Associate Director, Projects and Programs (Response Lead)

Job Posting Organization:
FHI 360 is a non-profit human development organization committed to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Established with a mission to address the interconnected challenges of development, FHI 360 employs a diverse team of experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, youth, research, technology, communication, and social marketing. The organization operates in all U.S. states and territories and in several countries worldwide, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where it supports the health sector.

Job Overview:
The Associate Director, Projects and Programs (Response Lead) is responsible for providing technical and operational leadership for the ongoing response to the Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak within the STRIDES DRC program. This role involves operational coordination of the program for surveillance, sample transport and laboratory testing, biosafety, personal protective equipment (PPE) supply chain, and capacity building of rapid response teams (RRTs). The position requires close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, local health sector stakeholders in DRC, the U.S. Department of State, and international outbreak response partners. The Associate Director will oversee daily field implementation and operational coordination of BVD outbreak response activities supported by STRIDES, translating agreed-upon response priorities into coordinated work plans, supervising their implementation, resolving bottlenecks, and escalating issues requiring management decisions. The role also includes providing guidance for implementation within the framework of project/program policies and government strategies, ensuring compliance with donor regulations, and supporting strategic planning and activity development, particularly with U.S. government funding sources.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Represent FHI 360 at designated field coordination meetings, ensuring compliance with established authorization and approval procedures for donor communications, external engagements, activity modifications, and financial commitments. Develop and maintain a consolidated field implementation plan reflecting agreed priorities with the BVD coordinator, clearly defining responsibilities, timelines, resource needs, and deliverables. Coordinate the implementation of supported response activities, ensuring operational linkages between surveillance, sample guidance, laboratory support, biosafety, PPE provision, RCCE, IPC/SDB, and RRT strengthening. Collaborate with designated technical leads to apply approved guidelines and address implementation gaps while respecting their technical responsibilities and partner management agreements. Coordinate with government intervention structures and implementation partners to align activities with the intervention plan, identify coverage gaps, and avoid duplication. Monitor field deliveries, operational constraints, expenditures against approved activities, and product availability; coordinate corrective actions with technical and support teams. Provide regular consolidated updates to the BVD coordinator, keeping the technical director informed of administrative, personnel, compliance, and resource issues. Promptly report urgent operational risks and document decisions, assigned actions, and follow-up. Demonstrate flexibility throughout project implementation based on evolving national, regional, global, and U.S. government priorities. Lead planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of BVD preparedness and response interventions. Provide direction and management support for a program or large/complex project, ensuring strategic coherence, well-managed growth, and compliance with donor regulations. Collaborate with other operations management team members regarding appropriate management, compliance, and performance standards, as well as effective budget management systems. Support program staff in collecting, documenting, and disseminating lessons learned and best practices, integrating them into the design of new projects/programs. Ensure routine monitoring visits to the field are conducted to ensure donor compliance and quality project/program implementation. Coordinate with stakeholders' units to ensure timely budget management, expense control, and contractual documentation. Support all relevant departments and units to ensure they are timely in their actions. Ensure programming staff are well-trained to manage project budgets appropriately. Ensure project/program coordinators review documentation regularly; provide leadership and management support to ensure the effectiveness of monthly grant review meetings. Mitigate any potential risks by collaborating with financial services to ensure programming staff fully understand the financial and administrative processes involved in project budget cycles. Forge and maintain strong cooperation with partner organizations through regular communication, collaboration, and, where appropriate, joint decision-making. Identify funding opportunities and follow up in collaboration with technical teams. Execute other tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
Proven technical expertise in outbreak response, field epidemiology, infection prevention and control (IPC), or laboratory system strengthening, ideally including response to BVD or other viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs). Effective knowledge of design, implementation, and management of sector-specific and/or multi-sectoral international development projects/programs funded by the U.S. government or other international donors. Knowledge of various funding mechanisms, general contracts, and reporting requirements. Familiarity with business development processes, specifically proposal development, in the context of an international NGO. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of political and ethical issues in countries outside the U.S.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent in public health, medicine, epidemiology, health program management, or a related discipline is required. A relevant graduate degree and certification in project management are desirable.

Experience:
Typically requires 10+ years of relevant experience. Experience in public health program management, emergency response, or humanitarian operations, including at least three years of team management experience. Proven experience in coordinating multidisciplinary outbreak response teams, preferably for Ebola or other viral hemorrhagic fevers, and collaborating with government authorities and partners in unstable or resource-limited contexts. Experience working in insecure environments. Experience working within a non-governmental organization (NGO).

Languages:
Proficiency in written and spoken French is required; knowledge of English is an asset.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Bunia and involves frequent travel to intervention sites. Deployments and field travel are subject to the organization’s security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security procedures and applicable health and biosafety requirements. The ability and willingness to travel to high-risk areas and health facilities, support outbreak investigations, preparedness and response, training, and mentoring of response teams is essential. The expected hiring salary range for this role is USD 49,000 - 65,000 annually for gross salary (basic and allowances) for national local hire; when determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, market pay, and budget. For internal candidates, salary placement will also follow FHI 360’s current promotional increase guidelines. This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time. FHI 360 is an equal opportunity employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation, and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation, and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record, and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation, and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks. FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. FHI 360 will never ask you for your career site username or password, and we will never request money, goods, or services during the application, recruitment, or employment process. If you have questions or concerns about correspondence from us, please email CareerCenterSupport@fhi360.org. FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development, and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.