Senior Project Manager, Laboratory Systems Strengthening at Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc.

Overivew of Position:

• The Senior Project Manager (SPM) – STELLAR, will oversee Global Fund-supported STELLAR program focused on providing laboratory technical assistance across sub-Saharan Africa. The SPM will oversee grant operations and strategy for program supporting the rapid scale-up and effective management of high-quality diagnostics for COVID-19, transition of emergency COVID-19 response into routine response, integration of siloed laboratory systems, support lab system strengthening funding proposals, and other lab systems strengthening activities. The SPM will lead grant operations, guide strategy, and maintain alignment between country teams, GDT, and partners working to achieve program objectives across countries.
• The role requires moderate travel, the ability to cultivate and sustain relationships across levels of seniority and partners, exceptional communication skills, and organizational and project management skills. The candidate must be able to function independently and flexibly, operate effectively in an environment with a high level of ambiguity and uncertainty, and have a strong commitment to excellence and attention to detail.  CHAI places great value on relevant personal qualities: proactiveness, resourcefulness, responsibility, tenacity, independence, energy, entrepreneurship, and strong work ethic.

Responsibilities

• Manage program by establishing goals and delivery plan, supervising task execution, and monitoring project progress to ensure that expected deliverables and targets are achieved on time and on budget
• Monitor comprehensive work-plans with Country Support Managers (CSMs) and country teams in line with lab systems strengthening objectives and commitment
• Lead internal and external reporting requirements and coordinate with global and country teams, to seek inputs
• Lead external communications with Global Fund, Africa-CDC, and other regional partners supporting the AFRO COVID-19 and broader lab systems response
• Support implementation of program
• Develop dissemination materials to facilitate cross-country and global knowledge sharing.
• Support preparations of presentations, reports, and other analyses to inform global and country-level strategy on Covid-19 testing
• Engender practice of sharing best practices within team, and by extension country programs, to ensure strategies, tools and planning processes build upon prior experience and learnings
• Provide technical support and bandwidth across country teams on their lab-systems strengthening work, including but not limited to Covid-19 testing-related strategy and planning, forecasting, procurements, and supply chain management, etc.
• Work closely with country teams to support lab systems strengthening activities and facilitate involvement of topic area experts from GDT or other CHAI teams on country work streams as required
• Identify and develop new program and funding opportunities and develop and manage relationships with existing and potential donors
• Up to 30% international travel time could be required as needed
• Perform other responsibilities, as requested by supervisor and program directors

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus at least 7 years of work experience
• Experience working in management consulting, business strategy groups, or similar fast-paced results-oriented environments
• Experience managing and developing program plans and budgets
• Ability to navigate government processes with multiple stakeholders
• Ability to problem solve without extensive structural or operational support
• Able to adapt and guide team members within dynamic environments
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver compelling presentations and work on analyses at varying levels of granularity
• Strong analytical skills
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook
• Strong interest in programmatic and technical contents of GDT’s work
• Fluent in English, proficiency in both written and verbal

Advantages:

• Master’s degree (MPH, MBA, Laboratory Services, or other relevant degree)
• Previous work experience in developing countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience navigating health financing processes (Global Fund, or other)
• Experience developing National Lab Strategic Plans
• Lab and diagnostics-related experience, either in a programmatic or clinical setting
• Familiarity with global health issues, particularly COVID-19
• Proficiency in French