Myanmar Consultant/Program Manager – Maternal and Child Health

I. Background
PATH is an international, nonprofit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. PATH's mission is to improve the health of people around the world by advancing technologies, strengthening systems, and encouraging healthy behaviors. PATH’s 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 working to establish a long term program presence in Myanmar, and is currently taking steps to obtain formal registration and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health.   In the short term, PATH is partnering with the Burnet Institute on a project focused on improving the health of women and children.  The project is implemented in three townships in Yangon.
PATH seeks a Consultant to serve as our Myanmar Program Manager.  The individual will play a key role in building PATH’s program in Myanmar, with particular emphasis on programming in the Maternal and Child Health area.    The Consultant/Program Manager will take the lead in the management of a new project aimed at improving neonatal and maternal health, while at the same time, coordinating with PATH headquarters for program building and PATH representation more generally.

II. Project Management Functions
The goal of the initial project is to improve availability of and access to neonatal care in semi-urban and rural communities in Myanmar.
Specific objectives of the project are:
1. Strengthen neonatal care by community-level midwives and nurses.
2. Increase deliveries by skilled birth attendants with proper neonatal care skills.
3. Improve access to emergency obstetrics and neonatal care by rural women in target communities.
In this capacity, The Consultant/Program Manager will supervise the project team, and ensure the overall quality of interventions.  The Consultant/Program Manager will represent the project in partner relationships with government, donors and other stakeholders. 

Specific Project Management Duties and Responsibilities
Lead neonatal and maternal health project activities in Myanmar, working in close coordination with PATH’s HQ-based MCHN program for project design and implementation
Manage the activities, prioritization and assignment of work, in coordination with project partners
Take a lead role in the timely development of project planning, communications, and reporting documents
Ensure effective communication and collaboration with PATH headquarters and with project partners  at all relevant levels;
Represent the project to partners and other stakeholders in Myanmar
In consultation with the Project Technical Advisor  and Senior Director of Field Programs, coordinate technical and administrative activities to ensure effective project implementation at local  levels
Ensure that plans and reports are developed and submitted to PATH headquarters in a timely manner
Work with Thailand-based project Project Administratorto ensure that project budgets are developed in response to project needs and resources and that budgets are submitted in a timely manner
Together with the project PADM, monitor project expenditures to ensure effective and appropriate use of project resources consistent with project budgets, plans and in full compliance with PATH and donor mandated policies

III. PATH Representation and Program Building Functions
Specific Representation and Program Building Duties and Responsibilities
Develop and follow up on opportunities to represent PATH generally and particularly PATH’s work in maternal and child health to government, donors and other stakeholders  in Myanmar
Identify strategic partnerships with donors, government and civil society organizations
Support processes to register PATH in country and secure office space
Communicate in a timely way with PATH HQ about program development opportunities as they arise
Work closely with PATH HQ (Field Programs and Global Programs) to develop and design new projects, based on clear understanding of the Myanmar context
Support PATH recruitment efforts in maternal child health, and other areas as needed

IV. Expected  Results
Contribute to the development of overall program strategy in Myanmar, with particular focus on maternal and child health
Expand PATH’s maternal and child health programming in Myanmar
Identify and nurture strategic linkages between ongoing project work and other PATH staff, projects, or programs in Myanmar, as relevant
Identify opportunities for strategic engagement with other organizations to promote the sustainability, scaling up and leveraging of project activities
Ensure that project technical activities are undertaken in a manner consistent with the annual work plans and budgets.  Track and monitor activities, identify problems early and initiate timely resolution
Ensure clear and timely reporting to, and communication with the PATH Senior Program Director, and PATH Senior Technical Advisor/MCHN regarding issues, opportunities, or concerns arising from the project
Supervise project-related on maternal child health projects, assuring that systems and policies are observed, PATH financial accountability is maintained, and PATH and donor requirements are adhered to

The Consultant/Program Manager will report to the Senior Director of Field Programs, based in PATH headquarters in Seattle.  The Consultant/Program Manager will provide overall management and coordination of project activities in areas related to Maternal and Child Health and serve as in-country project leader and PATH representative in the Maternal and Child Health arena.  
The initial consultancy is full time for the period May 1 – December 31, 2012.

Qualifications
The Consultant/Project Manager must be a pro-active, results-oriented health professional with an enthusiastic commitment to PATH’s mission and demonstrated management experience in implementing multi-level interventions for health in Myanmar.  The Consultant/Project Manager will have the ability to represent both the project and PATH’s work more generally to national stakeholders and partners and the public.  Skills and experience should include:
Masters degree (or equivalent experience) in relevant discipline (e.g., public health, health administration, health systems management, health policy)
Minimum 10-years managing maternal and child health projects In Myanmar
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with the government of Myanmar (particularly Ministry of Health) at national and sub-national levels,  international agencies and non-governmental organizations to implement complex projects and interventions
Demonstrated experience in program building in Maternal Child Health and Nutrition
Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and negotiation skills with a demonstrated capacity to solve problems with energy, flexibility, attention to detail and a positive attitude
Ability to organize and prioritize work and to meet deadlines
Strong English oral and written communication skills
Willingness to travel regularly to project sites
For information on the application process for this position, please visit the jobs section of the PATH website (www.path.org).