Technical Lead – Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR)

Jhpiego is implementing the Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL), an innovative award funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to holistically improve family planning and maternal and child health in host countries around the world. The project focuses on technical and capacity development assistance (TCDA) to ministries of health and other country partners to improve outcomes in maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity at scale. The project also contributes to global technical leadership, learning, and USAID’s policy dialogue to achieve global maternal, newborn, and child health; voluntary family planning; and reproductive health (MNCH/FP/RH) goals by supporting globally endorsed initiatives, strategies, frameworks, guidelines, and action plans. In Nepal, MCGL is implemented to support limited activities related to Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR), Comprehensive services for small and sick newborns (SSNB), and Implement Quality of Care metrics. 

The post holder is responsible for leading the implementation of the MPDSR activities for MCGL in Nepal. Reporting to the MCGL Project Director, the Technical Lead for MPDSR is accountable for applying technical expertise and knowledge to deliver, adapt and/or modify high-quality technical approaches that reflect best practices. They will identify and assess changes in needs, priorities, requirements and operating conditions, ensuring technical approaches are aligned with and responsive to organizational, client and donor needs and requirements.  

The Technical Lead will work with the team to define and determine the requirements for work, establishing actionable plans that support the mobilization of solutions. The Technical Lead will be responsible for working closely with the Family Welfare Division (FWD), Provincial Health Directorates (PHD), Provincial Health Training Centers (PHTC), Health Offices (HO) in districts, municipalities, and the selected hospitals. The position will work under the guidance of the MCGL Project Director and stationed in MCGL office at Jhpiego Corporation.

Timeframe

• 12 months

Technical Assistance and Quality Programming (60%)

• Provides quality technical assistance and ensures quality technical approaches are implemented in MPDSR activities by working closely with MCGL program staff to provide inputs into country workplans and reports and to review program data and results to inform decision-making and technical strategies
• Ensures quality assurance for MPDSR technical unit by contributing to the development of standards for technical interventions and routinely utilizing program data to identify program and country quality issues and trends and recommends strategies to resolve them
• Drawing on experience and technical knowledge, designs or adapts technical approaches based on team capacities, analysis of program data, stakeholder needs and changes in context or environment
• Leads discussions with donors, partners and government stakeholders to ensure MPDSR programming and technical approach is responsive to needs and priorities
• Leads implementation of activities, contributes to the development of products and materials, and supports the integration and implementation of key technical interventions and activities
• Leads the design and implementation of MPDSR capacity building activities within project settings and conducts activities to build capacity
• Supports the Principal Technical Advisor, MCGL in designing and implementing evidence based practices at the national, provincial and facility levels
• Develops internal timelines for technical team members to complete deliverables/provide inputs, sends clear communications regarding the process/timelines, monitors and follows up on completion, and consolidates and address feedback.
• Communicate important management-related information (deadlines, new processes, etc) to technical teams and partners
• Liaise and formulate productive working relationships with counterparts on behalf of MCGL with the FWD, PHD, PHTC, Health Offices, municipalities, and other implementing partners
• Contribute to annual MCGL work planning process

Managerial responsibilities (20%)

• Support the MCGL Project Director to prepare detailed implementation plan and budget for the MPDSR component (programmatic and financial) in line with the approved project documents
• Work with technical staff—SSNB Technical Lead, MCGL’s central and provincial team, and MEL advisor/s, to draft technical materials, documents, cape statements, reports, or presentations or to conduct literature reviews, and develop surveys, etc.
• Provide support to MCGL team to accomplish activities as outlined in the workplan and budget
• Work with finance and relevant staff in MCGL and Jhpiego to develop and track MPDSR expenditures
• Work to ensure efficient and effective office operations, maximizing the input and support of all MCGL/Jhpiego staff and consultants as appropriate
• Manage MPDSR technical officers in field implementation of MPDSR activities

Knowledge Management and Learning (10%)

• Drawing on experience and technical knowledge, designs or adapts technical approaches based on team capacities, analysis of program data, stakeholder needs and changes in context or environment
• Identifies important learning and opportunities to share technical knowledge across the organization
• Captures important learning and leads the development of technical updates to ensure the most up to date knowledge, best practices and learning are widely shared and taken up and implemented into programs
• Contribute to writing technical briefs/reports relevant to program.

Additional responsibilities (10%)

• Ensure MCGL branding guidelines are correctly used by program
• Represent MCGL/Jhpiego at provincial and national level, as and when required
• Update MCGL, Jhpiego, government counterparts, and related stakeholders about the project progress, challenges, and sustainability approaches of the key achievements
• Perform or assume other MCGL and Jhpiego activities as required and as assigned by Supervisor to ensure the smooth functioning to achieve the organizational goals

Deliverables

• Progress reports and end of activities (event reports)

Qualification and Requirement:

• Advanced degree in public health (Mph) with a medical degree
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressively relevant experience in program development and implementation of maternal and neonatal health programs in Nepal
• Proven leadership skills and expertise in the management of health programs and program staff
• Knowledge of competency-based training, performance and quality improvement approaches
• Knowledge of Microsoft package and virtual platforms
• Ability to develop strategic and programmatic plans in cooperation with concerned departments/other stakeholders/donors
• Ability to develop working relationships with counterparts of varying levels of seniority and backgrounds to implement program activities
• Strong decision-making skills, team player accustomed to building team capacity, delegating work to teams
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English and Nepali
• Willing and able to be based and travel to project/program areas.

Competences:

• Experience in MPDSR and quality of care programs
• Familiarity with Nepal health system and reporting structure
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with government-level officials to strengthen program implementation
• Demonstrated ability in working and collaborating with a wide range of local and international partner organizations.

Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

                           Please apply at www.jhpiego.org/careers

Applicants must submit a single document for upload, including a cover letter, resume, and references.

                       For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org

 Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to tough international child safeguarding standards.

Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

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