Deputy Director, Health Programs and Innovation adoption – West & Central Africa

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Position Title: director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Deputy Director, Health Programs and Innovation adoption – West & Central Africa
Location: Dakar
Country: Senegal
Deadline Date: 3/3/2025

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty, disease, and inequity globally. Founded on the principle that all individuals, regardless of their identity or circumstances, should have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives, the Foundation emphasizes the importance of diversity among its employees to reflect the populations it serves. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities for employees to engage in various communities. The Foundation is committed to fostering an environment that supports both personal and professional growth for its employees.

Job Overview:
The Deputy Director, Health Programs and Innovation adoption for West & Central Africa (WCA) will play a crucial role in providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for health programs across several countries, including Senegal, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This position is vital for scaling health innovations and strengthening primary healthcare systems while ensuring that regional health strategies align with the Foundation’s Program Strategic Teams (PSTs). The Deputy Director will collaborate with various stakeholders, including governments, multilateral agencies, private sector partners, and NGOs, to enhance maternal and child health, control infectious diseases, and strengthen health systems. Success in this role will be measured by the delivery of measurable health outcomes, the establishment of a robust regional innovation ecosystem, strengthened partnerships, operational excellence, and global thought leadership in health innovation and program implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & Innovation Adoption: Lead the development and execution of a cohesive health strategy for WCA, ensuring alignment with global PST strategies. Drive the adoption of innovative health solutions, including digital health and AI, and provide guidance to programs teams and partners to enhance health outcomes. Represent the Foundation at high-level forums in priority countries and at the regional level.
• Program Development & Execution for Scale: Advise on the design, funding, and implementation of impactful health interventions in priority countries. Lead regional programs focused on maternal and child health, nutrition, infectious diseases, and outbreak response, ensuring timely detection and control of public health threats. Collaborate with the Policy team to develop funding strategies that advocate for increased domestic resources.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Influence: Serve as the Foundation’s primary health representative across WCA, collaborating with in-country health donors to ensure harmonized investments. Strengthen partnerships with ECOWAS, AU, WHO-Afro, and local partners.
• Team Leadership & Organizational Management: Lead a high-performing regional health team, ensuring strong execution and collaboration. Oversee grant-making processes, ensuring compliance with financial and operational policies while improving efficiency. Mentor staff and foster a culture of learning and innovation.
• Impact Measurement & Risk Management: Establish robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess program success. Identify and manage program risks, ensuring sustainable impact through long-term program design.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess at least 15 years of leadership experience in public health, global health, health systems strengthening, or innovation adoption. A proven track record in health program design, implementation, and impact measurement in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in West and Central Africa, is essential. Strong expertise in multi-country health program execution, policy influence, and partner engagement is required. Excellent critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills are necessary to navigate complex political and operational environments.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in medicine, public health, health economics, or a related field (such as MPH, MHA, MD, or PhD) is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of health systems and the necessary interventions to improve health outcomes in the region.

Experience:
Candidates should have extensive experience, specifically 15+ years, in leadership roles related to public health and global health initiatives. Experience in health systems strengthening and innovation adoption is critical, along with a proven ability to design and implement health programs that yield measurable impacts in low- and middle-income countries, especially in the West and Central African context.

Languages:
Proficiency in English and French is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of additional regional languages is considered a plus and may enhance communication and engagement with local stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Dakar, Senegal, and involves significant collaboration with various stakeholders across the West and Central African region. The role is full-time and may require travel within the region. The Foundation emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in its hiring practices and is committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants.