Country Director at Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) is on a mission to create a world where no mother, child or family is devastated by HIV and AIDS. Join us on our fight for an AIDS-free generation.

Location: Lilongwe, Malawi

Reports To: Regional Director, Program Implementation & Country Management (PICM)

Department: Program Implementation & Country Management

Direct Reports: Director of Operations; Deputy Country Director/Technical Director; Director for Strategic Information & Evaluation; Director of Public Health, Research & Evaluation; Communications Specialist

Classification: Full-time

Position Overview

The Country Director (CD) will promote the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s mission of eliminating pediatric HIV/AIDS through its global strategic plan by leading and managing the country program strategy and team as well as the effective and efficient delivery and expansion of Foundation supported country programs and services in collaboration with local government, donors and other stakeholders in Malawi.

EGPAF supports delivery of lifesaving HIV prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services across 17 countries. In Malawi, EGPAF is a key partner to the MOH and has been a cornerstone of the national HIV Program for about 24 years. Currently, EGPAF implements two main CDC Projects – one on HIV prevention, care and treatment and the other one on Health Information Systems (HIS). EGPAF supports 9 of the 28 districts in Malawi.

The Country Director will lead representation of EGPAF in engagements with Government, Donors, Partners and other key stakeholders advancing health in Malawi. The CD will facilitate the continuous development, review and implementation of the Malawi Country Program ensuring the programs are creating and sustaining impact, strategically focused, and remain viable and competitive.

Position Responsibilities 

Serving on the EGPAF Global Leadership Team (GLT), the Country Director will collaborate with global support units to ensure that the following goals are achieved:

Foundation Representation – The CD will act as the primary Country’s spokesperson for the Foundation at all stakeholder levels and as EGPAF’s representative for internal and external communications. The CD will also be responsible for providing reports and proposals to all stakeholders.  He/she will advance advocacy and policy efforts in the country related to the Foundation’s mission at the national and local level so as to identify and influence decision makers in the area of pediatric HIV/AIDS policy and associated funding opportunities.

• Represent the Foundation in Malawi to the Government, the USG, other donors, NGOs, private companies, and relevant stakeholders.
• Serve as the Foundation’s principal liaison with USG and other donors on matters related to the program, and ensure financial and programmatic accountability. Work with key USG or other donor staff to develop and maintain an optimal financial and programmatic relationship.
• Responsible for leadership and compliance of all national legal requirements. Exercise close oversight of all legal issues impacting the country program, ensuring the best interests of the Foundation are fostered; keeps abreast of key legal developments, ensures a comprehensive annual review and work with the DO to ensure implementation of necessary changes.  Ensures that issues are elevated to the relevant Senior Leadership Team member in DC, as appropriate.
• Work in collaboration with the Global Communication, Advocacy and Development Team to advance advocacy and policy efforts in the country related to the Foundation’s mission at the national and local level.
• Work with stakeholders and partners to support national guidelines, standards, policies, and procedures related to our programs, with the focus on eliminating pediatric HIV/AIDS.
• Develop and enhance sound relationships and communication between the country office and EGPAF US based offices, other EGPAF Africa country offices, local and international stakeholders related to our program efforts.

Team Leadership – Developing a cohesive and productive team, creating goals, communicating direction, utilizing creative thinking, and demonstrating good judgment and decision making. Being a strong example to others through a productive work environment and supporting ongoing development of staff; working in close collaboration with global support units. Provide effective and efficient management and supervision of the country team to ensure that it functions as a dynamic, motivated and high performing teams with strong cross functional collaborations within the organization and across stakeholders.

• Ensure effective collaboration and partnering between country and global support teams.
• Ensure that strong, effective, and collaborative communications exist between the Programs and Operations teams.
• Lead continuous review of work force planning and team designs, functionalities and accountabilities to support the ongoing projects, program execution and evolution
• Develop and implement a long-term strategy for the Foundation’s work in Malawi.
• Provide effective and efficient management and supervision of all direct and indirect reports and oversee the maintenance and functioning of a strong and effective team.
• Develop mechanisms to build the leadership and management capacity of the senior leadership team and mid-level managers.
• Oversee development of staff supervision and recruitment systems, as well as staff development, training, mentoring, and performance assessment.

Program and Technical Support – Understanding programmatic and technical aspects of program needs and with the country and global teams appropriately applying procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies ensuring technical goals are attained and programmatic commitments to donors and partners are met.

• Supervise the technical team unit heads (Programs, SI&E, Research, Health Information Systems) and ensure that the program meets appropriate quality standards targets and deliverables outlined in the cooperative agreement and satisfies other program commitments for service implementation, M&E, policy/advocacy, and research.
• Ensure planning, execution and ongoing monitoring of quality program implementation plans and achievement of program targets consistent with donor and MOH expectations, country work plan, country strategic plan and global strategic plan.
• Ensure the preparation and implementation of the agreement work plans, country program strategic and operational plans for programs/services in keeping with the overall goals and objectives of the Foundation and the MOH in Malawi.
• Responsible for timely and effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on all program activities and progress to the MOH, Donors and the Foundation Leadership as appropriate.
• Facilitate staff development of innovative ideas and solutions to address program and country needs related to Foundation’s mission.

Operations Management – Supervising the Director of Operations to ensure that the program‘s corporate services support achieving foundation, project and program deliverables in compliance with Foundation, Donor and Local legislation requirements. Ensures that foundations financial, grants, logistics, procurement, IT, audit and compliance teams are efficiently and effectively supporting program services and compliance.

• Oversee program implementation, operations and reporting, ensuring compliance with Foundation policies, USG rules and regulations, donor agreements, MOH policies, and Malawi.
• Oversee management of program and operational budgets in accordance with the Foundation’s procedures, submitting timely reports along with all supporting data, and be directly responsive to the Controller and Chief Operating Officer on all fiscal matters.
• Ensure that the program’s human and financial resources are managed in line with the EGPAF policies, donor requirements and national policies/laws.

New Business Development – Maintaining and securing mid- to long-term funding for the country program by actively seeking diversified international and local sources of funding in view of identified country program needs and/or local requests related to the Foundation’s mission.

• Work in collaboration with the New Business Development support team and the Development unit to identify and develop relationships and initiatives to secure additional and longer-term funding from international and local sources.
• Interface with the national government and relevant agencies to ensure mutual understanding of programs and optimize resource distribution and the allocation of available funds.
• Oversee the preparation of annual country operating plans, country reviews, strategic and business plans and proposals to other funders as appropriate.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher education (MD, MPH, MBA, MSc, MA, PHD).
• 8+ years successful leadership experience managing complex multi-sector programs/ organizations – preferably in Malawi
• Preferably at least 5 years in Health / HIV / PEPFAR programs
• Experience in health information systems (HIS) project management will be an added advantage
• Familiarity and experience with the Malawi health systems
• Proven track record of supporting, working and providing technical assistance to governments to design, implement and monitor HIV programs;
• 5+ years of experience in managing US government grants and/or cooperative agreements; other international donor experiences an advantage.
• 5+ years of experience in leading and managing staff, including recruitment, staff development, training, mentoring, and performance assessment.
• Strong proficiency in written and spoken English
• Demonstrated financial management experience, including the preparation and management of budgets and contracts, and the management of banking activities and relationships
• Demonstrated experience in leading organizations/ program compliance with donor, government and organizational policies including the adherence to procurement procedures.
• Proven experience in networking, public relations, communications, advocacy
• Proven success in new business development
• Knowledge of principles and practices governing CDC, USAID, and/or other US Federal grant programs.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally up to 30%.