Health Technical Specialist

Job description

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith. Come join our 31,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories! Employee Contract Type: Local - Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term) Job Description: Purpose of the Position To Provide in-country technical direction and lead the implementation of FCI’s integrated service-delivery model in Eswatini, ensuring the country program is technically sound and aligned with the national health policies and guidelines and global technical strategy, standards, tools. Working closely with the Ministry of Health and its technical programs, the Technical Director and applies the FCI strategies, oversee technical implementation and quality across FBO facilities and community platforms, and represents FCI in national and sub-national technical forums. Responsibilities 1. Technical Implementation and Local Adaptation Provide overall technical direction for the FCI program, in liaison with the Project Director and the Global Technical Director. Implement in-country the technical strategy, standards, tools, protocols, and integrated service package adapted to the national context and guidelines. Oversee technical planning, implementation, and coordination of all technical program activities delivered through faith-based organizations (FBOs) and health facilities, delivering HIV and TB. Ensure the country program is technically sound and in line with both FCI technical policies and strategies and Ministry of Health policies, strategies, and guidelines, and responds to donor requirements, while promoting effective integration between government and faith-based service delivery systems. Provide technical leadership to ensure high-quality service delivery across government, and faith-based organizations (FBOs) health facilities, strengthening referral systems, continuity of care, and service quality from community to facility. 2. Government and Stakeholder Technical Relationships In close coordination with U.S Embassy’s work closely with the Ministry of Health’s national programs and HIV/AIDS & TB technical programs to align implementation with national strategies and guidelines. Manage technical relationships with MOH technical programs, Regional Health Management Teams (RHMTs), and sub-national health authorities. Maintain strong technical partnerships with faith-based organizations (FBOs) facilities and health providers, faith health association, and community health organizations supporting service delivery under FCI. Represent FCI in national and sub-national Technical Working Groups (TWGs), technical meetings, and conferences, and in partner and donor technical meetings as required. Support the Ministry of Health, faith-based organizations (FBOs) health, and other implementing partners in applying technical guidelines, operational plans, quality improvement approaches, and service delivery standards. Promote collaboration and technical integration between government health systems and faith-based health networks to strengthen referral systems, supervision, workforce development, supply chain integration, and health information systems. 3. Technical Quality, Capacity, and Learning Monitor regularly technical quality and overall program implementation against agreed targets and milestones, driving corrective action and continuous quality improvement across government and faith-based service delivery platforms. Build the technical capacity of staff, faith-based organizations (FBOs) health facility organizations, and other implementing partners through mentorship, supportive supervision, and training. Strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of faith-based health systems to deliver high-quality integrated HIV & TB, services and to serve as sustainable partners within national health systems. Provide technical support to the transition and absorption of activities into FBO / government systems, ensuring clinical and programmatic quality is maintained as facilities move toward government or faith-based ownership. Compile technical reports and, with the MEL Manager, use data to strengthen technical performance and document best practices. Feed country technical experience, innovations, and lessons learned from the project to support cross-country (South-to-South) learning. 4. Team and Work Planning Manage in-country technical personnel in line with the approved country’s structure, supporting recruitment, supervision, and professional development. Contribute technical inputs to country work plans, budgets, and proposals, collaborating with the Project Director and Finance and Grants Manager. Technical Competencies Organizational Awareness: Understands business operations and the mission, work and priorities of the organization. Applies understanding of the organization’s informal structure, culture and climate in achieving goals. Proficient Program Design and Implementation: Effectively design development and relief programs that transform communities in need. Understands how to acquire and integrate resources to support program design. Advanced Sector Knowledge: Understand current methodologies and standards associated with different sectors and effectively applies knowledge in designing, monitoring and evaluating programs. Advanced Funding Mechanisms Knowledge: Understands diverse funding mechanisms (e.g., cost proposals, fixed-price grants, etc.), how they operate, and the requirements for each, and applies knowledge in developing budgets. Proficient Managing Resources: Identifies appropriate people, facilities, tools and materials, time constraints, vendors, etc. for accomplishing goals. Considers potential costs and benefits of resources prior to allocating them. Proficient Coaching and Developing Others: Coach and mentor others effectively. Understands the performance evaluation process, how to give and receive feedback, how to find and set up developmental opportunities, and how adults learn. Advanced Knowledge Management: Effectively organizes and manages information resources so that current, critical knowledge is retained, and information can easily be disseminated. Develops feedback loops to ensure best practice information is captured. Advanced English Language Proficiency: The ability to speak, understand and write fluently in English. Proficient. Minimum Education/Experience Master’s degree required in, medicine, and related clinical/technical field; clinical qualification (MD) preferred. Minimum 8 years’ technical experience in integrated health programming (HIV, TB) in Eswatini or similar context, including experience implementing donor-funded programs, FBO and working with the Ministry of Health at national and sub-national levels. Demonstrated experience adapting technical guidelines and evidence-based models to the local context and representing the program in national Technical Working Groups. Familiarity with the national public health sector, RHMT structures, and faith-based/Christian Health Association networks. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; proficiency in the national/local language(s) strongly preferred. Working Environment/Conditions Country office environment with frequent in-country travel to implementation regions, health facilities, and community sites (typically up to 70–30% of the time). Applicant Types Accepted: Local Applicants Only