"Principal Technical Advisor, MERL"

Job Details

Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America's first research university and home to nine world-class academic divisions working together as one university.

Jhpiego is an international non-profit health organization affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University. Reporting to the Principal Technical Advisor (MCGL M&E Lead), the MCGL MEL Principal Technical Advisor is accountable for applying technical expertise and knowledge to deliver, adapt and/or modify high-quality technical approaches that reflect best practices in monitoring, evaluation and learning for maternal, newborn, child health, immunization and nutrition programming. They will identify and assess changes in needs, priorities, requirements and operating conditions, ensuring MEL approaches are aligned with and responsive to organizational, client and donor needs and requirements. supporting selected MCGL core and country teams for their routine Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, needs, such as selection of key indicators, development of Performance Management Plans (PMPs), and reporting to the donor.

They also are responsible for improving the use of Adaptive Management and Learning (AML) across the MCGL portfolio and for liaising with others at Jhpiego to disseminate lessons and learn from them. They will do this by dynamically assessing needs for building capacity of MEL, program, and leadership staff in AML, and influencing their motivation to use and share adaptive techniques. This can include development of materials, leading participatory workshops, mentorship, facilitating peer-to-peer learning activities, as well as identification, development and dissemination of cases studies of the use of AML. They will support Jhpiego’s global positioning and reputation in the practice of Adaptive Management by representing the organization externally.

The Principal Technical Advisor will manage managerial and technical staff, co-lead the development of the MEL/AM workplan, budget, and reporting to the donor.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

Technical Assistance & Quality Programming

• Provides senior level, high-quality technical assistance by combining best practices for MEL with strategic program expertise, guidance and advice for country programs.
• Ensures that programs that are assisted are technically sound, cohesive, evidence-based, and responsive to the priorities and needs of the countries and donors
• Ensures cohesive and integrated technical approach across project components to maximize impact.
• Leads the development of guidance and learning resources as well as the lead for defining and testing new tools and innovations for accelerating achievement of results
• Assesses and analyses data and identifies trends. Addresses complex programmatic and technical challenges by working across project and partner staff to develop or adapt technical interventions or approaches to accelerate progress.
• Obtains buy in from donors, partners and government stakeholders to ensure MEL approaches are responsive to their needs and priorities.
• Ensures country and core performance data are captured and communicated effectively in routine country and global reports, presentations to donors
• Conducts data management, analysis and visualization for assigned technical and cross-cutting areas

Global Strategy Development & Implementation

• Provides thought leadership for development of the MEL and data systems strategy and approaches based on knowledge on global technical and donor trends and stakeholder needs
• Leads implementation of priorities identified in global technical strategy and workplan

Organizational Capacity Building

• Builds technical capacity within Jhpiego and coaches and mentors staff accordingly, including developing and implementing annual training plans, learning activities, and materials to support capacity building

New Program Development & Donor Relations

• Supports business development activities including identifying and supporting new opportunities and leading the incorporation of appropriate M&E and AML components of proposals.

Organizational Representation

• Identifies opportunities to demonstrate Jhpiego’s technical excellence in the field of MEL in external fora
• Positions the organization as an insightful thought leader in MEL through participation in external advisory or working groups, global meetings and events and international conferences

Knowledge Management & Learning

• Provides support to the realization of external communication priorities including supporting the development of success stories, blogs, and other program and technical related communication materials that demonstrate Jhpiego’s technical expertise, results, and programming excellence
• Supports field staff to present and disseminate learning from country implementation
• Contributes to the development of peer-reviewed publications

Supervision

• Provides coaching, guidance and mentorship to direct report(s) where needed
• Sets targets and objectives for assigned area and delivers results
• Grows team expertise to align with program and organizational direction while continually looking for ways to provide / enhance the value delivered
• Leads a high-performing team and provides ongoing feedback and performance reviews
• Tracks, monitors and effectively addresses and / or rewards performance of team members
• Manages employees in compliance with all HR policies, procedures, guidelines
• Shares knowledge, information, skills and subject matter expertise among the team and ensures the timely communication of issues while encouraging good working relationships with other functions / teams
• Recruits for all hires to ensure a highly diverse, qualified workforce with the necessary capabilities needed to achieve goals

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Health Policy or a related field, with Doctoral degree preferred
• 10 years related experience in health systems
• Additional experience may substitute for required education to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient oral and written English language skills; proficiency in French or Portuguese
• 15+ years in similar position

Special Skills, Knowledge & Abilities:

• In-depth knowledge of health systems in low and middle-income countries, service delivery models and government data systems (HMIS, EMR, LMIS)
• Strong experience in data management and performance monitoring of MNCH-N and immunization indicators
• Strong technical skills, including ability to process and analyze data using one or more statistical software packages, including at least one of the following: SPSS, Epi Info, Stata.
• Familiarity with PowerBI, DHIS2, Kobo, ODK
• Experience in developing data analytics and effective data visualizations and disseminating project results
• Experience in implementation research, including use of both quantitative and qualitative methods
• Experience with Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (CLA) approaches
• Experience with capacity development and/or mentoring of professional staff
• Experience with new business development, including writing and reviewing proposals and contributing to technical design
• Experience with USG-funded MNCH-N and/or other donor funded projects
• Comprehensive understanding of current global health funding priorities and players
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural skills including the ability to communicate technical content verbally, in writing and through dynamic presentations.
• Ability to work under pressure, team player who is comfortable working in a dynamic and evolving environment
• Ability to travel up to 30%, as needed

Classified Title: Sr. Technical Advisor
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Principal Technical Advisor, MERL
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/04/MF
Starting Salary Range: $102,944 - $134,039 Commensurate with Experience
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Mon - Fri 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Jhpiego
Department name: 60000105-Global Programs and Technical Excellence
Personnel area: Academic and Business Centers

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711.