SEARCH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Under the general direction of the Vice Provost for Clinical and Translational Science and Global Health, and the Principal Investigator on the CDC Liberia Project (CDC Project PI), the Country Director will provide overall in country leadership to the CDC Project, other funded projects and direct the in country UMMS Administrative and Operations Core. In this role, the Country Director will work closely with project PI and collaborators, including in-country academic consortium faculty and staff, donor staff, the Government of Liberia (GoL), and other in country partners on the implementation of the CDC Liberia Project. He/she will also serve as in-country leader for all operational aspects necessary to facilitate programming. The Country Director will also represent the UMMS Office of Global Health in Liberia, and as such, will have final authority for in-country decisions related to UMMS presence, interests, or immediate and time-sensitive risks to UMMS and projects.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure equitable, timely, cost-effective, responsive and high quality administrative and operations support to the CDC Project and all other UMMS activities within local laws and available resources, in an environment with adequate internal controls, in adherence to donor regulations, UMMS and project policies, US and Liberian laws, and standard operating procedures
• Coordinate all operational tasks of projects, e.g. recruitment/screening/follow-up activities; implementation activities; as well as operational data collection, management, and reporting activities, as determined by the project programming.
• In coordination with the Principal Investigators and the administrative team, adapt and implement management systems with standard operating procedures to administer all funded activities
• Monitor budgets and control costs based on sound financial and accounting principles, UMMS guidelines, and donor requirements
• Oversee the completion and submission of monthly operations, reports as required by project PI’s
• Works closely with the PI and Admin Core on overall in-country project management
• Assure integration of technical strategies with each other, and with the overall operational strategy of the project
• Collaborate with PIs and their designees for external relations with key in-country stakeholders and lead the development and execution of the Integrated Country Strategy
• In collaboration with key stakeholders and project PI’s, periodically evaluate progress towards the completion of project deliverables to verify alignment with strategic directions and defined targets
• Promote technical awareness, coordination, collaboration, and synergy of UMMS activities. Ensure that all work planning is completed collaboratively with counterparts and partners
• Lead country-based business development and strategic communication activities (including positioning, intelligence gathering, and proposal development) that contribute to the sustainability or expansion of UMMS’s programs. Act as key liaison to UMMS Office of Global Health.
• Ensure that UMMS meets all goals and objectives of its agreements with the Government of Liberia and funding agencies. Ensure the high quality, within-budget, and on-time delivery of interim and final results
• Design, implement and supervise the appropriate logistics systems, including fleet and warehousing and distribution functions, ensuring reliability and accountability
• Develop and implement project tracking systems
• Ensure that project offices and sites have adequate security and emergency plans in place. Ensure that all in-country staff are working effectively and safely and that they safeguard UMMS’ financial, contractual, technical, and political integrity and reputation
• Ensure that the UMMS Administrative Core and projects have adequate staff with the appropriate expertise and training to carry out high-quality work and that staff are recruited and hired in accordance with local, donor, and UMMS requirements
• Conduct performance planning and reviews; communicate, implement, and assure adherence to UMMS and project policies, guidelines, and values.
• Develop staff skills and knowledge; approve time sheets; and facilitate employee success
• Evaluate, negotiate, and contract with locally contracted consultants. Ensure that contracted consultations or work are completed in a timely manner; evaluate the performance of all advisors and consultants in accordance with contract terms and work with PI and Admin Core to address any deficiencies
• Perform other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• MPH, MBA or master’s level degree in related field, or equivalent experience
• 7 years of progressively responsible, related experience is required
• Formal logistics training
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior-level government officials and local stakeholders.
• Demonstrated subject-matter expertise in technical content relevant to the project and in complex operational areas relevant to project management (including financial, administrative and logistics, including fleet management and medical logistics management)
• Demonstrated leadership and management abilities leading a diverse team of international and national professionals
• Prior experience and success in directing large international donor-funded projects.
• Proven record of aligning diverse, multi-level teams with project mission and vision
• Demonstrated strategic agility, diplomacy, conflict management, team building, cross cultural communication, active listening, and negotiation skills
• Fluency in English is required
• Ability to mentor in-country supervisors and to reside in Liberia for the period of the CDC Liberia Project
• Ability to travel to off-site locations.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Under the general direction of the Vice Provost for Clinical and Translational Science and Global Health and PI for CDC Liberia Project

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SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Manage assigned staff

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ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

Duties may be performed in austere environments in rural and urban Liberia. Conditions may include a non-standard environment with poor air conditioning and lighting. Although the base location for this position is Monrovia, multiple deployments to remote locations should be expected.