Programme Manager (Health System Strengthening - HSS)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF operates in various regions, including the Pacific Islands, where it focuses on health, nutrition, and education, among other areas. The organization employs a large workforce dedicated to its mission and values, which include care, respect, integrity, trust, accountability, and sustainability.

Job Overview:
The Programme Manager (Health System Strengthening - HSS) is responsible for providing strategic, technical, and managerial leadership for the PHIT Project, a regional initiative aimed at strengthening health systems in Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, and Tuvalu. This role involves managing a complex regional program, ensuring alignment with national health strategies, and overseeing the execution of activities in collaboration with Ministries of Health and other partners. The Programme Manager will also handle contract and vendor management, ensuring compliance with UNICEF policies and donor requirements. The position requires a strong focus on health workforce capacity, digital health innovations, and service delivery improvements, while fostering country ownership and collaboration among stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic planning, coordination, and implementation of the PHIT Project, ensuring coherence between regional public goods and country-level interventions.
• Oversee the development and implementation of annual and multi-year work plans, budgets, and results frameworks.
• Identify implementation risks and lead mitigation strategies to ensure achievement of results.
• Provide managerial and technical supervision to country-level UNICEF PHIT coordinators.
• Support government counterparts in planning and operationalizing PHIT-supported interventions.
• Monitor programs through field visits and stakeholder engagement to assess progress and resolve issues.
• Provide technical guidance on health systems strengthening and digital health to government counterparts and partners.
• Lead procurement planning and contracting strategies for the PHIT Project.
• Manage contracts throughout their lifecycle, ensuring quality assurance and compliance with standards. 1
• Serve as UNICEF’s primary focal point for PHIT with national governments and partners, facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange. 1
• Promote documentation of lessons learned and innovations from PHIT implementation. 1
• Support capacity development of team members and national counterparts.

Required Qualifications:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in public health/nutrition, health systems, health informatics, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in programme or project management in health systems strengthening and/or digital health.
• Experience working in a developing country is required, with some international experience preferred.
• Programme and team management experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex regional or multi-country programmes is preferred.
• Proven experience in contract and vendor management is preferred.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in fields such as public health/nutrition, health systems, health informatics, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, or another relevant technical field. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of health systems and the necessary strategies for strengthening them.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in programme or project management, specifically in health systems strengthening and/or digital health. Experience in developing countries is essential, with a preference for candidates who have worked in Small Island Developing States and the Pacific region. Candidates should also have experience managing complex regional or multi-country programmes and demonstrated expertise in contract and vendor management.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language or the local language of the duty station is considered an asset, as it can enhance communication and collaboration with local stakeholders and partners.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve international travel to various Pacific Island countries. UNICEF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. The organization promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, or background. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and abuse. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.