SENIOR MONITORING AND EVALUATION ADVISOR, PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE, USA

SENIOR MONITORING AND EVALUATION ADVISOR, PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE, USA Organisation: Public Health Institute / Office of Health Systems, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development Position: Technical Advisor III: Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor Location: Washington, DC, USA Assignment: Two year fellowship Reference: GHFP II-P1-046 The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with CDC Development Solutions and Management Systems International. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by developing and increasing the capacity of health professionals with tailored development opportunities. This is accomplished through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels, and performance management and professional development activities aimed to enhance the technical and leadership skills of fellows. BACKGROUND: The Health Systems Office (HSO) leads a network of Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) colleagues throughout the Bureau for Global Health (GH) in the development and implementation of USAID’s agenda and strategy to promote effective, sustainable, country-owned health systems capable of promoting health, preventing disease, advancing reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health and nutrition; combating infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases; and addressing emerging public health priorities. The HSO leads the Agency’s health systems research efforts including development of a research portfolio and of metrics and tools for measuring health systems improvements. It tracks and aligns USAID resources, funds and programs for HSS to this agenda. The HSO also works to build partnerships and synergies to support this agenda and strategy, including with other US Government (USG) agencies, host country governments, donors, the private sector, and civil society. The HSO is USAID’s hub for generating, capturing and sharing state-of-the-art knowledge on the factors that contribute to strengthening health systems, including: experiential knowledge, complex systems thinking, service delivery, community engagement and outreach, governance, finance, human resources, as well as medical products, vaccines, and related technologies such as information systems (including application of information and communications technology), and public-private partnerships. The HSO works with other offices in GH and with USAID missions, regional bureaus and partners to advance HSS knowledge and innovations and to promote country uptake. The HSO serves as the hub of USAID’s talent management in HSS. It works to grow and nurture technical expertise and intellectual capital in HSS within the Agency to build a cadre of USAID HSS specialists. The HSO ensures basic HSS knowledge among all health officers and among health systems practitioners and health-related institutions in developing countries. The HSO develops and facilitates recruitment, training, professional development, staff rotations and exchanges, and networking opportunities. INTRODUCTION: Within the HSO, the role of the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Advisor (the Advisor) is critical to the success of the Office. The Advisor coordinates and positions USAID efforts to fulfill the United States Government Global Health Initiative (GHI) core principles of “build sustainability through health systems strengthening” and “improve metrics, monitoring and evaluation.” S/he has the unique and exciting challenge of leading Agency HSS stakeholders to identify expected HSS results, create efficient and cost-effective approaches to track progress in achieving HSS results, design and implement robust HSS evaluation studies, and ensure that information feeds back into Agency HSS implementation and builds knowledge across the Agency and development partners. The questions that the Advisor addresses include fundamental issues such as how HSS supports achievement of GHI health targets and how the HSO will know if/when it is successful. The Advisor is the M&E expert within the HSO, providing leadership and expertise on all aspects of Agency HSS M&E policies and practices. The Advisor leads the development of the HSO M&E framework and operational plan, including identification (or development, where needed) of indicators, targets, and methodologies for measuring, monitoring, and evaluating the implementation of the HSO strategy and its contributions to the achievement of Agency and GHI health targets. S/he provides to GH, regional bureaus, missions, and country partners direct technical support for the design and implementation of HSS M&E plans and activities. The Advisor reviews and analyzes HSS M&E data and findings, conclusions, and recommendations; helps ensure their dissemination; and advises GH, regional bureaus, missions, and country partners on application of HSS M&E lessons learned and recommendations. In coordination with other HSO and GH staff, the Advisor contributes to the development of the HSO research agenda and provides leadership in the analysis and use of research results and findings. The Advisor provides these efforts in a participatory and inclusive manner. In carrying out these responsibilities, s/he establishes, nurtures, and maintains strong working relationships with a wide range of players with varied perspectives. These players include, but are not limited to, other members of the HSO and the broader network of USAID HSS colleagues in GH, regional bureaus, and missions; M&E staff within GH, regional bureaus, missions, and USAID’s Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning; headquarters staff of other USG agencies involved in HSS and M&E; HSS and M&E staff within other donor organizations; and HSS and M&E thought leaders in the health and development communities. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The primary responsibilities of the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor include: ■Develop M&E framework and operational plan for the HSO strategy, including roles and responsibilities; monitoring indicators and targets; data sources; measurement and reporting methods; evaluation topics and methodologies; and use of monitoring and evaluation data and findings for increased efficiency and effectiveness ■Support USAID and interagency processes to develop metrics and field guidance for the GHI HSS principle ■Lead USAID’s engagement in global efforts to agree and implement ways to monitor and evaluate HSS approaches to foster sustained health impact ■Track and analyze HSS M&E data from the work of the HSO, missions and country partners, key international actors including The World Health Organization, the World Bank, global partnerships, other bilaterals, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and use the information to advise USAID on HSS policy and program development; to improve HSO performance and impact; and to advise country partners and missions on best practices and innovations in HSS ■Provide expert input into the design and analysis phases of the HSO research portfolio ■Advise the Agency on design and implementation of HSS evaluation studies, and develop HSS evaluation protocols ■Provide expert technical support to USAID missions in the development of HSS M&E plans, activities, and protocols ■Support missions and partner countries to pilot test HSS M&E tools and methodologies and to adopt innovative and effective M&E approaches for HSS ■Advise on and strengthen M&E methodologies and deliverables within HSO and GH activity scopes of work ■Manage relevant HSS M&E programs/activities within HSO procurement mechanisms ■Establish fora and mechanisms for Agency-wide information sharing, participation, and feedback on HSS M&E issues ■Lead and implement knowledge management/sharing processes for broad dissemination of HSS evaluation findings, conclusions, recommendations, and best practices ■Present Agency HSS M&E efforts in USG interagency fora and in international fora Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on (a) organizational and programming need and/or (b) the Technical Advisor’s own interests. REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE: ■Master’s degree in public health or related field ■Minimum ten years’ experience in health sector/systems monitoring and evaluation, with at least three to five years’ experience in an international or resource-challenged setting ■Demonstrated leadership in the development and implementation of an M&E strategy and/or implementation plan for an effort of similar magnitude ■High degree of judgment, maturity, ingenuity and originality to interpret strategy, to analyze, develop and present work results, and to monitor and evaluate implementation of programs ■Demonstrated ability to develop and conduct robust assessments and evaluations ■Ability to provide advice, guidance, and consultation to high level officials on the interpretation and application of monitoring and evaluation data and findings ■Demonstrated knowledge of information and communications technology and its application to performance monitoring and evaluation ■Demonstrated familiarity with technical and developing country content in Agency HSS areas of focus ■Demonstrated flexibility and openness in responding to changing work priorities and environment ■Excellent analytical, written and oral communication skills ■Ability to work with diverse teams and cross-culturally ■Ability to travel internationally (up to 25% time) ■Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements highly desired ■Proficiency in a second language highly desirable ■US Citizenship or US Permanent Residency required SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs http://www.ghfp.net/docs/2012_Benefits_Booklet_GHFP.pdf TO APPLY: All applicants are required to apply for this position through GHFP-II’s online recruitment system at https://www.ghfp.net/recruitment/, 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 applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on June 18, 2012.