PATH is an international organization that drives transformative innovation to save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accelerate innovation across five platforms—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations—that harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health.
Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Program (MCHN) works to apply effective, innovative approaches to broadening access to and use of key maternal and child health and nutrition interventions that address the most pressing causes of maternal and child deaths, poor health, and poor nutritional status. PATH is committed to improving child health and development, focusing on interventions during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period and for children, especially in the first 2 years of life.
PATH seeks a District Health and Development Mentor for a 5-year maternal child health and development project. She/he will be responsible for providing technical guidance in the implementation of integrated Maternal, Child Health, Nutrition and community development interventions by district care providers. S/he will support an individual service providers and an inter sectoral team (governmental and non-governmental) of technical staff to ensure that district-level project deliverables are met in a manner that is consistent with the project’s vision and strategy. The DHDM will, under the guidance of the PATH District Project Manager and other regional technical staff will represent the project in district Health and Social Development program implementation forums and provide program targeted technical support within the districts. Based in Nkangala the District health and Development Mentor will report to the PATH District Project Manager.
Specific duties and Responsibilities:
- Act as the district technical assistance representative in the project’s work in maternal and child health and/or social development within the district and sub-districts.
- Provide specific and targeted training to district health and development staff, based on the agreed upon package of services for the district.
- Provide ongoing mentoring for district health and development staff in one-on-one and small group settings.
- Provide technical assistance to local NGOs and community based stakeholders.
- Assist in the establishment of an Integrated Primary Health and Development Forum to improve intersectoral planning and enhance quality improvement processes of service provision within the districts.
- Assist in conceptualizing and designing integrated Maternal, Child Health, Nutrition and community development interventions/strategies to be implemented by health workers, relevant public sector personnel and CBOs at the community, sub-district and district level.
- Together with the PATH District Project Manager (DPM), strengthen integrated management of district primary health and development activities and provide support and monitoring for their implementation.
- Work collaboratively with District Regional Training Centers and District Clinical specialist Teams (DCSTs) to build the capacity of CBOs, health workers and staff from across government ministries to provide high-quality, integrated services.
- Works collaboratively with district program implementation teams to develop and adapt program materials, including but not limited to training packages, communication tools, job aids, and assessment tools.
- Assist in district CBO partner selection by contributing to the technical components of request for proposals and reviewing NGO and CBO proposals for technical merit.
- Represent PATH in district and provincial MCHN forum’s, disseminating PATH program experiences, advocating for proven effective MCHN and Development models and approaches and sharing key lessons learnt and best practices.
- Ensure clear and timely reporting to, and communication with, the DPM and the South Africa Project Manager.
- Provide additional MCHN technical assistance as requested in the district with the support from her team leader.
- Ability to organize and prioritize work and to meet deadlines within a flexible, fast-paced environment with multiple and competing demands.
- Demonstrated ability to provide technical guidance for Maternal,Child Health, Nutrition and/or Community Development milestone-based projects.
- An ability to support system strengthening and improve service delivery for the local government, Health and Social Development structures.
- Enthusiasm for building the capacity of local groups and communities to respond to public health challenges.
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills with a demonstrated capacity to solve problems with energy, flexibility, attention to detail and a positive attitude.
- Strong English oral and written communication skills. Ability to communicate in the most common languages of the District.
- Willingness to travel regularly to other district project sites and to Johannesburg as needed.
Masters degree (or equivalent experience) in relevant discipline (e.g. Public Health, Social Sciences, Health Systems Management, Health Policy)minimum 5 years providing technical assistance in health and development projects in resource poor settings,demonstrated district based Health and Development program implementation experience,experience working with district and provincial health officials.
You must currently have legal authorization to work in South Africa.
PATH is dedicated to diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.
