New York: Chief Program Officer, International Trachoma Initiative

International Trachoma Initiative
Chief Program Officer

Founded in 1998 by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and Pfizer Inc., the International Trachoma Initiative builds on growing international momentum to support the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating blinding trachoma as a public health concern by 2020. Working in countries where the World Health Organization (WHO) has documented widespread disease, ITI catalyzes partnerships among international agencies and governmental and nongovernmental organizations to achieve elimination by promoting and supporting national governments to plan, implement and monitor sustainable trachoma control programs in endemic communities.

Position Title: Chief Program Officer
Position Type: Full- Time (Interim)
Salary: TBD

JOB SUMMARY:

The Chief Program Officer is responsible for program planning, implementation, and monitoring & evaluation.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Ensures the implementation of the program components of the ITI strategic plan 2006-2010.
• Translating the SAFE framework and overall ITI strategy into actionable programs at the country level that include criteria for monitoring, evaluation and research.
• Ensuring effective coordination of program implementation and evaluation throughout the organization.
• Providing monitoring and evaluation services for trachoma control efforts.
• Manages ITI Program Staff in NY (Director, Programs & Logistics, NTD Project Manager, Director, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Program Associate).
• Advocates on behalf of ITI’s mission at national and international meetings and conferences related to trachoma control and ensures proper dissemination of findings on trachoma control there.
• Ensures program activity is carried out within budget.
• Responsible for the research grant from the Gates Foundation.
• Reports to Interim President.


COMPLIANCE, MONITORING AND EVALUATION

• Designs and develops methods, guidelines and work plans for monitoring and evaluating trachoma and NTD control programs using data assessments, analysis and collection activities.
• Works with ITI staff and partners to formulate country and program specific plans for evaluation. Assists technically in the design, implementation and analysis of prevalent surveys to estimate the burden of trachoma. Assists in development of national program staff capacity. Establishes appropriate metrics to measure country performance against targets and monitors performance against these metrics.
• Ensures program reviews (annual, mid-term and end-of-cycle) are done in timely manner.
• Reviews existing country programs to ensure compliance with ITI strategy.
• Ensures WHO country data is validated for base line program planning.
• Supervises the timely and appropriate administration of grants, program monitoring and recording in collaboration with the CAO and ITI staff.
• Develops monitoring and evaluation systems and supervises their implementation; ensures the timely production of reports.


QUALIFICATIONS:
• Advanced degree in Public Health, Surveillance or Assessment; MD/PhD in Epidemiology a plus.
• 5 or more years experience in public/private collaboration.
• Field experience in developing countries.
• Relevant work experience in nonprofits.
• Trachoma expertise.
• Bi-lingual (Fluent French preferred).
• Strong computer proficiency including MS Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint.
• Win/win negotiation, conflict resolution and consensus building skills. Strategic thinking skills.
• Creative problem solving and trouble shooting skills.
• Excellent international development program management and execution (planning, organizing and follow through) with staff and within budget and deadlines.
• Ability to set priorities and handle multiple tasks.
• Proven written and oral communication, active listening and presentation skills.
• Rapport building and interpersonal relationship skills with:
- ITI staff members, Board and TEC.
- Government officials such as Ministries of Health and Finance.
- Donors (e.g., Gates Foundation, US AID).
- NGO’s providing trachoma service delivery (e.g., Carter Foundation, Helen Keller Institute).
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 30% of time.


HOW TO APPLY:
Interested Candidates should send their resumes and cover letter with salary history to resumes@trachoma.org for immediate consideration.