Director, Special Initiatives – SAMENA

Pathfinder International is driven by the conviction that all people, regardless of where they live, have the right to decide whether and when to have children, to exist free from fear and stigma, and to lead the lives they choose. Since 1957, we have partnered with local governments, communities, and health systems in developing countries to remove barriers to critical sexual and reproductive health services. Together, we expand access to contraception, promote healthy pregnancies, save women’s lives, and stop the spread of new HIV infections, wherever the need is most urgent. Our work ensures millions of women, men, and young people are able to choose their own paths forward.

Position: Director, Special Initiatives – SA-MENA

Reports to: President South Asia and MENA

Location: Preferably Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Jordan, or Pakistan.

Summary of Role:

The Director, Special Initiatives will lead a team of talented individuals focused on two primary areas:

Country Performance: This is a crucial role in identifying needs and proposing solutions to help move countries along the path to country-led, while focusing on operational and technical excellence. The SI Director will develop and implement systems to monitor program quality and performance, including the country scorecard, identify possible course corrections or adjustments, and document and propose lessons learned and next steps. Additionally, they will provide strategic programmatic advice and support to activities in the SA-MENA region and provide technical and subject matter expertise as needed.

Special Initiatives: Special initiatives refer to timebound, priority projects that require the collective energy and intellect of various Pathfinders across the global organization. They will identify and lead special initiatives in coordination with the SA-MENA leadership team and define a process for implementing and assessing performance of special initiatives. Given the global nature of many special initiatives, the Director would be expected to work with country teams in improving and standardizing technical quality across countries, convene and manage of cross-organizational and cross-functional teams, collaborating across all operating structures and departments.

Key Performance Areas:

Leadership Management.

• Sets a vision and goals for Pathfinder’s SA MENA support team in service of the country-led strategy.
• Delivers on those goals in partnership with President, SA MENA, SA MENA Country Directors and country teams and key GSO and Finance units.
• Serves as strategic advisor and thought partner to the President, SA MENA and Country Directors to prioritize and implement special initiatives and ensure quality program implementation and growth.

Special Initiatives.

• Identifies special initiatives, in collaboration with President, SA-MENA and CDs, and sets the strategic direction for implementation.
• Defines process for identifying, implementing, and assessing performance of special initiatives.
• Prioritizes, staffs, and deploys TA, financial and other resources needed to implement special initiatives.
• Directly project manages select initiatives.

Country Performance.

• Oversees development and implementation of systems to monitor program quality and performance (scorecard), identifies possible course corrections or adjustments, and encourages culture of continuous learning and adapting.
• Provides strategic programmatic advice to country programs.
• Works collaboratively with CDs and relevant Pathfinder units to ensure operational support to project/program activities are delivered effectively and efficiently.

Collaboration.

• Works across teams and key counterparts to align initiatives and maintain communications across the organization.
• Represents interests of SA MENA President, Country Directors and teams in global Pathfinder organization and externally.

New Business Development and external engagement.

• Works with the President and Country Directors to identify new business opportunities in the region and assist in securing such opportunities.
• Actively participates in coordination with other Business Units, lead or assist in the preparation of funding proposals/concept notes, strategies, work plans and assessments; analysis of relevant data and documents; aligning of project proposals with budget and other required activities to ensure submission of strong technical and financial proposals.
• Represents Pathfinder SA MENA in external and donor relationships and with business development partners as needed.
• Ideates and works with relevant teams on flash communication campaigns critical to business in timely fashion.

Required Education And Work Experience.

• Bachelors in management, public health, business, marketing, social science or related discipline.
• 12 years’ experience in global health, business/management, or development with strong international background.
• 5 years’ experience in non-profit
• 5 years’ experience direct supervisory experience and leadership skills
• Proven experience with USAID-funded projects
• Proven experience with project or program management, strategy, financial management
• Experience in project design and new business
• Working proficiency in English (oral and written)

Preferred Education and Work Experience:

• Masters in management, public health, business, marketing, social science or related discipline
• 10 years’ experience in global health, business/management, or development with strong international background; preferred experience living or working in SAMENA.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written)

Other Information:

• Uses cellular and office phone, laptop or desktop computer.

Travel Requirements:

• Travel required (25% or less)

Application procedure / How to apply:

• Interested applicants are requested to include the contact details for at least 3 references in their resume.
• Please submit your application via this website no later than October 27th, 2023.

Safeguarding and Protection

Pathfinder is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the people we serve and our staff. We have zero tolerance for any type of behavior that inflicts harm on children, young people, adults, our staff, and partners including sexual abuse, harassment, bullying, and exploitation. We do everything possible to ensure that we recruit only those who are suitable to work with for us and expect that everyone we hire will abide by our safeguarding and related policies and will report any suspected or known violations. This job is subject to a range of vetting checks as legally permitted in the country where they are being hired. By applying, the job applicant acknowledges they understand our intent to verify suitability to work with us.