Background:
USAID/India Health Office (HO) manages a vast and diverse portfolio of programs that are aligned with the Government of India’s (GOI) Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) goals, the national TB goal to increase detection and treatment success rates, and the National AIDS Control Program to achieve epidemic control by 2030, and emergency response to COVID-19 as well as building resilient health systems. The health portfolio’s overall objectives are driven by an inclusive development agenda. USAID’s overarching approach in India is to work as partners with the GOI, demonstrating and evaluating scalable models that shape India’s healthcare system to effectively respond to the needs of the poor and vulnerable. Through these relationships, USAID/India serves as the GOI’s “innovation lab partner,” demonstrating and evaluating high-impact solutions to India’s most complex health challenges, and then working with the GOI to scale them up across the country.
Introduction:
The Uniquely Skilled Senior Immunization and Health Systems Strengthening Strategic Advisor (USSTA) will promote the overall coordination of USAID/India’s routine immunization and health systems strengthening efforts, including the COVID-19 vaccination. The individual will provide technical, policy and programmatic expertise in routine immunization strengthening, accelerated disease control and response; and support COVID-19 vaccine introduction. The work will broadly support Government of India targets, support use of data, innovation and epidemiological analysis in improving program and immunization outcomes with a health system strengthening approach. The USSTA will ensure that learnings percolate across the immunization and health systems strengthening portfolio.
The USSTA will support high level engagement with GOI and states on programmatic actions to support critical health interventions in both rural and urban settings with an emphasis on strengthening immunization systems in the country. The USSTA will support development of strategic plans for USAID supported health projects to ensure the demonstration models are aligned with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) policies and program priorities for ensuring sustainability. The USSTA will conduct assessment and analysis that support learning, knowledge transfer and adaptation across health projects.
Reporting structure:
The USSTA will be based at the Health Office within USAID office in Delhi, India and will receive technical direction from the Deputy Director, Health Office, who will serve as their Point of Contact.
Essential Duties and Outcomes:
Outcome 1: Build a collective vision of USAID/India’s immunization and health systems strengthening agenda, ensuring it is aligned with GOI priorities in the context of the current pandemic.
- Formulate a joint vision for improving USAID support for routine immunization and health systems strengthening in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, collaborating closely with immunization and health systems strengthening team members.
- Create linkages with internal and external stakeholders to develop and direct implementation of these technical and strategic approaches and make necessary adjustments.
- Lead development of strategic plans for USAID supported health projects to ensure the demonstration models are aligned with MOHFW policies and program priorities for ensuring sustainability.
- Formulates strategic management plan to guide communities of practice in continued learning and knowledge management.
Outcome 2: Ensure the highest level of technical leadership for USAID/India’s immunization and health systems strengthening agenda in the context of COVID-19.
- Engage in high-level discussions to help drive USAID strategy within USG interagency, state and national meetings, consultations, working groups, and negotiations related to routine immunization and COVID-19 vaccine technical assistance.
- Serve as a mentor and subject matter expert for the USAID/India in discussions related to routine immunization with implementing partners, municipal, state and governments, and private sector entities.
- Provide strategic direction in the development of high-level briefers to summarize routine progress as well as advocate for best practices that contribute towards enhanced programming; summarize progress and capture learnings in routine immunization; review data and trend analysis for USG focal areas; contribute to advance priorities such as COVID-19 vaccination.
- Prepare and present technical presentations for meetings and workshops as appropriate.
- Monitor and analyze equity trends and issues related to routine immunization and apply these analyses to country level programs supported by USAID.
Outcome 3: Ensure high quality M&E, communications and shared learnings of USAID/India’s immunization and health systems strengthening programs in the context of pandemic.
- Provide state-of-the-art technical and program expertise, assistance and support to USAID/India and its program in the development and evaluation of immunization-related strategies, programs, and policies, including on COVID-19 vaccine introduction.
- Provide guidance and support to effectively monitor, evaluate and analyze USAID immunization program progress; participating in country-level activities as required.
- Facilitate the gathering and analysis of immunization data for reporting and improving program design and monitoring.
- Lead multi-stakeholder review of implementation strategies for routine immunization, including high-level engagement with donors, government agencies, and partners to facilitate meaningful and impactful programmatic changes.
- Engage in high-level discussions to share best practices to enhance global learning and provide thought leadership to maximize USG investment
Anticipated learning outcomes: approximate 10% time
- Cultivate mentorship skills based on the STAR GH mentorship curriculum to more effectively support and improve knowledge transfer and skills acquisition of staff, incoming fellows and interns.
- Advance leadership skills to successfully support capacity building and knowledge sharing activities, and mentor develop junior staff.
- Apply leadership skills and technical expertise to support programmatic growth and scale up within immunization and health systems strengthening programming.
FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Required:
Minimum 20 years of relevant technical experience with master's degree in public health, epidemiology or related field.
Minimum 10 years’ experience in the field of global public health and minimum 3 years direct experience managing or advising routine immunization programs.
Demonstrated knowledge of GOI routine immunization systems strengthening best practices and knowledge of IA2030, Gavi 5. 0 and familiarity with global immunization policies and strategies.
Demonstrated knowledge of working with health systems in India and facilitating linkages between both public and private systems to strengthen health outcomes.
Experience in evaluation design and iterative learning, using data and predictive analysis for design, performance monitoring and decision making.
Comprehensive knowledge of disease control initiatives (e.g., polio, measles, tetanus).
Demonstrated experience of working with global and country stakeholders in the formulation of policy, assessment and program design and monitoring.
Excellent interpersonal and team skills--demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally and linguistically diverse staff, clients, and consultants.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks concurrently, and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality.
Ability to obtain and maintain, at a minimum, a facility access clearance.
Fluent spoken and written English; Fluency in Hindi and other regional Indian languages preferred.
Excellent written and oral communication and computer skills.
Willingness to travel up to 30% of the time.
Indian citizenship/ or Indian permanent residency required.
How to apply:
All applicants are required to apply for this position through STAR’s online recruitment system at https://recruitment.ghstar.org/positionDetail.html?pid=362, which allows you to store your CV/resume and 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. The position will remain open until filled.