Ethiopia: Project Director

Reports to: Country Representative, EngenderHealth Ethiopia

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

EngenderHealth’s vision is Women and Girls First. The vision is underpinned by the mission, namely catalyzing the value of women and girls by harnessing the power of sexual and reproductive rights and health. EngenderHealth is a leading global women’s health organization committed to ensuring that every pregnancy is planned, every child is wanted, and every mother has the best chance of survival.

Purpose

EngenderHealth seeks applications from experienced managers to serve as the Project Director on an upcoming innovative project, funded by the UK Department for International Development (DfID) under a global girls’ education program, with a focus on literacy, numeracy and the empowerment of the most marginalized adolescent girls. The position is contingent upon award and the availability of donor funding. This will be a local hire position, with an anticipated start date of January 2018.

Job Summary

A senior manager with overall responsibility for team leadership, project management, and supervision of project partners and staff, the Project Director will ensure compliance with the requirements of the donor; ensure efficient management of all project’s human and financial resources; and provide oversight of field-based activities in the Amhara Region. The Project Director will supervise activity implementation and monitor the budget and project expenditures. S/he will ensure quality of results and timely completion of all required deliverables, including donor reporting. The selected individual will also represent EngenderHealth to external partners, lead the coordination and collaboration with key local stakeholders and implementing partners, liaise with relevant in-country agencies, including the Government of Ethiopia (GOE), and EngenderHealth teams in Ethiopia and at headquarters. The successful candidate will have a track record of strong leadership, sub-grant management, depth and breadth of technical expertise and experience; strong program management experience; exceptional interpersonal skills and communication abilities; and a unique understanding of the Ethiopian social and political context to fulfill the technical and managerial requirements of the project.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide overall strategic and technical direction in design and management of the project, assuring an integrated vision, optimal program performance, achievement of program requirements, and adherence to donor regulations and EngenderHealth standards.
• Lead project start-up, annual work plan development, implementation, and close-out of project activities.
• Contribute substantively to the development of innovative, cost-effective program strategies that deliver value for money.
• Support regular reviews of project performance to assess and ensure the quality and consistency of technical strategies.
• Ensure timely achievement of project objectives at the highest quality standards and in accordance with the donor regulations, local statutory and EngenderHealth Ethiopia requirements.
• Ensure efficient and appropriate management of financial resources, including the review and approval of project and activity budgets, monitoring of expenditures, and compliance with donor and EngenderHealth regulations, policies, and procedures.
• In consultation with HR, lead the project staff recruitment, development, performance management and retention, including taking prompt corrective actions as needed, to safeguard appropriate project staffing.
• Produce regular internal and required donor progress reports, document lessons learned and contribute to knowledge management efforts of EngenderHealth.
• Collaborate closely with the headquarters-based technical research team to ensure that the implementation of the research component of the project meets the highest quality of standards and contributes to global evidence.
• Ensure close coordination between the project and EngenderHealth’s Ethiopia and NY-based Program Management, Global Technical Leadership, and Operations staff to ensure timely and effective delivery of project commitments.
• Represent the project at technical meetings and working groups, programmatic panels, and during discussions with government counterparts, private foundations, multilaterals, and other implementing agencies to support coordinated implementation of project activities.
• Support and coordinate closely with EngenderHealth’s Country Representative to build and sustain strategic partnerships with the Ministries of the Government of Ethiopia, international donor agencies, as well as national and international NGOs and represent the project during meetings with partners and donors.
• Other duties as required.

Qualifications: Education and Experience

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in gender and development studies, basic education, reproductive health, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience managing and supervising complex, socially and politically sensitive projects, with at least three years serving in a senior role (such as Director, Deputy Director, or equivalent).
• Direct prior experience working on DfID-funded, results-based programs (preferably in the area of basic education, gender or reproductive health).
• Substantial experience designing, implementing, and evaluating programs addressing the needs of children, youth and marginalized groups.
• Extensive experience in leading high-performing teams within complex institutional management structures and offices.
• Demonstrated experience managing institutional donor relations (DfID, USAID, etc.), and working with national and regional level government structures in Ethiopia.
• Experience in supervising personnel and ensuring they acquire the necessary training and skills to meet evolving program needs.

Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• In-depth knowledge of health and education sectors in Ethiopia, including current GOE priorities and initiatives related to adolescent programming, girls’ education, social inclusion and economic empowerment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of programming aimed to improve social and economic inclusion, reduction of adolescent pregnancy, and to address the psychosocial, educational and economic needs of marginalized or disadvantaged groups (specifically married adolescents, girls, and youth with disabilities).
• Practical knowledge of gender equitable programming.
• Ability to navigate complex donor requirements (DfID).
• Exceptional negotiation and communication skills (oral, written and interpersonal).
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to collaborate with a wide range of partners including government, private sector, local and international NGO partners, and donor agencies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in high pressure environment with changing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong reporting and technical writing skills in English.
• Fluency in both in English and Amharic is required.
• Willingness to travel domestically, up to 40% of time.
• Commitment to EngenderHealth values, gender-equitable and rights-based programming.

Please visit the careers page at www.EngenderHealth.org and search job openings under the ‘Ethiopia’ location to submit your details by Friday, 30 June 2017. Please submit an application along with resume and cover letter including details of your salary requirements and salary history. Only the short-listed candidates will be contacted.

EngenderHealth provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, creed, ancestry, citizenship, religion, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, political belief, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, marital status, disability or any other protected characteristic or status under applicable federal, state and local laws.