Senior Technical Specialist - Healthcare

United Nations Development Programme (Jordan, Regional Bureau for Arab States)

III. Purpose of the position

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Resident Representatives of the UNDP Country Offices Algeria and Tunisia, the Senior Technical Specialist will lead a team based in Algeria and Tunisia. The Technical Specialist leads, supervises and coordinates the PMU team under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative (Tunisia and Algeria). He/she provides strategic direction for the development and delivery of support services to ensure: i) the achievement of planned objectives and ii) the effective and transparent execution of financial resources iii) the timely communication of results.

In all areas of implementation, the Technical Specialist will provide capacity development services to relevant institutions, Sub-Recipients (SRs) and implementing partners.

The incumbent will provide technical leadership for the implementation of grants, in collaboration with the government, UN agencies, donors and other partners, to ensure that the actions implemented will contribute to the broader national development strategy.

UNDP takes a portfolio approach to respond to the evolving needs of businesses and leverage linkages between interventions to achieve its strategic objectives.

Therefore, UNDP staff are expected to work across units, functions, teams and projects within multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration

IV. Key Functions and Responsibilities

1) Provide strategic and technical direction and planning for coordinated and effective implementation of the project

Ensure the planning, management, monitoring and supervision of the program in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, as well as the terms of the grant agreement with the Global Fund. This includes: (i) formulation of an implementation strategy, (ii) definition of roles/responsibilities of all stakeholders (RH, national programmes, CCMs, health centres, civil society, etc.), (iii) supervision and coordination of the programmatic and financial management of the grant, (iv) establishment of working procedures and ensuring compliance with them and (v) timely implementation of the programme.

• Ensure the coherence and complementarity of the different modules of the programme and the coordination of partners' interventions;

• Ensures programmatic impact evaluation as well as substantive monitoring and evaluation of the programme and proactively leads reviews of underperformance and ensures accountability for the timely implementation of corrective actions;

• Anticipates and identifies existing bottlenecks in the overall coordination, management and implementation of activities approved under the grant, and provides strategic advice and solutions for the implementation of activities related to assigned programmes/projects;

• Ensure the creation of strategic partnerships with key national and international actors and support the implementation of resource mobilization.

• Ensure the establishment and regular monitoring of a programmatic and financial risk management system, proposing proactive management and mitigation measures, while informing and advising country office management when necessary;

• Fulfill accountability commitments to the various governance structures provided for in the project document and the agreement with the FM, including the preparation and coordination of Steering Committee meetings, as well as regular follow-up meetings with the CCM Supervisory Committees.

• Work with all relevant national and technical partners to strengthen national systems and health institutions for programme transition.

2) Ensure coordination of program implementation to ensure compliance with financial and programmatic objectives

• Lead a multidisciplinary team to achieve a high level of program performance;

• Provide technical oversight and guidance for the implementation of GFATM grants, and ensure the provision of appropriate technical support to UNDP grant managers, government counterparts, sub-grantees and other programme partners.

• Ensure the implementation of activities in accordance with work plans and budgets, including supervision of responsible parties, consultants and any other UNDP partners to ensure timely delivery of results and ensure coherence and synergy between all activities implemented by the programme;

• Ensures effective and efficient management of the human and financial resources of his/her unit and optimizes their use to achieve established results, including budget monitoring and supervision of the development and execution of procurement and recruitment plans;

• Ensures the timely submission of periodic technical and financial reports (quarterly, annual) to the CCM and the GFATM through the Local Fund Officer (LFA).

V. Requirements:

Education 

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Public Health, Medical Sciences, Social Sciences, International Development, Business Administration or other relevant field is required, OR a first-level degree (Bachelor's degree) preferred, in Public Health, Medical Sciences, Social Sciences, International Development, Business Administration or other relevant field WITH 2 additional years of experience will be duly taken into account in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience, knowledge and skills

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience (with a Master's degree), or 7 years of experience (with a bachelor's degree) in program or project management, including in the field of development and/or health, and/or public health.

• Proven experience in managing teams is required.

• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing effective partnerships with government and civil society organizations in the context of a health and/or development program is desirable.

• Experience in international organizations is an asset

• Experience in a project or programme in the field of HIV/AIDS and/or other infectious diseases is an asset

Language requirements

• Fluency in French and Arabic, both written and oral, is required.

• Working knowledge of English is an asset.