Job Advertisement

Position Title: Director" id="link" class="link">Technical Director
Location: Abidjan
Country: Cote d'Ivoire
Deadline Date: November 4, 2024

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies. Established in 1945, CARE operates in over 100 countries, employing thousands of staff members who work tirelessly to improve the lives of those in need. The organization focuses on empowering women and girls, ensuring access to education, health care, and economic opportunities, and responding to crises with effective and sustainable solutions. CARE's mission is to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice, making it a vital player in international development and humanitarian efforts.

Job Overview:
The Technical Director position is a critical role within the anticipated five-year USAID-funded Strengthening Primary and Community Health Care (SPCH) project in Cote d’Ivoire. The primary aim of this project is to enhance access to quality health services for pregnant women and children under five, while also improving the quality and accessibility of voluntary Family Planning and reproductive health services. The Technical Director will collaborate closely with the Chief of Party (COP) to ensure the technical quality and integrity of the program throughout its duration. This role involves providing strategic oversight, technical guidance, and direct supervision of technical component leads, ensuring effective Coordination with cross-cutting functions. The Technical Director will also be responsible for monitoring program activities against established goals, ensuring efficient project staffing, and defining standard operating procedures. This position is classified as Key Personnel and is subject to USAID approval, contingent upon project award and funding. National candidates are particularly encouraged to apply, and the position will be based in Abidjan, reporting directly to the COP.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Technical Director will have a wide range of responsibilities, including: collaborating closely with the COP to provide overall leadership and technical guidance to the project; assuming overall leadership and management responsibility for the USAID project in the absence of the COP; ensuring coordination with cross-cutting functions reporting to the COP; contributing to the development and implementation of project work plans, ensuring intentional cross-component integration and alignment with project goals and objectives; providing technical expertise and overseeing the improvement of access to quality primary care, voluntary family planning, and reproductive health services; supporting budget planning, monitoring, and reporting to ensure project activities are executed within approved budgets; supervising and mentoring technical staff to foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment; working closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team to establish and implement a comprehensive M&E framework for tracking project progress and outcomes; overseeing the M&E function, including preparation of all reports and deliverables as specified in the agreement; building and sustaining relationships with key stakeholders, including government counterparts, private sector actors, local implementing partners, and program participants; and ensuring that project activities align with the rules and regulations of USAID, the host country, and CARE's policies and procedures.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in public health, a Medical Degree, or an equivalent qualification. Additionally, at least 8-10 years of relevant senior experience in international development as a Technical Director or in a senior management role on projects funded by the United States Government (USG), preferably USAID, is required. The candidate should have experience managing multi-year (5 years and more) and multi-million (10-25 million US Dollars) projects. Furthermore, at least 7 years of technical experience in areas such as primary and community health, health system strengthening, and Health Policy, as well as Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, is essential. Candidates should also have at least 5 years of experience working in the West and Central Africa region, preferably in Cote d’Ivoire, focusing on primary health care for pregnant women and children under five, voluntary family planning, and reproductive health. Experience in recruiting, developing, and managing staff and teams is also necessary, along with demonstrated skills in building and maintaining relationships with government counterparts, donors, and local organizations.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree in public health, a Medical Degree, or an equivalent qualification. This advanced education is crucial for understanding the complexities of health systems and the specific needs of the populations served by the project.

Experience:
The position requires a significant level of experience, specifically at least 8-10 years in relevant senior roles within international development. Candidates should have a proven track record as a Technical Director or in a senior management capacity on USAID-funded projects of similar scope and scale. This includes experience in managing large-scale projects that span multiple years and involve substantial Financial Resources.

Languages:
Fluency in both French and English is required, encompassing both spoken and written communication. Strong oral and written communication skills are essential, along with excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and analytical abilities. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and is contingent upon project award and funding. It is classified as a Key Personnel role, which means it is subject to USAID approval. The organization encourages national candidates to apply, reflecting its commitment to local Capacity Building and empowerment. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the principles of Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (DEBI), as well as a commitment to the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Harassment, and Abuse (PSHEA). Compensation and benefits will be commensurate with experience and in line with CARE's policies.