MNCH Technical Lead

Job Description

Position: MNCH Technical Lead

Reports to: Deputy Chief of Party

Staff Reporting to this Post: MNCH and FP Specialist (Karnali, Lumbini, and Madhesh)

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal

Contract Length: Fixed-term, contingent upon donor approval

Role Purpose and Job Summary

One Heart Worldwide is seeking a qualified MNCH Technical Lead for the anticipated five-year USAID/Nepal Better Health Activity. This project supports the Government of Nepal’s health system at federal, provincial, and municipal levels to enhance health governance, address demand-side barriers, strengthen community accountability, and improve the quality of health services across facility and community levels. The MNCH Technical Lead will be pivotal in strengthening maternal, newborn, and family planning services and supporting health facility and system preparedness for potential health emergencies.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP), the MNCH Technical Lead will provide technical leadership, guidance, and oversight for MNCH initiatives within the Better Health Activity, ensuring high-quality, equitable, and sustainable service delivery across Karnali, Lumbini, and Madhesh provinces. As a senior member of the project team, the MNCH Technical Lead will drive the design and implementation of innovative and cost-effective MNCH and FP interventions, coordinate with key stakeholders and partners, and ensure alignment with USAID objectives. The role includes overseeing facility and community-level service delivery, maintaining technical rigor in clinical care activities, and supporting the dissemination of effective practices to improve health outcomes. This position, is based in Kathmandu with frequent travel to the field (approximately 30%).

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership and Oversight (40%)

• Lead the technical implementation of MNCH and FP-related project activities, ensuring alignment with USAID standards and local policies.
• Design and oversee the delivery of innovative, evidence-based interventions to improve MNCH outcomes at facility and community levels, with special attention to quality and equity for marginalized groups.
• Establish and sustain relationships with provincial and municipal health authorities, local health facilities, and community stakeholders to ensure alignment with project goals and government strategies.
• Oversee the development of clinical standards and best practices for MNCH and FP services, ensuring compliance with USAID quality standards and federal health guidelines.
• Help to build the capacity of the Technical Specialists and Technical Officers and oversee the quality of their technical assistance activities in the field.  
• Support MNCH and FP Specialists (Karnali, Lumbini, and Madhesh) in coordinating and arranging skill enhancement.

Capacity Building (30%)

• Develop and implement training, coaching, and mentoring plans for provincial and local health workers, focused on enhancing skills for MNCH and FP service delivery.
• Provide technical assistance to strengthen clinical governance at municipal and provincial levels, with a focus on long-term sustainability.
• Collaborate with local government health offices to reinforce protocols and guidelines in maternal, newborn, and family planning services, ensuring consistency across the project’s geographic areas.

Program Coordination and Partnership Development (20%)

• Facilitate coordination across government tiers, linking district health offices with provincial and municipal leaders to enhance MNCH and FP service delivery and quality assurance processes.
• Establish partnerships with private sector entities, local CSOs, and other stakeholders to expand access to MNCH and FP services and strengthen referral networks.
• Ensure strong alignment with USAID’s Quality Improvement standards and support the integration of emergency preparedness in MNCH care plans, especially in remote, high-risk areas.
• Maintain good working relationships with officials, government ministries, implementing partners, and the international and national NGO community.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (10%)

• Collaborate with the project’s M&E team to track clinical indicators, assess quality of care, and document best practices for continuous improvement in MNCH and FP service delivery.
• Engage in project review meetings to evaluate implementation effectiveness, identify challenges, and guide adaptive management for MNCH and FP interventions.

Required Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree in public health, health systems research, medicine, international development, or other relevant disciplines.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years in public health, MNCH and FP service delivery, and program management, with at least five years in a developing country context.
• Significant experience managing complex health activities, including MNCH, family planning/reproductive health, nutrition, and WASH, with proven oversight of technical staff and teams.
• Extensive background in USAID-funded project implementation, with deep knowledge of USAID regulations and compliance.
• Experience working in Nepal or Asia, with strong knowledge of the health system and health system strengthening strategies.
• Proven track record in building and sustaining relationships with USAID missions, host-country counterparts, government officials, NGOs, and other stakeholders.

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage technical teams, providing strategic guidance and ensuring delivery of quality MNCH and FP services across multiple locations.
• Strong diplomatic skills, with the capacity to establish and maintain effective professional relationships with government representatives, donors, private sector entities, and other stakeholders.
• Creative problem-solving abilities and capacity to work effectively in resource-constrained environments.
• Proficiency in English and Nepali, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel frequently to project sites in Nepal.

Additional Job Responsibilities

The duties outlined are not exhaustive and the MNCH Technical Lead may be required to perform additional tasks as needed, in line with their skills and project requirements.

OHW reserves the right to cancel, postpone or modify the whole recruitment process and reject any/all applications without specifying any reasons whatsoever.  

Application Procedures:

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are requested to visit the link https://forms.gle/azYUjq6mvDiBsVHDA at and submit their application through the online portal by November 29, 2024.