Program Director – Frontier Health Markets Engage

Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.

We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.

Opportunity

Results for Development (R4D) is seeking a highly motivated and dynamic Program Director to join our Mixed Health Systems Practice, to support USAID supported FHM Engage project core workstreams. In a mixed health care system, the public sector operates side by side with a large, varied group of private sector providers, products, and services. Our Mixed Health System Practice improves the functioning of local health markets and supports the effective engagement and systemic inclusion of the private sector to advance voluntary family planning, maternal, newborn, and child health, malaria, TB, and HIV/AIDS outcomes. We optimize engagement between public and private market actors through a market development approach (MDA) that addresses the root causes of market inefficiencies that limit the ability of the private sector to deliver quality, affordable and appropriate health information, products, and services to a range of clients across different market segments. These root causes are often associated with the financing, regulation, and supporting functions of health markets and could be improved by interventions aimed at increased access to financing, balanced application and enforcement of health policy, increased availability and use of health market data, improved donor coordination, and broader platforms for systematic engagement between governments and private sector organizations. We also believe that by effectively stewarding market actors in mixed health systems, countries can level the playing field for both public and private sectors and innovators, increasing equity in access and quality of services and products across both sectors.

Background

Frontier Health Markets Engage (FHM Engage) is a USAID global cooperative agreement to provide technical assistance (TA,) supporting local actors to improve the ability of health markets to meet supply-side capacity gaps and consumer preferences, contributing to equitable provision of and access to high-quality family planning (FP) and other health services and products in mixed health systems. The Program Director will be responsible for the technical implementation of a suite of core and field support activities, ensuring all phases of FHM’s technical approach – diagnose, co-design, deliver, and iteratively adapt – are implemented in accordance with FHM’s MDA approach. This position provides mentoring, coaching, and technical support to local non-profit organizations and local market actors in activity design and implementation with a focus on private sector approaches and health outcomes in family planning and maternal health.

This position can be based in Nairobi, Accra, Dar Es Salaam or an established R4D country office, depending on the suitability of the candidate, and will report to the Managing Director.

Only candidates with valid work authorization in one of the designated R4D country offices (Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana) may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Lead activities under FHM-Engage core funding in Africa and Asia, specifically: finalization of global products and tools; operationalize Market Development Approach, market facilitation, stewardship under MDA, rules, and regulations, and health financing.
• Propose and lead the market research and landscaping process developing useful market and consumer insights to data driven decision making by FHM Engage
• Work with the MEAL team to propose and track metrics to measure the effectiveness of FHM Engage market development intervention around private sector engagement.
• Plan and execute high-quality and effective market development workshops, technical meetings, and stakeholder consultations
• Supervise and mentor junior FHM-Engage team members
• Support project teams in implementing technical support for FHM-Engage buy-in countries, specifically Nigeria, Tanzania, and Madagascar.
• Catalyse engagements with local and international private-sector actors, civil society, social entrepreneurs, governments, development agencies, and host-country governments to develop a common vision for priority health problems, co-design local solutions, build the resilience of local partner institutions, and build health market systems that can respond to future challenges.
• Ensures project activities are consistent with established evidence-informed good practice; and effective approaches and tools to implement these practices
• Supports technical work in topic area including analysis and publication of technical reports, case studies, agreed-on deliverables, and technical tools on topics related to health market development and private sector engagement
• Supports the development of work plan and implementation of assigned core activities, including strategy development, implementation planning, and technical direction of activities
• Supports identification and recruitment of individuals with technical expertise who may be available for short- and long-term assignments.
• Works closely with R4D Senior Fellows who provide inputs to program.
• Ensures that all activities are undertaken in full compliance with standard operating procedures, USAID policies and regulations, and national policies and laws.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate for this position will be a highly motivated individual with demonstrated experience in working with the private sector, especially private sector providers and social entrepreneurs. Knowledge and understanding of building the capacity of private providers to expand their business in response to new market opportunities would be an asset.

Qualifications include:

• Advanced Degree in public health, health economics, business administration, health policy, or a related social science field.
• At least 10 years of experience in international health programming, primarily focused on the private sector in health; minimum of 5 years of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience in public-private engagement in health, supporting mixed health systems and health markets, market shaping or market dynamics, or implementing market-based approaches specifically in the areas of family planning, MNCH, and other priority health areas.
• Experience leading USAID projects in multiple countries and interfacing with USAID missions.
• Strong interpersonal skills; and demonstrated capacity in working collaboratively with teams from all backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong organizational skills, and a capacity to handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines;
• Excellent communication, writing and data analysis skills, including fluency in both verbal and written English; proficiency in French preferred but not required.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally up to 40% (3-5 trips per year)