portfolio of awards (revenue).
• Provide technical and management oversight across the Infectious Diseases portfolio including programs and services implemented through country offices, by review of work plans, budgets, and required reports and other deliverables.
• Lead staff to develop and maintain an integrated and coordinated portfolio of awards to expand the scope (financial, geographic, adjacent technical areas, for example) of FHI 360’s strategic plans, goals and objectives.
• Foster collaborative relationships with other organizational units, country and regional offices, and project leadership.
• Approve the design of priority and high-value proposals to strengthen business development opportunities.

New Business:

• Assess and prioritize new opportunities, including opportunities in conjunction with country and regional offices, to maintain and grow FHI 360’s projects and programs in Infectious Diseases.
• Lead and facilitate change to ensure the company adapts its scientific and technical capabilities with the evolving global health and development environment and with relevant technical strategies.
• Represent the company at technical and scientific meetings and participate in relevant discussions with sponsors, US government agencies, other organizations, and international governments in partner countries.
• Serve on committees and working groups both internal and external to the organization, as needed.
• Ensure that scientific and technical contributions are published and/or presented to promote thought leadership.

Compliance and Management:

• Ensure compliance with FHI 360 standard operating procedures (SOPs) and policies, government legislation and procedures, donor/funder requirements, as well as all applicable national and international regulations.
• Serve as the communication conduit for portfolio status, actions, decisions, and risks or issues and mitigation approaches.
• Provide relevant metrics and analytics to support business and executive decision making.
• Provide communications to senior management through dashboards and reporting.
• Support performance management and professional development of direct reports, including ongoing feedback, coaching, and career support.
• Create, promote and maintain a safe and equitable work environment for all personnel, including a harassment- and violence-free work culture and systems for safeguarding project participants.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong business acumen with the keenness and quickness to manage a “business situation” (risks and opportunities) that leads to a good outcome designed to improve financial performance and leadership development.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to plan, organize, and manage resources for successful completion of projects.
• Knowledge of non-profit funding dynamics in international contexts.
• Comprehensive knowledge of theories, concepts, and practices with project management, process development and execution.
• Strong time-management, multi-tasking, and organizational skills.
• Ability to motivate, influence and collaborate with others across all levels of the organization.
• Strong negotiator and collaborator who strengthens business relationships.
• Excellent and demonstrated diplomacy, consultative and negotiation skills required.
• Proven success in building positive local working relationships with local communities, district government officials, UN and where appropriate, donor representatives

Competencies:

• Adaptable to new approaches to doing business.
• Ability to take initiative and focus on results.
• Ability to learn new skills and systems, with an entrepreneurial work ethic.

Education:

• Master’s Degree or its International Equivalent in public health, public administration, or related field. Doctoral degree in a related field or other advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Clinical degree preferred.

Experience:

• Requires 15+ years of relevant experience leading and managing complex global awards within the global health realm.
• 10+ years of strategic leadership with a track record of expanding revenue for one or more health domains, with a preference for growth in infectious diseases.
• Country-based experience in Africa and/or Asia addressing public health initiatives in challenging and resource-constrained settings, strongly desired.
• Proven ability to provide strategic vision and direction to high functioning experts.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing complex infectious diseases projects that are strategic in nature and national/international in scope.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift 5 -15 lbs.

Technology to be Used:

• Computer, Microsoft Office 365 (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, TEAMS, email), office phone.

Travel Requirements:

• 10% – 25%