Program Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the ICAP Country Director and secondarily to the ICAP Deputy Director at the Implementation Unit, the Program Specialistworks within a country office and provides project management and operational support for one or more ICAP country offices in support of donor funded program activities. The Program Specialist works with senior staff in the country program to ensure compliance with donor/sponsor requirements and to facilitate communication with donors/sponsors and ICAP New York (NY) staff. S/he assists in-country senior staff in the management of country office operations, including support in general financial and operational management, as well as with program planning and documentation of program achievements and reporting. S/he coordinates the interaction between the ICAP NY staff and in-country counterparts; ensures that in-country program/technical and financial/administrative staff have information required to facilitate both project-related decision-making and ICAP's ability to meet donor/sponsor requirements and expectations. The Program Specialist supports in-country staff to develop programmatic and financial reports that are of high quality and are prepared in a manner that meets donor/sponsor requirements.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES

• In collaboration with in-country leadership, supports and contributes in the strategic planning and work plan development and monitoring process for ICAP country programs, including participation in country program meetings and retreats
• Supports the development and implementation of management systems for country projects to achieve financial, administrative and programmatic goals and targets, including planning and monitoring program implementation and program budgets/expenditures
• Works closely withcountry staff and ICAP NY teams in the development of award budgets, including budget modifications
• Supports development and submission of required grant-related actions, including requests for prior approval for procurement of equipment, consultants and subagreements to ensure they meet donor and ICAP/CU requirements.
• Facilitate the management of sub-agreements with relevant country staff and NY Sub-award Managers
• Facilitates communication between NY-based ICAP leadership and counterparts incountry programs via regular phone conferences and/or face-to-face meetings. Maintainsregular communications with NY via e-mail or telephone to identify and discuss programissues, challenges, and solutions to the implementation of program activities
• Facilitates information flow between technical/program and finance/administrative staffin-country to ensure country operations support program and donor requirements, and arein compliance with ICAP SOP
• Secondary point of contact for communications with CDC, participation in meetings with CDC
• Support the country director by coordinating communication strategy and planning on provincial level programs with the role of adapting activities and programs to fit the needs of supported provinces and its implementing structure.
• Supports new business development by assisting in the development of proposals in response to requests for applications (RFAs)
• Facilitates the translation of program documents from English to French and vice versa as needed
• Performs other related duties

EDUCATION

• Master’s Degree in Public Health or related discipline

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree in Public Health or related discipline
• Minimum three (3) years of experience working in public health program development, implementation and monitoring of international health programs, preferably in program areas directly related to HIV, malaria or tuberculosis control and prevention programs. Experience in-country positions preferred.
• Direct experience in budgeting, financial management, operations and logistics associated with donor/sponsor-supported international public health programs.
• Specific experience working with U.S. government (USG)-funded public health programs supported through grants, cooperative agreements and/or contracts (e.g., CDC, USAID) and working knowledge of USG rules and regulations.
• Excellent oral/written communications, interpersonal, organizational, and computer skills
• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills; interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated experience operating in highly complex business environments; and advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office suite.
• Demonstrated experience working in a team-based environment, in exercising independent judgment and decision making and working with minimum supervision and direction within broad established guidelines.
• Competency and demonstrated experience in public speaking in order to present information to audiences of all sizes representing varied levels of technical expertise.
• Oral and written foreign language proficiency in English and French required

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior supervisory and/or management experience within an international assistance organization

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Requires two to four trips annually to ICAP NY headquarters with each trip lasting seven (7) to fourteen (14) days
• Requires periodic travel within country or the immediate region with some trips requiring overnight stays.

To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to: icap-jobs-DRC@columbia.edu not later than Friday, 04 March 2016. Please indicate “ Program Specialist ” in the subject line.