Senior Advisor for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Global Health Fellows Program

Technical Advisor Level IV:  Senior Advisor for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Maternal and Child Health Division, Office of Health, Infectious Disease, and Nutrition, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development

Location: Washington, DC

Assignment: 2 year fellowship

GHFP-09-135

The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute (PHI) in partnership with the Harvard School of Public Health, Management Systems International and Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. GHFP is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The goal of GHFP is to improve the effectiveness of USAID Population, Health and Nutrition programs by developing and increasing capacity of health professionals in Washington, DC and overseas. This is accomplished through the recruitment, placement and support of junior, mid and senior level health professionals; a diversity initiative focused on providing internship and mentoring opportunities in international public health to underrepresented communities; and professional and organizational development activities to bolster USAID’s ability to maximize results and strengthen its leadership role in global health.

INTRODUCTION:

The Maternal and Child Health Division (MCH) within USAID’s Office of Health, Infectious Disease, and Nutrition (HIDN) of the Bureau for Global Health (GH) works closely with USAID Missions and international partners to: advocate for investments in improving maternal and child health, with a focus on the major causes of mortality and associated morbidity; introduce innovative cost-effective interventions to address these issues ; and leverage human, technical, financial resources to help countries improve their capacity to deliver such lifesaving interventions.

The Senior Advisor for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (Senior Advisor) will provide technical assistance to the GH/HIDN/MCH Division and to USAID field Missions on programmatic approaches to increase the uptake, use, and impact of key interventions to reduce maternal and child mortality. The focus of this position will be child health, working closely with the existing child health team in the Division, the MCH Element co-Head for Child Survival, and the MCH Division Chief, and complementing the work of existing teams in maternal and newborn health, immunization, and environmental health. The Senior Advisor must have the capacity and interest to promote and program integrated approaches to maternal, newborn, and child health, including the roles of family planning, consistent with overall strategic approach to MCH articulated in 2008 (see http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/mch/publications/mch_report.html) and the Division’s Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP).

As an active member of the USAID MCH Element Team, the Senior Advisor will contribute to the overall development of MCH strategies and activities and, in particular, setting child health priorities. A substantial portion of the Senior Advisor’s effort will be devoted to program development and support in the MCH focus countries, currently numbering 30: 17 in the sub-Saharan Africa; 9 in Asia; 3 in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 1 in Europe and Eurasia.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As a key member of the MCH Division, the Senior Advisor will:

General MCH and Public Health Technical Support (50%)

• Contribute technical and program child health expertise and experience to the planning, updating, and implementation of GH Bureau’s MCH programs, research, and policy development activities

• Be engaged in and contribute expertise in priority technical areas of GH’s maternal and child health technical and program activities, with an emphasis on high-impact child health interventions

• In coordination with other MCH Division staff, present GH/HIDN’s views at international, regional, and national-level MCH fora, identifying connections with other MCH programs and shaping a coordinated response (e.g., the Catalytic Initiative)

• Participate in strategic planning and resource allocation activities for GH’s MCH Element programs

• Stay current and share new knowledge on state-of-the art technical, policy, and programmatic developments in MCH, with an emphasis on new developments in child health

MCH Country Program Support (50%)

• Provide MCH expertise in design of new program activities (for GH, regional bureaus, or field missions) and participate in design committees and competitive reviews, as appropriate

• Join country teams and participate in country program reviews and action plans provide technical comments and suggestions on the MCH component

• Provide technical support to USAID missions in selected MCH priority countries and assist in developing MCH programmatic approaches

• Participate in technical assistance and evaluation trips to USAID missions and country programs

• Provide technical and program oversight on MCH activities supported by GH cooperating agencies, including the Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in a maternal and child health related aspect of health science or international public health

• Minimum 15 years’ experience in international health programs, preferably with a focus on maternal and child health programs in developing countries, with at least five years’ experience on-the-ground programs in developing countries; Africa experience preferred

• Experience working with USAID and/or USAID-supported health programs is strongly desirable

• Documented effectiveness in health program planning and development

• Effectiveness in working collaboratively with staff of USAID missions, other US Government agencies, developing country governments and organizations, and other international organizations

• Strong ability to work independently and assume a leadership role in policy and program activities

• Excellent technical writing skills

• Willingness/ability to travel internationally to developing country program sites at least 25 percent of time

• US Citizenship or US Permanent Residency required

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary will be based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs.

TO APPLY:

Visit the Recruitment section of our website at https://www.ghfp.net/recruitment/

All candidates are required to apply through GHFP’s online recruitment system, which allows you to store your CV, profile and bio data form in our database. A separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All online applications must be submitted by April 30, 2009.