University Research Co Job Vacancy For Interim Chief of Party

URC is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide. With a non-profit affiliate, the Center for Human Services (CHS), URC manages projects in over 45 countries, including the United States.

Established in 1965, URC offers a range of technical assistance to strengthen health and social systems and service quality by empowering communities and health workers to identify and scale up locally appropriate solutions to critical problems. Internationally, we expand access to and improve the quality of services addressing maternal, newborn, and child health; infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria; reproductive health and family planning; food and nutrition; and vulnerable children and families. In the US, we focus on improving communication related to issues like substance abuse, with a particular focus on reaching underserved populations.

URC’s mission is to provide innovative, evidence-based solutions to health and social challenges worldwide. Please join us in carrying out our mission (http://www.urc-chs.com/).

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Division and Project Overview:

The International Development Group (IDG), an international division of URC with projects in East and West Africa and Latin America. Technical areas addressed by these projects in include human resources for health, health systems strengthening, HIV/AIDS, TB, nutrition, community mobilization, quality improvement, and social and behavior change communications, among others.

The USAID Systems for Health Project works with the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service to scale up evidence-based, high-impact interventions aimed at preventing child and maternal deaths, reducing unmet need for family planning, reducing morbidity and mortality from malaria, improving the nutritional status of pregnant women and young children, and promoting gender equity. The project works to strengthen vital health systems building blocks, including Community-Based Health Planning and Services expansion, and encourages the integration of services to create a more robust, flexible and sustainable health care system. The project works at the national level and in Greater Accra, Central, Western, Northern and Volta Regions.

Roles and Responsibilities:

University Research Co., LLC (URC) is seeking an Interim Chief of Party for a 7-8-month period between May and December 2019 to play the leadership role and provide management responsibilities for the final phase of implementation of the USAID Systems for Health Project in Ghana. The Interim Chief of Party will actively support the closeout phase of the project, inclusive of ensuring the completion of work plan activities, the successful closeout of fixed amount awards with Ghana Health Service and the orderly closeout of the project’s five offices.

In addition, the Interim Chief of Party will oversee the timely submission of routine deliverables as required or requested by USAID and will maintain strong relationships with USAID, Ghana Health Service and other implementing and development partners.  

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provide leadership to the project’s management team, oversee the overall project and program management and technical operations in the field including the day-to-day operations of the project’s five offices.
• Manage preparation and submission of technical deliverables and other knowledge management products.
• Interact with USAID Mission as a major funding source in accordance with obligations defined by the cooperative agreement and provide regular updates to ensure their timely awareness of progress or issues as they arise.
• Maintain strong relationships with MOH and GHS counterparts, and serve as a key project resource for government, other donors and key stakeholders.
• Ensure the orderly closeout of fixed amount awards with Ghana Health Service.
• Oversee the project’s closeout process, ensuring compliance with the approved closeout plan.
• In collaboration with the DCOP for Finance and Operations, oversee budget implementation and financial management, ensuring expenditures are in line with fund availability.
• Manage procurement team. Ensure that all procurement activities comply with URC and USAID regulations and that adequate internal control processes are followed.
• Liaise with and provide regular and timely updates to the URC home office backstop team.
• Ensure overall compliance with USAID regulations and procedures and with URC guidelines.
• Oversee and actively manage an orderly project closeout process to ensure that all commitments are met to USAID, GHS, and that all obligations are met with regard to local laws.
• Serve as primary signatory for expenditure approval and bank transfers, as well as power of attorney for URC in Ghana.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced Degree in Public Health, International Development, or related field
• Previous experience as Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Senior Project Manager, or comparable experience managing and closing large, multi-year, USAID-funded health projects
• At least ten (10) years of a track record showing progressive experience in technical and management leadership of USG-funded programs overseas
• Experience living and working in LMICs, preferably Africa
• Expert knowledge of rules and regulations for USAID cooperative agreements
• Skills and hands-on knowledge on advising and mentoring and field staff
• Proven ability in promoting and collaborating closely with country governments, the community and donor counterparts at all levels
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team settings with diverse staff, consultants and counterparts
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills
• Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution abilities