Senior Country Program Liaison Officer, A2Z Project
Washington, D.C.

Scope of the Position(s):

This position is primarily devoted to support HKI country programs that are funded through A2Z. The Academy for Educational Development (AED) is the primary contractor for this project. This position will assume responsibility for the following tasks related to managing HKI country program activities with respect to field office operational, administrative, fiscal, and personnel processes in the countries of Cambodia (vitamin A supplementation), Guinea (salt iodization), Philippines (vitamin A supplementation and national advocacy) and Tanzania (vitamin A supplementation, introduction of zinc and Essential Nutrition Actions), and others under the direction of the A2Z Director for Country Programs.

Project Summary:

A2Z is USAID’s Micronutrient and Child Blindness project. A2Z’s mandate is to implement and strengthen micronutrient programs to improve the nutrition and health of vulnerable populations. The A2Z project’s mission is to: 1) address micronutrient deficiencies by providing technical assistance to strengthen country and regional programs; 2) enhance USAID’s global technical leadership for micronutrients, and 3) support organizations working to prevent childhood blindness.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop annual work plans and budgets for HKI activities, with an emphasis on results that contribute to A2Z Project results, in collaboration with the Country Programs Director and Senior Officer for Finance and Administration.
• Draft Scope of Work and deliverables for HKI task orders associated with each work plan.
• Monitor technical aspects of HKI activities to ensure consistency with project work plans.
• With financial staff of HKI, monitor budget expenditures of HKI work plans ensuring consistency with original plans and allowing for smooth transition across financial years especially in regard to the tracking of accruals to accurately reflect expenditures and pipelines in collaboration with HKI/HQ.
• Coordinate the approvals and implementation of activities listed within the task order and work plan.
• Ensure that operations in HKI activities adhere to AED and USAID policies and regulations under the Project’s Cooperative Agreement.
• Conduct monitoring visits to country programs to ensure appropriate and timely expenditures and reporting, budgetary, administrative, and operational efficiency.
• Anticipate the program’s operational needs, alerting the relevant A2Z and HKI staff to those needs, and proposing and carrying out a specific course of action.
• Take leadership in problem-solving to facilitate timely planning and implementation.
• Assist HKI’s field staff with budgets, drafting and editing quarterly and annual reports, and scopes of work for programmatic/technical visits and deliverables with an emphasis on results reporting, based on A2Z Project’s requirements and formats.
• Monitor and review assigned HKI activity budgets and report the information in relevant reporting formats for submission to A2Z Senior Management.
• Act as the first point of contact for field-based HKI staff assigned to A2Z on administrative, operational, and personnel issues; ensuring that field office concerns are addressed and work with other project staff to bring about efficient resolution of issues.
• Act as the chief advocate for HKI country activities and staff assigned to A2Z.
• Attend A2Z/HQ weekly country program meetings and other relevant country program meetings and present progress made and issues/concerns that need attention.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities in consultation with the Global Technical Leadership team and under the direction of the Technical Director:

• Participate on behalf of the project and/or USAID in appropriate technical meetings and conferences
• Perform other functions as requested by the Technical Director

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree, preferably aMasters in one of the following or related fields: International Health, Maternal/Child Health, Nutrition and Public Health, or any related international development topic
• Knowledge of HKI administrative and operational procedures
• Experience with HKI country programs implementation
• At least 5-6 years of relevant experience desirable with at least 3 years in a management/leadership position
• Experience with nutrition, public health, maternal health or child survival programs in multiple developing countries preferred
• Thorough knowledge of, and at least five (5) years experience working with USAID rules and regulations
• At least a general knowledge of technical areas and where to obtain state of the art information, tools and materials needed for program implementation
• Ability to initiate and implement activities with minimal oversight and supervision, assess priorities, and competently complete a variety of activities with a high level of accuracy and timeliness
• Demonstrated excellent leadership and management skills
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills combined with problem-solving skills.
• Ability to apply technical information for use in field implementation, program design and policy making.
• High degree of computer literacy with excellent knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software applications required (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, other)
• Ability to travel domestically or internationally approximately 20% time
• Previous experience within and outside of U.S. highly desirable

How to Apply:

• Qualified candidates should send a cover letter and resume by e-mail, including salary history and salary expectations, and noting “A2Z CPM” in the subject line, to: hkihr@hki.org, or by mail to: “A2Z CPM Search; Helen Keller International; 352 Park Avenue South, 12 th Floor; New York, NY 10010. Application deadline: until position is filled.
• All external applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S.
• Due to the volume of applications received, only short-listed candidates will be notified.
• No phone calls; no agencies/recruiters.

Additional Information:

• HKI is an international non-governmental organization that provides technical assistance. Our mission is to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. We combat the causes and consequences of blindness and malnutrition by establishing programs based on evidence and research in vision, health, and nutrition.
• HKI offers salary and benefits competitive with other international NGOs.
• HKI is an Equal Opportunity Employer