Technical Advisor, Health Financing at ThinkWell

The SP4PHC Kenya team works in four counties (Kilifi, Isiolo, Makueni and Kakamega) and will be expanding to a further six counties. The TA works closely with the Ministry of Health, Council of Governors, NHIF and County Departments of Health in SP4PHC focus counties. The TA facilitates discussions, shares evidence, and proposes ideas to optimize the health financing function and related processes to promote strategic purchasing of FP and MNCH services in Kenya. The TA has experience providing technical advisory services at the national and county level and the political skills necessary to manage a range of national- and county-level partnerships.

The TA is based in Nairobi, and reports to the SP4PHC Project Lead.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical assistance to county teams to ensure high quality program results and execution across projects in the area of specialization.
• Contribute to work planning.
• Communicate with other ThinkWell technical advisors in country and globally to build, share, exchange and disseminate technical knowledge.
• Participate in recruitment, support and mentorship for team members in the area of technical specialty.
• Develop strong working relationships with the National Government, Sub-national Governments and other related agencies to strengthen health systems especially on health financing; RMNCAH and FP, and other areas Thinkwell works on such as HRH and private sector engagement
• Publish papers, articles and blogs. Present at conferences/participate in technical working groups on ThinkWell project-related technical innovations, priorities and results. Build ThinkWell reputation as a thought leader in the field.

Organizational Leadership and Development

• Represent ThinkWell in various meetings and platforms,
• Support the country director to build the project portfolio in technical specialty area in collaboration with ThinkWell’s business development unit called Design Lab, and other colleagues.
• Collaborate with Design Lab to collect and pursue new business information and contacts.
• Consult and coordinate with key stakeholders within government, donors, and other entities to cultivate new business concepts, build ThinkWell program division and reputation.
• Participate in company initiatives and teams to build intellectual and human capital in technical area of specialization.
• SP4PHC project support to Counties
• Support ThinkWell county officers and county departments of health to institute and track health care financing reforms for UHC, and monitor and evaluate strategic purchasing interventions.
• Facilitate communications between County Department of Health and NHIF on strategic purchasing of PHC services
• Support County Government to track flow of NHIF claims and reimbursements, to facilities, especially for the Linda Mama scheme.
• Work with County Governments to identify and implement ways to utilize NHIF funds to align incentives between County Department of Health and providers.
• Review public financial management procedures and by-laws

Your qualifications

• Masters degree and 6+ years of exp;
• Substantive, relevant work experience in health systems with a development agency, NGO or government. Adept at communicating technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Previous experience and proven track record in providing technical advice to counties in health systems strengthening with a focus on healthcare financing, strategic and operational planning and public financial management in the health sector;
• A strong understanding of the current Healthcare financing landscape in Kenya at both national and at a county level;
• Demonstrated interest and ability in growing staff, mentoring and coaching junior professionals;
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with external strategic partners, donors, and stakeholders;
• New business development, proposal writing and fundraising experience;
• Full fluency in English and Kiswahili;
• Outstanding cross-cultural communication skills, including the ability to relate respectfully with staff at all levels, ages, genders, nationalities and orientations as well as across work areas;
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 25%.