Project Director - Unitaid Post-Discharge Malaria Chemoprevention Project (Proposal)

Over the past 40 years, MCD Global Health (MCD) has worked to strengthen health systems through integrated, sustainable, and locally driven interventions across several public health sectors.

• MCD collaborates with donors, national governments, the private sector, health agencies, communities and local stakeholders to improve health and save lives in the following areas : malaria prevention and control;
• water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal, neonatal and child health; health system strengthening (HSS) HIV / AIDS; Zika;

and other communicable diseases.

MCD is currently seeking candidates to serve as the Project Director for the anticipated, five-year Unitaid Post-discharge malaria chemoprevention (PDMC) project.

The multi-country implementation research project will seek to generate robust evidence that responds to key knowledge gaps to inform future guidance and accelerate the scale-up of PDMC.

The WHO has identified malaria chemoprevention as a key intervention to reduce anaemia prevalence, and since 2022, it has included PDMC in its malaria prevention guidelines.

PDMC involves administering a full course of antimalarial treatment at regular intervals to children discharged from hospital after a severe anaemia admission, regardless of their malaria status, in areas with moderate-to-high malaria transmission.

This aims to protect vulnerable children during the high-risk period following discharge. Evidence shows that PDMC reduces mortality by 77% and hospital readmissions by 55%, and is both cost-effective and beneficial for increasing health-adjusted life expectancy compared to standard care.

The Project Director will lead and manage a Unitaid-funded multi-country project ensuring the implementation projects are within the project framework, and in accordance with MCD’s and Unitaid’s expectations and requirements.

The position holder will provide strategic direction for the project and its partners to achieve the objectives.

The Project Director will lead a multi-country team that includes experienced technical and project management specialists.

The Project Director will be responsible for ensuring close coordination and collaboration across consortium partners and Unitaid, close engagement with collaborating organizations, including Ministries of Health and other relevant stakeholders, project management, documentation and communication, and coordination and synergy with other projects.

This is a key position on the project team and is contingent upon award to MCD.

Essential Job Functions :

• Provide overall leadership, strategic direction, and management to the project and consortium partners, ensuring roles and responsibilities are clear and the project governance model is efficient.
• Provide overall management and oversight of the operational, technical, financial, and administrative aspects of the project;
• Act as a main point of contact with Unitaid, and WHO, Global Fund, and as the key liaison between the donor, the implementation countries' Ministries of Health, and other key stakeholders involved in the implementation of the project;
• Oversee effective planning and quality implementation of PDMC in the selected countries;
• Provide oversight to ensure that the project monitors its progress and performance and achieves the project benchmarks as per the project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, including for implementation research;
• Direct the annual work planning, budgeting, and reporting (quarterly and annually) process in accordance with Unitaid rules and regulations;
• Oversee the knowledge management aspects of the project, including gathering and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices, working closely with consortium partners;
• Supervise the project multi-country technical, programmatic, and support staff, and provide capacity building to project staff as necessary;
• Represent MCD and the project in all national and international meetings in interactions with the donors, high-level stakeholders, governments, NGOs and private sector partners;
• Promote and uphold a diverse and inclusive working environment conducive to safety, non-discrimination, gender integration, and the advancement of all staff;
• Committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEAH);
• Other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required :

• Masters in public health (MPH), epidemiology, or a related field; Bachelors or additional Masters degree in a clinical field is desirable;
• A minimum of 10 years of experience leading healthcare programs in international settings, preferably in Africa, including multi-country projects, with experience managing an implementation research project, especially a multi-country study is desirable;
• Demonstrated leadership and experience in malaria programming;
• Experience in research in a global public health area;
• Embody and uphold MCD’s core values of integrity, respect, compassion, equity, quality, and service to the mission.
• Proven experience in managing complex programs that involve coordination with the government and other stakeholders at all levels of the health system;
• Demonstrated experience interacting and maintaining relationships with high-level stakeholders and host country government officials;
• Strong management and problem-solving skills;
• Proficient in the use of the standard Microsoft Office;
• Full professional proficiency in English and French;
• Degree in a clinical field is desirable;
• Experience in implementation research is desirable;
• Knowledge of malaria chemoprevention is desirable;
• Experience with the adoption of global guidance into national policies is desirable;
• Experience working on catalytic programs, including those funding by Unitaid, is desirable;
• Experience using the UN reporting system is desirable.

Medical Care Development, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

MCD strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccinations for employees, contractors, and other representatives.