United States of America: Senior Director, Programs

Pathfinder International is a global leader in sexual and reproductive health and rights. We place reproductive health care at the center of all that we do—believing that it is not only a fundamental human right, but is critical for expanding life opportunities for women, families, communities, and nations, and paving the way for transformations in environmental stewardship, decreases in population pressures, and innovations in poverty reduction. Pathfinder provides women, men, and adolescents with a range of quality health services—from contraception and maternal care to HIV prevention and AIDS care and treatment. Pathfinder strives to strengthen access to family planning, ensure availability of safe abortion and post-abortion care, advocate for sound reproductive health policies, and, through all of our work, improve the rights and lives of the people we serve.

Country and Regional Operations (CRO) Department Overview

CRO is responsible for management and strategic oversight of Pathfinder’s country programs by providing operational support in program development, program management, deliverables and donor communications . It consists of Senior Directors, and Program Operations Unit (POU), that serve as the primary points of contact for country programs with HQ in terms of support, management and strategic thinking.

Position Purpose

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, the Senior Director plays a leadership role with the Country Representative, and serves as the Country representative’s primary link with organizational management and Headquarters. The Senior Director serves as a strategic partner with the Country Representative on country program technical, funding and operational strategy. S/he will provide thought leadership and performance management for the Country Representatives. The Sr. Director will work in partnership with the Program Operations Unit (POU) on operational support needs for the country programs. S/he will serve as technical lead, as needed, on country program proposals and support the country programs’ active role in leading country proposals. Act as a thought partner on the development and maintenance of country strategies and support the country programs’ active participation in the implementation and execution of the Pathfinder’s strategic plan. Support and advocate for effective operational excellence of field activities and decision making. The Senior Director will be available to stand in, as needed, for Country Representatives on leave or other assignments.

Key Responsibilities

Programs

· For the country programs that s/he supports, serve as a thought partner for the Country Representative regarding country program strategy, funding strategies, staffing decisions, donor relations and project implementation.

· Act as a talent manager for the Country Representative, providing active support in helping the Country Representative fulfill his/her performance management and goals for career development.

· Keep current with the Country Representative about HQ’s fulfillment of the country program’s support needs, and, with POU remove obstacles

· Maintain a constructive dialogue with the Country Representative/Chief of Party (CR/COP) in the alignment of country program and organizational strategic priorities. Work with CR/COP to develop and maintain country-specific strategic plan(s).

· Partner with Country Rep to ensure effective and consistent communications between country program office and HQ regarding achievements of program and project objectives for all agreements, contracts, and grants in assigned country offices to HQ; ensure that follow-up is provided to recommendations made by other departments about the country program technical implementation.

· Initiate and lead new country program start-up as needed, including staff recruitment and hiring of key positions, technical orientation, partner orientation and management.

· Work with Country Representatives to conduct country program legacy and lessons learned from country closeout, and manage selection and transition of staff from country programs that are closing.

· With the Technical Services Unit, identify and support technical assistance agenda for projects and country programs in his/her portfolio, and provide targeted TA as needed.

· With Research & Metrics Unit and assist country program and project staff to identify appropriate targets and indicators at project start-up.

· With the Program Support Unit, provide accurate reporting, and, jointly with Country Reps/COPs, evaluate program effectiveness and engage in performance monitoring throughout the life of the project.

· Travel to country offices as needed for the purpose of providing management support, support for new business development or as requested by the Senior Vice President.

· Substitute for Country Representatives in selected short terms assignments, as needed.

Human Resources

· Provide mentorship and management to Country Representative through ongoing discussion regarding goals, performance and development opportunities. Serve as the hiring manager for any Country Representative positions within his/her portfolio.

· At the request of the Country Representative, assist in identifying, recruiting and interviewing for key positions.

· Advise on Country Office personnel issues, supporting plans for staff development and staff engagement.

· Support plans for HQ staff development, especially staff focused on supporting program implementation.

Finance

· Support the Country Representative to align proposal and project budget development with project needs, and review country program expenditure to budget.

· Oversee the coordination of external procurement of short-term technical assistance to the country or project, including: assistance in the identification, and recruitment, of consultants for the technical assistance needs of Pathfinder's country program; review and distribution of consultant technical reports.

Organizational Representation

· Represent Pathfinder's country programs to international donor representatives, home offices of other agencies and other interested parties, as requested by the Country Representative.

Program Development

· Work with the Country Representative to identify new business opportunities in-country, and assist in securing such opportunities.

· As needed, assist in the preparation of program funding proposals, best and final submissions, concept papers, LOIs and other assignments related to new business development initiatives.

· In coordination with other Units, lead or assist in the preparation of funding proposals, strategies, work plans and assessments; compilation and analysis of relevant data and documents; and other required activities to meet Pathfinder or donor requirements.

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Dissemination and Communications

· Identify opportunities for writing and disseminating successful models, programs and interventions, as well as country level stories that illustrate the impact of Pathfinder’s work.

Advocacy

· Act as primary liaison between the Advocacy Unit and field offices, ensuring information is shared concerning relevant US government SRH policies, as well as keeping Advocacy Unit up-to-date on relevant in-country policies.

Carry out other duties as assigned by Senior Vice President.

Basic Requirements

· Professional background in global health or development.

· Minimum of 15 years work experience and 5+ years in a leadership role.

· Master’s degree in related field, e.g., Public Health, Public Administration or Social Sciences.

· Experience providing technical assistance in public health

· Experience working with donor agencies including USAID and CDC .

· Demonstrated skills in strategy development and implementation, leadership, capacity building, mentoring, fundraising and problem solving.

· Proven competency leading remote teams.

· Demonstrated leadership, coaching and relationship management experience.

· Ability and experience in remote management of an international staff of leaders.

· Excellent analytical, organizational and relationship skills.

· Excellent spoken, analytical, and writing skills with advanced knowledge of and proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)

· Ability and willingness to 25%+ international travel required.

· Second language is highly desirable (preferably French or Portuguese).

Pathfinder International is proud to be an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer.

Interested candidates, please visit the Pathfinder Career page at http://www.pathfinder.org/about-us/careers/