Provincial Program Manager

Organization Background

JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) is an international organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. JSI works extensively with national and local governments, NGOs, the private sector, and traditional leaders to expand access to services for vulnerable populations. JSI is committed to improving the health of underserved populations through innovative approaches in a range of public health areas, including maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, technical and organizational capacity building, supply chain strengthening, strategic information management, health systems management, and policy development.

The Laos Maternal Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) is a five-year USAID-funded project with the aim of building upon previous USAID and Government of Laos investments to improve priority maternal and child health and nutrition outcomes in the most underserved populations in targeted areas of Laos. This will be achieved through health systems strengthening approach to ensure equitable access to and the quality of maternal, child health, and nutrition services.

Position: Provincial Program Manager

Reports to: Deputy Chief of Party

Location: Phongsaly Province

Job Summary

The Provincial Program Manager is a full-time staff position with the MCHN project. S/he will be the project’s provincial representative and provide overall direction in both technical and operational matters for all project activities conducted in the target province toward meeting the MCHNs goals. S/he is expected to provide technical guidance to the provincial technical team to ensure the use of high-impact, evidence-based MCHN interventions; and have oversight for all administrative and financial reporting. The provincial manager will work in partnership with the Provincial Health Department, grantees, and other key partner organizations. S/he will have the responsibility to integrate new knowledge into ongoing program activities and disseminate new knowledge to project staff and partner organizations. The Provincial Manager will work closely with the Deputy Chief of Party, the Provincial Finance and Admin, Technical, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning teams to coordinate work plans and reports. The Provincial Program Manager will report directly to the Deputy Chief of Party.

Responsibilities & Duties

Program Implementation, monitoring, and reporting
• Leads and manages the provincial project team to ensure the quality of activities conducted in accordance with approved work plans in the target province;

• Ensures provision of policy and technical support and targeted capacity-building interventions in coordination with the project technical team, provincial and district health offices, and key community partners;

• Assists in identifying, documenting, and disseminating best practices in MCHN.

• Integrates new knowledge into ongoing program activities and disseminates new knowledge to project staff and partner organizations;

• Monitors quality of implementation, building staff capacity as needed;

• Ensures implementation is in accordance with JSI’s Standard Operating Procedures;

• Contribute to the semiannual and annual reports to the donor;

• Responsible to project implementation progress report required by the MOU, partners, and local authorities under their respective provinces;

• Travels at least 30% of his/her time to oversee project activities.

Representation and Networking

• Establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with – provincial and district government authorities, partner agencies, and local and NPAs;

• Establishes and maintains successful relationships with district and provincial partners and stakeholders, and project grantees;

• Interacts regularly with the INGO community to ensure awareness of the MCHN project and to collect up-to-date information about the plans and programs of other actors;

• Represents the project with various partners at the district and provincial levels;

• Leads MCHN Project Management Team Meetings at the provincial level and participates in project management team meetings at central levels.

Budget Planning, expenditure monitoring, and financial reporting

• Provides oversight and makes sure regular technical and financial reports are submitted to the central office and contributes to the Project’s annual report;

• Approves budget advance, requests for both partners and staff within the scheme of delegation, or certifies and escalates to the central level;

• Approves revised/budget phasing or reforecast every quarter for provincial level.

Personnel management

• In cooperation with the deputy chief of Party and HR team, recruit staff for all positions related to his/her responsible province;

• Ensures that staffs clearly understand their roles and responsibilities. On the basis of their job descriptions, monitor staff performance and provide constructive feedback in line with JSI Policy;

• Supervises the provincial Finance and Operations Manager, MCHN provincial Technical Lead and Child Health and Reproductive and Maternal Health officers, SBC officer, and M&E Officer.

• Lead project annual work planning and budgeting with key partners in coordination with the central project team.

• Ensure that in your line of duty, you are aware of child safeguarding principles and guidelines and apply it in your day-to-day roles as you interact with communities and children;

Desired Qualifications

• Minimum: Bachelors-level education/training or equivalent experience in primary health care, public health, or related technical fields.

• At least five years of experience managing MCHN projects at the provincial level, with experience in working with local partners (Mass Organizations, NPAs) preferred.

• Experienced financial project management

• Strong organizational skills are highly desirable, as is a thorough knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Access).

• Strong English communication and interpersonal skills.

JSI is an Equal Opportunity; Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color,  national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender,  disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, HIV status, or protected veteran status in any employment decisions. M/F/V/D

JSI is a child-safe organization, and the safety and well-being of children are a priority of our organization. We have robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff is suited to work with the children served by our programs. A criminal record check will be undertaken for successful applicants.