Overview of Role :
NTDs, including schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, soil-transmitted helminths, lymphatic filariasis and trachoma, affect more than one billion people worldwide, disproportionately impacting children and the world’s poorest populations. Preventative Chemotherapy (PC) NTDs can be prevented and treated with existing medicines and tools, and countries are aiming to eliminate these diseases by 2030. To achieve this goal while operating under significant resource constraints, national NTD programs need to make data-informed decisions to improve strategic planning, mobilize and make efficient use of increasingly limited resources, and inform the targeting and implementation of prevention and treatment campaigns for NTDs. CHAI will work directly with government NTD programs and local partners in five focus countries to build sustainable access to and local ownership of high-quality information across the health system and help NTD programs routinely use data and analytics to control and eliminate targeted NTDs.

CHAI is seeking a highly motivated and mission-driven Senior Program Officer to drive success of this initiative in the three francophone focus countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, and Senegal), communicating and executing against a coherent vision across countries. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to be part of an exciting initiative that leverages both cutting-edge analytics and routine health systems data to eliminate PC-NTDs.

The Senior Program Officer will have a deep personal commitment to producing results and be able to work independently to drive implementation. They must be a highly motivated, entrepreneurial individual with excellent project management, problem-solving, organizational, relationship management and communication skills. They must exhibit the capacity to facilitate operational and strategic discussions with a multi-cultural, multidisciplinary set of actors, and a willingness to provide support to different tasks. The Senior Program Officer will join an entrepreneurial and close-knit team who are committed to combatting the global burden of NTDs.

CHAI places great value on the following qualities in its staff: resourcefulness, responsibility, patience, tenacity, humility, independence, energy, and work ethic.

Responsibilities :
Contribute strategic vision and thought leadership for how NTD analytics and surveillance can be strengthened in the countries and regions where CHAI works
Serve as a focal point person and mentor to CHAI’s regional and country teams working with national NTD programs
Support CHAI regional and country teams to develop and drive the NTD technical strategy and shape a sound technical approach across countries in francophone West and Central Africa
Support CHAI’s global and country teams to proactively monitor and manage project execution (planning, implementation, and dissemination) to ensure that expected deliverables and targets are achieved on time and within budget
Review and provide feedback on products and documents produced by CHAI team members (country and GMAL), including strategic plans, budgets, guidelines and standard operating procedures, analysis and implementation updates, and/or communications with partners
Contribute to development of project donor reports, including supporting coordination of regular donor updates, soliciting inputs from relevant teams and ensuring adherence to reporting timelines
Lead knowledge management for team documents including workplans, scoping materials and internal and external reports
Ensure project compliance with all administrative, financial, and contractual requirements
Review and provide input to the budgeting process, including review of expenditures and decisions on reallocating funds
Represent CHAI at external technical meetings with international and local academic and technical partners
Other responsibilities as needed

Qualifications :
Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Business Administration, or related field
Minimum of 3 years of professional work experience
Experience in planning and project implementation
Ability to work independently without extensive structural or operational support
Demonstrated ability to learn quickly
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with strong spoken and written French and English
Exceptional attention to detail
High levels of proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPointAbility to be effective, calm, and flexible in high-pressure situations
Ability to adapt to new environments and challenges
Ability to travel up to 50% of the year

Advantages :
Master’s degree in Public Health, Business Administration or related field
Knowledge of neglected tropical diseases, and understanding of disease surveillance with knowledge of global health issues
Experience working in management consulting, investment banking, or similar fast-paced, output-oriented environments
Experience living or working in francophone Africa