APHRC- Head of International Programs

Head of International Programs

About APHRC

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is an international not-for-profit organization headquartered in Kenya with a regional office in Dakar, Senegal. The continent’s premier research and policy organization, generating evidence to drive policy action to improve the health and wellbeing of African people.

As a progressive African-led global research center invested in creating legacy impact, our work is centered in three integrated programs: research, research capacity strengthening and policy engagement & communications. To achieve our strategic objectives, we have, among several other initiatives, taken an explicit focus on strengthening the R&D ecosystem in Africa to ensure that the system in which we operate is enabling for everyone across the Evidence-Informed Decision Making

(EIDM) spectrum. To expand our geographical reach beyond the current 35 countries in which we have active projects, we are implementing a partnership model that entails formalized relationships with individuals and institutions in different countries. We have diverse partners, some of whom include policy actors, academic/research institutions, funders, Government entities, regional bodies, multi-laterals, civil society organizations, policy and & advocacy organizations and communities among others.

RESEARCH

Our teams orient their research agendas to global and continental development priorities bringing independent evidence to the forefront of decisions supporting improved growth and development in the region. The Center’s research priorities fall into four program themes: Human Development, Health and Well-Being, Population

Dynamics and Urbanization in Africa and, Data Science and Evaluation. Anchoring the six is our Data, Measurement and Evaluation Unit providing internal support for robust data systems and outward looking technical assistance in program evaluation and data use.

About APHRC

RESEARCH AND RELATED CAPACITY STRENGTHENING

Through strategic partnerships, the Center strives to nurture African research leadership by building a critical mass of researchers to meaningfully engage with policy actors in developing, reviewing and implementing policies and programs relevant to the continent’s development.

POLICY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

The Center builds relationships with key decision-making bodies at the national, regional and global levels to encompass engagements with government and non-government entities, as well as academic, advocacy and research institutions: all in service to our agenda of ensuring contextual, relevant and localized knowledge as a driver of change. Our goal is to become a continental model for robust, policy-oriented, rigorous research that emphasizes synergy and collaboration.

The Role

ROLE

Head of International Programs

LOCATION

Nairobi, Kenya

REPORTS TO Director of Programs

Job Summary

This role is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Center’s partnership model and operations in the Center’s offices outside its Headquarters; facilitating entry and seamless program implementation in line with the different regulatory regimes in countries where APHRC has or intends to implement projects.

Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee APHRC international program agenda including leading priority-setting processes.

• Develop and execute strategies for strengthening collaboration between programs in different countries, regional office(s) and HQ.

• Develop and roll out the APHRC Partnership model in the short term. Review and develop new models for ensuring APHRC achieves its objectives for geographic reach in a strategic manner in the medium-long term.

• Ensure monitoring, evaluation, and learning occur in relationship to the Center’s higher strategic goals on geographic reach. Refine and implement the internationalisation strategy for APHRC.

• Identify and pursue opportunities for strategic program growth in selected countries in collaboration with relevant theme/unit/program leads.

• Develop, disseminate, and ensure implementation of standard operating procedures for entry into countries such as field operations, hiring, community and public engagement by program teams operating in different countries.

• Coordinate legal and regulatory compliance in countries where APHRC is implementing projects including documentation and knowledge management.

• Ensure harmonized and standardized systems and processes across programs in different countries.

• Develop and maintain databases for partners in multiple countries drawing on the Center’s networks in various programmatic areas and liaise with the Knowledge Management function to document partner performance to guide future decisions on their engagement.

• Liaise with the RRCS Program to develop and implement capacity strengthening strategies for partners and individuals in different countries.

• Liaise with all programmatic Divisions to actively develop and maintain partnerships with potential donors and funding partners in priority countries.

• Support strategic partners in different countries to identify and pursue joint funding opportunities with APHRC themes/units/programs.

• Develop and submit internal reports on the status, progress, and outcomes of the International Programs Unit.

• Oversee performance management of country/regional office heads and liaison officers.

• Develop and execute strategies for strengthening collaboration between regional office programs and HQ.

• Represent the Center in high level forums at national, regional and global levels on matters related to its priority areas.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Coordinate the identification of priority needs of Country/ Regional programs/offices for staffing, equipment, training to be incorporated in the Center’s annual budgets.

• Monitor with support from the finance unit, the financial performance of the Country/Regional programs/offices, identifying and following up areas of improvement.

• Ensure appropriate financial sustainability targets are set and monitored at the Country/Regional programs/offices in line with the Center’s annual budget and fundraising strategy.

Candidate Profile

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS COMPETENCIES

• Doctoral level degree in area of specialisation and at least 10 years of relevant post-doctoral experience OR a Master’s degree with at least 15 years of relevant post-Masters experience.

• Expertise and experience in one of the Center’s programmatic areas (research, RRCS, PEC).

• Familiarity with the population health research and development landscape.

• Experience working in multiple countries on the continent and understanding of multiple regulatory regimes.

• Experience leading/coordinating multicountry projects.

• Experience in a management role for at least 5 years.

• Has undergone or is willing to undergo leadership training.

• Strong research and analysis skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively in a diverse environment.

• Analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Resource mobilisation skills.

• Stakeholder management skills.

• Cross-cultural leadership experience.

How to Apply

To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter as two different documents, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process.

The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit.

The document should be saved in PDF in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document NameDate (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV-092023-APHRC or Pat-JonesCoverLetter-092023- APHRC.

TIMELINE

Closing Date: 6 November 2023

First stage interviews: TBC Final interviews: TBC

SELECTION PROCESS

All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

EQUALITY STATEMENT

Equality and diversity are at the core of APHRC’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

QUERIES

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email aphrc-head-internationalprograms@oxfordhr.com in the first instance.

All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR.

About Oxford HR

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We understand the nuances of purpose-led leadership because we’ve worked in organisations across the breadth of the sector ourselves. We’ve also worked with such organisations since 1995; so we appreciate just what benefits impactful people can bring.