Project Director Non-profit Careers – Malaria Consortium
Job Title: Project Director
Organization: Malaria Consortium
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Salary: USD 42,672 gross per annum
Reports to: Country Technical Coordinator
About US:
Malaria Consortium is the world’s leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the comprehensive control of malaria and other communicable diseases in Africa and Southeast Asia. Malaria Consortium works with communities, government and non-government agencies, academic institutions, and local and international organisations, to ensure good evidence supports delivery of effective services, providing technical support for monitoring and evaluation of programmes and activities for evidence-based decision-making and strategic planning. Malaria Consortium works to improve not only the health of the individual, but also the capacity of national health systems, which helps relieve poverty and support improved economic prosperity.
About Project:
Malaria Consortium Uganda has received funding from DFID/UNICEF to implement the Strengthening Uganda’s Response to Malaria (SURM) project which will focus on reducing the impact of the leading causes of U5M morbidity and mortality in 16 districts in Northern Uganda. The project will address lagging maternal and neonatal mortality through a combination of iCCM and selected maternal and neonatal care interventions. The project is implemented with UNICEF and spans a five-year period (April 2018-March 2023) in 16 districts in the Northern region of Uganda.
Job Summary: The Project Director will provide overall project oversight of Strengthening Uganda’s Response to Malaria in 16 districts of Northern Uganda. He/she will be the focal point for engagement with DFID, UNICEF and representation at National level. The Project Director is expected to coordinate with government and other stakeholders to ensure that activities complement ongoing initiatives and adhere to country and global standards. He/she will lead the Senior Project Team (SPT) as well as being a member of the Uganda Country Senior Management Team. The post holder will be responsible for the development and monitoring of the project’s five year, annual and sub annual work plans as well as developing and incorporating the sustainability plan, working closely with other members of the SMT and other partners. He/she will support institutional capacity building efforts including those linked to health reforms. The Project Director will lead a project team that includes experienced technical and project management and administrative specialists and oversee high quality implementation of a sustainable malaria reduction project in 16 districts in Northern Uganda. He/she will work to keep the project on course to achieve its targets especially because it will be a payment-by-result type of contract. This role is line managed by the Country Technical Coordinator.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Programme management (50%)
- Steer the planning of all project activities and set high quality performance targets ensuring adherence to technical standards, best practices and donor guidelines Oversee project implementation
- Work closely with the Country Technical Coordinator and Service Delivery Specialist to see that work plans are aligned with best technical approaches Coordinate the provision of programme management strengthening support to the National Malaria ControlProgramme (NMCP)
- Ensure monitoring systems are in place and that project reviews/audits are carried out periodically in conjunction with the project team, key stakeholders and project partners
- Travel to the field as necessary to provide support and oversight to the State teams
- Ensure all relevant authorities and stakeholders are included in the planning and implementation of the project as appropriate
- Maintain a good and proactive collaboration with the relevant authorities, such as NMCP, and other stakeholders including other relevant DFID and donor funded programmes
- Work with the Country Technical Coordinator to see that project lessons and experiences are documented and necessary incorporated to improve the programme
- Work closely with the SMT to see that programme improvement is data-driven
- Serve as the primary point of contact and collaboration for the team and in-country stakeholders, including DFID/UNICEF, implementation partners, government partners and other key stakeholders
Representation (20%)
- Be responsible for representation with other NGOs, UN agencies, local and national government bodies, donors and other relevant parties. Coordinate project representation at technical working groups and other relevant coordination frameworks
- Relevant international and regional events to showcase the project’s achievements
Strategic planning and leadership (15%)
- Provide strategic direction and management of this large project
- Maintain an integrated vision and approach for the project in achieving the results as defined in the award, while maintaining overall excellence and accountability to beneficiaries and DFID
- Responsible for the overall planning, implementation and management of the project as well as the achievement of the goals and objectives of the project in a timely and cost-effective manner
- Provide effective support and oversight to the members of the SMT to ensure that implementation occurs according to operational plans
- Works with the country SMT to identify and implement opportunitieswhich can be used to sustain the impact of the project and/or extend the scale of the project
- Ensure regular communications are maintained between the Gulu and Lira teams, and with the Kampala office
- Ensure project activities adhere to DFID and country office management policies and practices
- Oversee/manage partnerships and ensure strong lines of communication and collaboration are established and maintained Ensure timely, high-quality and complete submission of work plans, quarterly and annual reports, financial reports, and any other reports required by DFID
- Be responsible for the project risk register. Work with the members of the SMT in the identification, tracking, prevention and management of key programme risks especially those related to performance and fiduciary management
- Be liaison between the project and the donor as well as the MOH and other implementing partners
- Produce and present papers at local, regional and international fora to share experiences and emerging best practices
Finance and administration (10%)
- Be the project budget holder
- Ensure the project is efficiently and accurately managed within allowable line item flexibility and there is full accountability of resources
- Ensure familiarity with Malaria Consortium and donor compliance issues, ensuring all national partners are compliant with these
- Work with SMT members to prepare projected programme expenditures
- Work with the Project’s Management Accountant to monitor expenditure and budget compliance on a regular basis, report any concerns to the Country Director and develop plans to mitigate any under or over expenditure
- Closely monitor project budget spending and burn rates
- Work closely with the finance team to ensure timely financial reporting and assistance at audits for the project
Operational, HR and logistics management (5%)
- Work with the HR team to lead the recruitment and selection of staffing for the project
- Line manage members using performance-based management approaches
- Oversee a team of senior technical, financial and programme management staff for the project and ensure strong communication and coordination with and between all team members, and with relevant staff in HQ and the East and Southern Africa office
- Promote sustainability of project activities with effective networking, linkages to other programs, capacity building of project staff, and institutional strengthening of implementing partners
- Work closely with the logistics team to ensure that all items required for the project are procured in a timely manner and in line with donor requirements
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant for the Malaria Consortium Project Director job opportunity should hold a Master’s Degree in Public Health, International Development or related discipline
- Senior management level experience on large health projects in Africa
- Extensive experience in international projects
- At least 5 years spent in projects in developing countries lasting more than two years and managing teams of ten or more
- Experience working with performance-based contracts
- Experience in project and financial management with a proven track record of timely submission of high quality project deliverables
- Experience managing donor grants or contracts such as DFID, GFATM, UNICEF or USAID/PMI
- Experience working on maternal and child health programmes, including community health delivery
- Familiarity with the Uganda health system
- Strategic thinking
- Ability to manage and inspire high performing teams
- Excellent programme management skills, with proven ability to implement high quality projects on time and within budget
- Resource mobilisation skills including an understanding of global and national public health and malaria networks
- Strong negotiation skills, particularly in engaging government health officials at all levels
- Good influencing and persuasion skills and ability to remain compliant with organisational and donor policies
- Ability to manage and prioritize high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
- Excellent problem solving skills
- Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written
- Capable of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
- Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel
- Excellent presentation skills
- A team player, with a friendly attitude
- Proactive and takes initiative as required
- Results-oriented work ethic
- Good capacity building skills especially mentoring and coaching
- Conversant with the basic epidemiology of malaria in Uganda
- Data-driven decision making mentality
- Familiar with value-for-money principles
- Excellent advocacy skills, and comfortable being a strong advocate for malaria control
How to Apply:
All interested applicants are encouraged to apply online at the web link below.
Deadline: 27th April 2018
: List of Current Job Vacancies / Opportunities in Uganda