Project Director - NGO

Project Director- Bihar, Alive & Thrive

Job Description :

Project Director- Bihar, Alive & Thrive, FHI 360

Position Vacant : Project Director- Bihar, Alive & Thrive, Fhi 360

Organisation/ Project Background :

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries and all U.S. states and territories. Through implementation of the Alive & Thrive (A&T) initiative, FHI 360 is scaling up nutrition to save lives, prevent illness and promote healthy growth and development through improved breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices

Alive & Thrive (A&T) is managed by FHI 360 and is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the governments of Ireland and Canada. A&T is dedicated to reducing death, illness, and malnutrition caused by sub-optimal infant and young child feeding. During its first phase (2008-2014) the initiative aimed to increase rates of exclusive breastfeeding and improve complementary feeding practices in three countries - namely Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Viet Nam. As part of its current phase (2013-2017) the initiative is translating lessons to other countries and regions including South East Asia, India and Burkina Faso.

In India, the initiative focuses on transfer of lessons, tools and approaches in the states of Bihar and UP in partnership with current BMGF partners. In Bihar, A&T will work closely with partners under BMGF's Ananya Program and with the government to improve maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN).

Job Description/ Responsibilities :

- Under the supervision of Regional Technical Advisor, Alive & Thrive, the Project Director - Bihar, will provide technical leadership, management, and coordination for A&T activities in the State.

- S/he will ensure implementation of evidence based behavior change interventions and integration with MIYCN efforts. S/he will ensure technical excellence in the design, implementation, follow up and analysis of activities and will facilitate policy dialogue and partnerships with relevant sectors (health, ICDS, Jeevika) and programs (Ananya, B-TAST, etc.).

- S/he will support information exchange within an alliance of pro-IYCF institutions and foster links with appropriate NGOs, UN, bilateral and governmental agencies and academic institutions.

- S/he will monitor work-plans to ensure timely delivery of results.

- S/he will provide financial, administrative and managerial oversight.

- S/he will lead documentation and dissemination activities. The project is funded till May 30, 2017.

Essential Job Responsibilities :

Behavior Change Communication Strategy :

- Design Social Behavior Change Campaigns (SBCC) with focus on the development of robust SBCC frameworks enabling the implementation of project activities relating to the improvement of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices;

- Provide strategic direction to IYCF media and communication work, optimizing opportunities for advocacy through the development of communication creatives and planning, at the start of prospective partnerships;

- Develop comprehensive IYCF communication tools and BCC campaigns, using evidence-based theories and methodologies, in close collaboration with the communications unit of the NMCP;

- Manage the work of research firms, advertising agencies, public relations experts, production vendors, community mobilizers, and/or consultants hired by the project, to assist with BCC or community level work. This shall include building the capacity of local implementing partners to implement quality and successful BCC work;

- Build the capacity of government in behaviour change communication through partnership and demonstration, by developing plans and producing communication outputs (e.g. TV and radio advertisements and programmes), alongside government officials at the relevant levels and departments.

Program Development, Implementation, and Monitoring :

- Oversee implementation of A&T's workplan and budget, ensuring technical excellence and fiscal integrity. Act as a key link between Bihar stakeholders and the A&T/HQ team. Maintain close coordination and dialogue with key stakeholders in the state (both MIYCF and other related sectors) and implementers at district and block levels in all locations of the state;

- Provide technical oversight (with support from A&T HQ) to strengthen existing activities of scaling up MIYCN in Bihar. Based on findings from assessments, this may involve, development of a behavior change communication strategy, technical support for building a network of high quality IYCF counseling services within health and ICDS facilities, designing and implementing a performance improvement strategy for frontline workers and supervisor including training activities at various levels, preparing and checking translations and adaptations of behavior change communication materials and products, supervising and reviewing community mobilization and other communication sessions, develop supervision and monitoring checklists and ensuring their correct use;

- Design studies, analysis and surveys and facilitate implementation to generate data needed to strengthen program activities. Identify opportunities for collaborations on studies and data generating activities to promote IYCF learnings. Supervise data collection, assessments, reviews and interviews and provide guidance for the data entry and analysis;

- Ensure high quality documentation as per the plans developed by A&T, extracting milestones and lessons learned. Assist with development of a dissemination plan to as wide an audience as possible in Bihar;

- Oversee financial management of the A&T activities, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, budget monitoring, and compliance with A&T procedures in all financial, contractual, and procurement activities. Oversee all administrative and logistical aspects of A&T operations.

Other Roles/ Responsibilities :

- Help develop A&T annual work plans, budgets and project reports, and ensure timely reporting and responses for information to HQ;

- Actively participate in, contribute to, and in some cases conduct or help facilitate major A&T program development and implementation activities (strategic planning, program presentations, advocacy and policy meetings, workshops), as appropriate;

- Work closely with A&T Regional Technical Advisor, Country Programs Director to leverage other international donor and private sector resources to complement and extend project reach;

- Present/disseminate program results, based on program experience to State Nutrition Mission, projects and partners, and other professional colleagues and organizations at state and national level.

Qualifications, Experience And Competencies :

Qualifications :

- Masters in Business, Administration, communications, public health, behavior change communications, social marketing or equivalent.

Experience :

- A minimum of 10 years of experience in MIYCN/child health/nutrition related activities with emphasis on behavior change communication, training and services delivery programs;

- Prior experience of working with creative agencies to successfully roll-out large social campaigns and develop Public Service Announcements, aimed at behavior change;

- Demonstrated experience and high acceptability in working with government, NGOs and donors in Bihar/other states;

- Demonstrated experience in successfully working across sectors (other than health) with senior government authorities, academic experts, national health partners, preferably in Bihar.

Skills and Competencies :

- Excellent written and oral English and fluency in Hindi;

- Excellent reputation in teamwork and facilitating dialogue and communications among diverse institutions and sectors;

- Proficiency in the use of MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.) and the Internet;

- Ability to work independently, assess priorities, and manage a variety of activities while communicating, connecting, and collaborating with HQ and field office staff, subcontractors, and a broad coalition of government, NGO, and international project partners;

- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills;

- Excellent problem-solving skills;

- Excellent writing, editorial, and communication skills, including strong presentation skills to report results to major donors;

- Competency in behavior change communications.

Special Requirements :

- This job will require a criminal background check;

- This job will require travelling in Bihar for 40% of the time.

Compensation Offered :

Gross compensation budgeted for the positions shall be attractive and offers made to selected candidates shall be commensurate with qualifications, experience and salary history.

Location : Patna

Reference: PD - AT

Contact Information :

Senior Consultant
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phones: 011-2684-2162; 011-4165-3612; 011-4101-1564 and 011-4101-1565

Last Date For Applications :

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested apply with a cover letter, discussing their interest in and suitability for the position, along with an updated resume, giving details of three references, current cost to organization and expected compensation, by or before June 24, 2015.

Applicants are urged to apply immediately, as interviews with the promising candidates will start almost right away.