Deputy Director/Technical Director, Propel Youth at PATH

Reporting to the Project Director, the Deputy Director/Technical Director will serve as the technical lead for the project, providing technical direction based on meaningful engagement of and collaboration with project partners and youth stakeholders, up to date research and evidence, and monitoring PROPEL Youth project results. The Deputy Director/Technical Director will be responsible for providing overall strategic direction and technical leadership in project technical focus areas. They will work collaboratively with USAID technical teams and relevant global, regional, and country actors to advance and inform policy dialogue and facilitate the uptake of state-of-the-art technical approaches within country programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead on identifying and pursuing opportunities to apply existing evidence and high impact practices to improve FP/RH policy, advocacy, financing, and governance for youth-focused FP/RH in priority countries.
• Lead strategic planning and reporting for the project.
• Identify technical capacity building needs among project partners; develop and execute appropriate and effective capacity building plans.
• Enhance and sustain relationships with key stakeholders for youth-focused FP/RH, including FP2030, WHO, UNFPA, and regional and country-based youth networks.
• Represent the Project, as appropriate, through participation in technical advisory groups, steering committees, at conferences and other formats.
• Work with country staff, the Project Director, and partner colleagues to secure field support from USAID Missions and leverage partner funds, as appropriate, to maximize PROPEL Youth’s capacity to respond to country-level needs.

Required Skills & Experience

• Masters or other advanced degree (PhD, MD) in public health or another relevant field.
• At least 7 years’ experience working internationally in the technical area for the position (FP/RH, HIV/AIDS, or MCH).
• Technical knowledge of policy, advocacy, financing, and governance (PAFG) approaches.
• Technical knowledge of youth-focused approaches, including positive youth development and meaningful youth engagement.
• Proven senior expertise in developing and implementing effective partnerships with partners, government entities, and donors.
• Knowledge and proven experience in technical leadership, strategy development, and staff oversight.
• Demonstrated leadership, management, coordination, teamwork, and planning skills, with proven ability to liaise effectively with and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including global, regional, national, local, public, and private partners.
• Strong interpersonal and capacity building skills including training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Experience working on global USAID-funded FP/RH projects is desirable.
• Extensive family planning program experience in low and low- and middle-income countries working with ministries of health, civil society, NGOs, donors, and other partners in using evidence to inform policy, program and/or practice development or improvement.
• Proven ability to network and collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and to build collaborative relationships with donors, host-country governments, and local and international health and development implementers, including youth-led organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in effectively engaging partners and managing multi-partner consortia.
• Strong project and personnel management skills.
• Experience using research findings and evidence to affect positive change in family planning programming, policy and/or practice in one or more low- and lower-middle income countries.
• Demonstrated skills in translating research data and findings into policy briefs to inform governments, stakeholders, and non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to work independently and virtually, and to track timelines and deliverables with minimal guidance.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work successfully in a multi-site, culturally diverse, team-based organizational structure.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Experience working on gender, equity, rights, and accountability desired.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to interact professionally in French, Portuguese and/or Spanish an advantage.
• Available to travel nationally and internationally up to 25%