Country Director

Grade 

M

Job ID 

13-6967

Location 

GA-Libreville

# of Positions 

1

Center/Office 

OCE - General

Posted Date 

2014-08-29

Project/Program 

Proposal

Application Due Date 

2014-09-05

Overall Responsibilities

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, MSH will provide Gabon with technical support to improve the country’s health sector performance, as health is a priority of the country’s “Strategic Plan for an Emerging Gabon.” The strategic vision includes the creation of a health systems model that will lead to rapid improvement in the health of the Gabonese people, with a particular focus in the reduction of maternal, newborn, and child mortality, and priority attention to vulnerable populations. The strategic framework for Gabon’s new health system developed by MSH involves interventions and outcomes under the six pillars of health systems strengthening as follows:

1. Strengthened health leadership and governance

2. Improved health care services

3. Strengthened health information system

4. Improved technical and management capacity of health personnel

5. Improved health financing

6. Improved pharmaceutical sector and supply chain management.

The Country Director will lead MSH’s team assisting the Government of Gabon in the implementation of the Health Sector Reform. The Country Director will also represent the Office of the Chief Executive (OCE) in Gabon, and as such, will be the most senior in-country staff member with final authority for in-country decisions related to MSH presence, interests, or immediate and time-sensitive risks to MSH and/or its staff.  

S/he will be the primary contact for external relations with key in-country stakeholders and will lead the development and execution of the Integrated Country Strategy.  S/he will promote technical awareness, coordination, collaboration and synergy of MSH activities.  The Country Director will ensure that all staff in-country safeguard MSH’s financial, contractual, technical, and political integrity and reputation.  The Country Director has supervisory responsibility for the Country Operations Management Unit (COMU) Director and the Technical Director. The Country Director reports to the Office of the Chief Executive (OCE).

Specific Responsibilities

Vision, Strategy, and Planning

1. Ensure congruence of values, mission, strategy, structure, systems, and daily actions.
2. Oversee the development and implementation of strategies and work plans that focus on integrated health systems strengthening, sustainability, feasibility, cost effectiveness, and achievement of the required results. Assure integration of technical strategies with each other, and with the overall operational strategy of the project.
3. Ensure that all work planning is completed collaboratively with counterparts and partners.
4. Drive the development and execution of the Integrated Country Strategy and the annual country plans and ensure appropriate and coordinated support from the home office.

Project Management and Implementation/Delivery of Technical Results

1. Ensure that MSH meets all goals and objectives of its agreement with the Government of Gabon. Ensure the high quality, within-budget, and on-time delivery of interim and final results. In collaboration with key stakeholders periodically evaluate progress towards the completion of project deliverables to verify alignment with strategic directions and defined targets.
2. Provide overall leadership of the team and direction of all technical and administrative operations under the contract. Ensure equitable, effective, timely, cost-effective, and responsive and high‐quality operations and administrative support to all MSH activities within local laws and available resources, and in an environment with adequate internal controls, adherence to contracts regulations, MSH policies and standard operating procedures.
3. Ensure that the program has adequate staff to carry out high-quality work and that staff are recruited and hired in accordance with local, donor and MSH requirements
4. Take the lead in responding to changes in the operating environment and making decisions on reallocation of program resources, adjusting functional and reporting relationships as appropriate.
5. Chair the in‐country Leadership Team, and ensure accountability of the Leadership Team and MSH staff and facilitate resolution of differences or conflict.
6. Facilitate/ensure timely resolution of issues, constraints, problems affecting MSH in-country performance, efficiency, and effectiveness and work environment.
7. Facilitate execution of internal/external financial, operations and program reviews or audits, with timely follow up to reviews or audits conclusions and recommendations. 
8. Ensure that project offices have adequate security and emergency plans in place.
   
   

Relationship Management

1. Serve as MSH official representative to the Government of Gabon.
2. Cultivate, manage, and strengthen positive, productive relationships with all partners
3. Ensure consistently effective, timely responses to donor and other key stakeholder inquiries and concerns. 
   
   
   Financial Management

1. Together with the Country Operations Management Unit Director, adapt and implement management systems with standard operating procedures to administer all activities funded by the contract
2. Monitor budgets and control costs based on sound financial and accounting principles, MSH guidelines, and donor requirements.

Supervision

1. Supervisory responsibilities include, but are not limited to, meeting with supervisees on a regular basis to discuss issues, track work progress, provide guidance and support, and ensure consistent quality of work performed; conducting performance planning and reviews; communicating, implementing and assuring adherence to MSH and project policies, guidelines and values; developing staff skills and knowledge; approving time sheets; and facilitating supervisee success whenever possible.
2. Ensure existence across the project of adequate supervisor-employee relationships which support professional development and mentoring, and address problems in a timely manner.
3. Manage and supervise the project staff in the identification of all project technical assistance needs required to achieve the expected outputs of the contract, develop suitable scopes of work, recruit consultants, and execute technical assistance contracts. Supervise the work and assess the performance of all long-term and short-term advisors and consultants.
   
   
   Monitoring and Evaluation

1. Oversee development of a project monitoring and evaluation plan and guide the implementation of that plan throughout the project.
2. Ensure appropriate, timely, and accurate monitoring and evaluation of people and project work.
3. Ensure that project reports are completed and submitted on time and with high quality.
4. Oversee the documentation of the results and lessons learned from this project and the dissemination of this information within and beyond the project.
   
   
   Business Development and Strategic Communications

1. Lead country-based business development and strategic communication activities (including positioning, intelligence gathering, and proposal development) that contribute to the sustainability or expansion of MSH’s programs.  Act as key liaison to MSH Offices for Business Development and Strategic Communications.

Qualifications

• MPH, MBA or master's level degree in related field.
• Fifteen plus (15+) years of progressively responsible, related experience is required; twenty (20+) years is preferred. 
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior-level government officials and local stakeholders.
• Demonstrated subject-matter expertise in technical content relevant to the project   
• Demonstrated leadership and management abilities leading a diverse team of international and national professionals.
• Prior experience and success in directing large international donor-funded projects.  Previous operations management experience is a plus. Demonstrated strategic planning and visioning skills is required.
• Familiarity with administrative, and operations procedures in the implementation large-scale 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 strategic agility, diplomacy, conflict management, team building, cross cultural communication, active listening, and negotiation skills.
• Fluency in English and French is required.

Notes

Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.

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