Associate, Malaria Management, Strategy, and Finance (MSAF)

Job Posting Organization:
The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization founded in 2002, with a mission to save lives and reduce the burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries. CHAI operates in over 40 countries and focuses on creating and sustaining high-quality health systems. Initially established to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, CHAI has since expanded its focus to include a variety of infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases, as well as health system strengthening initiatives. The organization emphasizes the importance of government leadership in health solutions and aims to maximize sustainable impact at scale. CHAI values diversity and inclusion, recognizing that a diverse workforce enhances its mission and effectiveness.

Job Overview:
The Associate, Malaria Management, Strategy, and Finance (MSAF) will play a crucial role in supporting the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) within the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Sierra Leone. This position involves translating strategic priorities into actionable plans, focusing on performance management, grant budgeting, and expenditure tracking. The Associate will work closely with NMCP to operationalize the 2026 to 2030 National Malaria Strategic Plan, ensuring that priorities are effectively costed and implemented. The role requires strong analytical skills and the ability to engage with government and partners, making it essential for the candidate to be comfortable with both quantitative analysis and strategic communication. The Associate will report to the CHAI Malaria Program Manager and collaborate with various teams to ensure the successful execution of malaria initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the NMCP in operationalizing the 2026 to 2030 National Malaria Strategic Plan through the development of costed annual and quarterly implementation plans, including sequencing and delivery timelines.
• Maintain robust trackers linking activities, milestones, outputs, and indicators across the malaria portfolio, identifying delays and risks for timely course correction.
• Conduct decision-grade analyses to inform program choices, including bottleneck analyses and feasibility assessments.
• Develop and regularly update malaria program budgets and ensure alignment with available resources.
• Prepare high-quality briefs and presentations for MoH leadership and partners.
• Lead or support activity-based costing for strategic plan components and support prioritization decisions under a tightening funding landscape.
• Coordinate technical inputs for Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 preparation and support end-to-end grant management processes.
• Monitor grant and budget execution, identifying variances and proposing corrective actions.
• Contribute to financial and programmatic gap analysis for the malaria program, identifying unfunded priorities and opportunities for efficiency improvements.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in public health, health economics, health policy, business administration, finance, statistics, or a related field, or a bachelor’s degree in one of these fields with substantial relevant experience.
• At least three years of relevant professional experience in program management, health financing, strategic planning, or monitoring and evaluation.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Experience with budgeting, grant management, or resource tracking for health programs, preferably including Global Fund grants.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of producing clear briefs and reports.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Proven ability to build effective working relationships with government counterparts and partners.

Educational Background:
Candidates should possess a Master’s degree in relevant fields such as public health, health economics, health policy, business administration, finance, or statistics. Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in these fields combined with substantial relevant experience is acceptable.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least three years of relevant professional experience in areas such as program management, health financing, strategic planning, or monitoring and evaluation, ideally within government, development partners, or technical assistance organizations. Experience with budgeting and grant management, particularly in health programs, is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory. Knowledge of Krio or other local languages of Sierra Leone is considered an advantage, enhancing communication with local stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with periodic travel within the country. The role is full-time and may involve working closely with various stakeholders, including government entities and partners. CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.