JOB TITLE

Country Project Director

GRADE/BAND

K

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

The Country Project Director is responsible for coordinating and managing all activities for the project. S/he also serves as the technical lead on project activities focusing on pharmaceutical systems strengthening approach. S/he shall be responsible and accountable for the development, regular update and implementation of the country work plan, technical strategies, and budget to ensure attainment of the program goals and objectives in line with the project’s mandate and approaches, to contribute to the goals of the local USAID Mission and government partners. S/he is the primary liaison between the project and the local USAID Mission, Government counterparts, stakeholders, and partners involved with pharmaceutical management activities and/or implementing related programs in the country. The Country Project Director is accountable for the management of the project’s Country office, provides strategic and technical guidance and works closely with the assigned Arlington-based Portfolio Manager, other project home office technical and operational staff, and other MSH projects in the country to ensure that Project targets and deliverables are met on time. As the head of the Country Project Leadership Team, he or she ensures the timely and quality delivery of project products and activities and supervises in-country staff.

DEPARTMENT/PROJECT

PDG / Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program

LOCATION

 Kigali, Rwanda

REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATION

Required:

MPH, MBA, or master’s level degree in a health-related field required.

Preferred:

Physician, nurse, or pharmacist qualification preferred.

REQUIRED MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

Required:

More than 10 years of demonstrated leadership experience and proven pharmaceutical system strengthening and project management experience. Demonstrated subject-matter expertise in pharmaceutical systems strengthening.

Ten plus (10+) years of progressively responsible, related experience is required. * (*Donor requirements in an RFP/RFA may be more or fewer years).

Several years of experience in senior level international public health position(s) coupled with significant experience in the field of pharmaceutical management is required. Experience in health systems strengthening strongly preferred, particularly those related to the implementation of reproductive health, MNCH, HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB prevention, care, and/or pharmaceutical programs in developing countries.

Preferred:

15 years of progressively responsible experience is preferred.  Experience with public health programs supported by bilateral agencies such as USAID, and international agencies such as WHO and World Bank, is preferred.

Demonstrated managerial and organizational skills in a developing country setting with flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrated subject-matter expertise in technical content relevant to the project.
• Demonstrated leadership and management abilities.
• Prior experience and success directing similar or larger international donor-funded projects.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and visioning skills.
• Familiarity with USG regulations and administrative procedures in the implementation of donor assisted projects.
• Proven record of aligning diverse, multi-level teams with project mission and vision.
• Track record of strong commitment to sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives, and sharing credit.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior-level colleagues, particularly interacting productively, proactively, and comfortably with government agencies, NGOs, private sector groups, USAID, CAs, and donor organizations.
• Demonstrated strategic agility, diplomacy, conflict management, team building, written and oral communication, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English are required, along with good French.
• Ability to travel as required to support the progress of program activities.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of Rwanda and/or other East/Central African region is highly preferred.

COMPETENCIES

CORE JOB COMPETENCIES:

Navigating the Environment:

Perspective, dealing with ambiguity, organizational agility, political savvy, and strategic agility

Ensuring Delivery of Results:

Functional/technical skills, client focus, managing through systems, managing and measuring work, negotiating, information sharing, process management, priority setting, problem solving, and timely decision making

Leading with Credibility:

Managing others—building effective teams, conflict management, managing vision and purpose, integrity and trust, motivating others, and approachability.

Core Personal Competencies:

Ethics and values, integrity and trust, listening, written communication

Core MSH Competencies:

• Adaptability, communication, problem solving, creativity and innovation, quality and timeliness of work, quality of work and team relationships, resource utilization
• Demonstrated ability to assess priorities and manage a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality.
• Track record of and strong commitment to transparency and collaboration as demonstrated by sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives, and sharing credit.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior-level colleagues, particularly interacting productively, proactively, and comfortably with government agencies, NGOs, private sector groups, USAID, Collaborating Agencies, and donor organizations.
• Demonstrated strategic agility, diplomacy, conflict management, team building, written and oral communication, and negotiation skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Ability to travel as required to support the progress of program activities. This position will require 25% of domestic and international travel.