• Application Deadline:
• Position: Senior Program Officer, Primary Health Care, SAFEStart+ Project



• Job Type Full Time



• Qualification MBA/MSc/MA



• Experience 3 - 5 years



• Location Ebonyi




• Job Field Project Management 
  
  

Position Summary

• The Senior / Program Officer provides primary support to the Project Director in managing technical, operational, and administrative aspects of SAFEStart+, operating as a deputy director to the Project Director.


• This position works hand-in-hand with the Project Director and co-manages partnerships with Unitaid, WHO headquarters and regional offices (AFRO & PAHO), program implementers and research partners (University of Washington, Harvard University), Africa CDC, GAVI, and other key stakeholders including country-level partners, implementers, and research institutions. Strong French language capabilities are required for effective francophone stakeholder engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Product Development:

• Take leadership of specific technical elements of the projects with a priority focus on the learning agenda, continuous quality improvement, project performance analyses, M&E and metrics.


• Lead development of strategic technical reports, policy briefs, and programmatic guidance documents that synthesize project findings and provide actionable recommendations for country implementation and global scale-up


• Coordinate creation of training materials, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and implementation toolkits for integrated EVT service delivery models, ensuring technical accuracy and country-specific adaptation


• Oversee production of evidence dissemination packages, knowledge products, and learning resources for diverse audiences including country partners, donors, and global health stakeholders


• Support development of technical presentations, briefing materials, and visual communication products for donor meetings, stakeholder convenings, and international conferences


• Coordinate preparation and quality assurance of project deliverables, milestone reports, and programmatic reporting for UNITAID, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and project objectives


• Ensure technical quality, consistency, and alignment across all project materials, communications, and knowledge products produced by consortium members and country partners

Project Management & Coordination:

• Oversee work in Francophone countries (DRC and Senegal)


• Coordinate Project Management Team (PMT) activities including weekly meetings with PATH, ICWEA, and WHA leadership, ensuring effective communication and decision-making across consortium partners


• Support comprehensive implementation of project workplans across all four outputs, monitoring deliverables, timelines, and milestones to ensure project objectives are met within prescribed timeframes


• Ensure high-quality, compliant donor reporting—coordinating inputs and providing final technical and programmatic review.


• Provide high-level oversight and guidance to SPA-led administrative, coordination, and documentation functions—ensuring effective meeting support, information flow, compliance, and overall project operational continuity.


• Facilitate Program Steering Committee (PSC) coordination including meeting preparation, agenda development, and follow-up on action items and strategic recommendations


• Coordinate with the PADM and senior project assistant to track partner performance.


• Support risk management and mitigation strategies, working with the Project Director to identify and address potential challenges to project implementation


• Oversee project communication strategies and stakeholder engagement plans to ensure consistent technical messaging and strategic alignment across all project activities.

Country Implementation Support:

• Provide technical assistance and guidance to country teams on implementation of integrated EVT models, supporting adaptation of global guidance to local contexts and health system requirements


• Support coordination and strengthening of Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and Community Advisory Boards (CABs) in core-engagement and focused-activity countries


• Facilitate sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches across implementation sites, promoting continuous quality improvement and adaptive learning


• Support monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities, data collection, and performance assessment across project sites to inform adaptive management and evidence generation


• Assist in coordination of implementation science studies and research activities embedded within programmatic EVT delivery across core countries

Partnership & Stakeholder Coordination:

• Serve as primary day-to-day liaison with the donor, ensuring seamless communication, technical and strategic alignment, and coordination on project implementation.


• Coordinate strategic relationships and regular engagement with WHO headquarters and regional offices including PAHO & WHO


• Act as focal point for assigned countries and facilitate communication and coordination with country-level partners, including ministries of health, national technical working groups (TWGs), community advisory boards (CABs), and implementing organizations across all project countries


• Support senior staff in their engagement with external partners, donors and technical agencies.


• Coordinate with peer-learning countries and focal points to ensure effective knowledge sharing and capacity building opportunities

Deputizing Responsibilities:

• Represent the SAFEStart+ project and PATH at high-level meetings, conferences, and stakeholder events when the Project Director is unavailable, ensuring continuity of strategic engagement


• Provide comprehensive project updates and strategic briefings to senior management, UNITAID, and external stakeholders as required


• Serve as primary point of contact for urgent project matters and stakeholder communications when Project Director is not available

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Master's Degree in Public Health, International Development, or related field


• 3-5 years international health programming experience in LMICs including project coordination and/or partnership management experience


• Experience in HIV, STIs, viral hepatitis, and/or maternal/child health


• Experience in designing and implementing learning agendas, M&E frameworks, CQI and data use for action

Core Competencies:

• Partnership Management: Build effective relationships with diverse stakeholders


• Technical Capabilities and Communication: Lead on specific technical areas; translate complex concepts for different audiences


• Strategic Thinking: Understand objectives within global health context


• Quality Assurance: Commitment to maintaining high standards for technical products, project deliverables, and stakeholder communications


• Project Management and Coordination: Manage multiple priorities with attention to detail


• Adaptability: Flexibility in fast-paced, evolving environment


• Results Orientation: Focus on achieving project outcomes and impact

Essential Skills:

• Fluency in French and English (written and spoken)


• CQI and/or quantitative data analyses


• Strong technical writing and communication skills


• Effective stakeholder partnership management


• Project management and coordination capabilities

Preferred:

• 
  

  UNITAID program experience and policy knowledge