Senior Associate, Country Support - Mental Health

Job Posting Organization:
The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization founded in 2002, primarily in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Its mission is to save lives and reduce the burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries by supporting governments and the private sector in creating and sustaining high-quality health systems. CHAI operates in over 40 countries and has a diverse team dedicated to addressing various health challenges, including infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases. The organization emphasizes the importance of sustainable impact and government-led solutions, ensuring that programs are designed for national scalability and global learning.

Job Overview:
The Senior Associate, Country Support for Mental Health will play a crucial role in the Mental Health Access Initiative (MHAI) at CHAI, which aims to expand access to affordable, quality-assured psychotropic medicines in sub-Saharan Africa. This position is vital as it transitions the program from a proof-of-concept phase to large-scale delivery. The successful candidate will work closely with Ministries of Health, regulators, and procurement agencies to address the longstanding neglect of mental health issues. The role involves program management, thought partnership, and execution support across six focus countries, requiring a generalist who can connect various workstreams and communicate effectively across different platforms.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact between CHAI’s global mental health team and country teams across the focus countries, providing timely support and feedback on tracking objectives, work planning, and program milestones.
• Travel regularly to focus countries to collaborate with country teams during workshops and government engagements.
• Develop an understanding of the programmatic, political, and operational constraints faced by each country team and communicate these effectively.
• Build and maintain relationships with in-country stakeholders, including Ministries of Health and procurement agencies.
• Identify resource gaps and mobilize support to address them.
• Communicate effectively across the organization, synthesizing country progress into materials for various stakeholders.
• Support annual and quarterly planning cycles, track progress against work plans, and coordinate grant management and reporting requirements.
• Capture lessons learned and facilitate cross-country learning through briefs and convenings.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree and have at least 5 years of relevant professional experience. They should demonstrate the ability to build trusted relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders, possess strong analytical skills, and have excellent written and verbal communication abilities. The ideal candidate should be able to work independently, manage multiple workstreams, and have experience in capacity building and mentorship. Attention to detail and a willingness to travel 20-40% of the time are also essential.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor's degree is required, with a preference for candidates holding a Master's degree in public health, public policy, business, economics, or a related field. This educational background will provide the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of health systems and program management.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, ideally within a CHAI country team or a similar organization. Experience in resource-constrained environments and familiarity with pharmaceutical access, regulatory issues, and health financing in low- and middle-income countries is advantageous. Candidates should also have experience working with government partners and supporting donor reporting.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both written and verbal, is mandatory. Proficiency in French is considered an advantage, as it may facilitate communication in certain focus countries.

Additional Notes:
This is a full-time position with flexibility to be based in any CHAI program country, subject to leadership approval and work authorization. The role involves significant travel to focus countries, and candidates should be prepared for demanding travel logistics. CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.