STRIDES Technical Director

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title                            : STRIDES Technical Director

Report To                  : STRIDES Project Director

Location                     : Dhaka, Bangladesh

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, youth, research, technology, communication, and social marketing—creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries and all US states and territories.

FHI 360 has worked in Bangladesh for more than 45 years. Since 1975, we have taken a comprehensive approach to help transform the country’s health and development landscape. Leveraging a blend of global expertise and local insights, we have consistently strengthened community capacities, enhanced systems, and reinforced institutional frameworks for a sustainable impact. In partnership with the Government of Bangladesh, civil society, academia, and the private sector, FHI 360 Bangladesh delivers integrated programs across critical sectors. Our initiatives have spanned essential health services—including HIV and nutrition, tuberculosis, global health security, and economic participation.  

This position is contingent upon funding from the Department of State (DOS).

Project Description:

A disease can spread from any remote village to any major city on all continents in as little as 36 hours. Increased international travel and trade, population growth and movement, greater urbanization, and insufficient attention to existing weak health systems are key drivers for the emergence of infectious diseases. The U.S. government’s (USG) Global Health Security (GHS) program provides life-saving assistance to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats which pose risks for public health outbreaks that could cost lives. As part of the USG’s GHS program, the STRengthening Infectious disease DEtection Systems (STRIDES) Activity advances cross-sectoral efforts to successfully identify, manage, and respond to infectious disease threats; detect and prevent further outbreaks; and instill confidence and trust in a country’s disease detection and surveillance structures and services. STRIDES aims to increase a country’s Joint External Evaluation (JEE) scores by supporting national governments to strengthen core capacities — including laboratory and surveillance systems strengthening and emergency response operations — thereby improving compliance with International Health Regulations (IHR) and overall global health security.

Position Summary:

The STRengthening Infectious disease DEtection Systems (STRIDES) Bangladesh Technical Director leads and directs technical focus areas across the Activity to enhance global health security in Bangladesh. They will align STRIDES technical frameworks, approaches, tools, and activities with relevant normative guidelines and technical standards in country.  This may include identifying specialized partnership needs and engaging qualified partners to ensure technical performance. STRIDES BangladeshTechnical Director works closely with technical leads, the Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) team and Program Management teams ensure adherence with the United States Government’s (USG) global health security priorities in country. They are accountable for the successful delivery of all technical aspects and reporting of the STRIDES activity in country from initiation through delivery and closeout in country, ensuring completion of technical deliverables on schedule and within budget and that meet or exceed quality standards..

Accountabilities:

• Serves as STRIDES technical lead and key point of contact for relevant topics.
• Provides technical direction to develop country-specific workplans and budgets, ensuring alignment with STRIDES objectives and USG priorities and with global technical standards.  
• Ensures high quality technical deliverables—including workplans, required and ad hoc reports, and success stories highlighting technical achievements—are developed, submitted and approved on schedule and within budget parameters.
• Provides direction to ensure technical activities to ensure technical activities are compliant with STRIDES contract, government regulations, relevant quality standards and FHI 360’s policies and procedures.
• Responds to client requests and questions on technical matters; ensures timely drafts and submissions of consent, approvals and/or waivers.
• Ensures technical activities are designed to support STRIDES monitoring and evaluation activities; collaborates with the MEL Advisor and Project Director to finalize and submit country-specific technical indicators and report against their progress in quarterly, annual, and other reports.
• Assesses subcontractors’ performance on technical activities and directs adjustments, as needed.
• Collaborates with the MEL Advisor, Project Director and Communications lead to promote STRIDES successes by collecting, writing, and distributing success stories, case studies, photos, and outreach at events.
• Represent STRIDES at global health security-focused events echnical working group meetings; collect and share information that could be valuable to the Activity.
• Supports performance management and professional development of direct reports, including ongoing feedback, coaching and career support.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, practices, and procedures with contract and project management and technical development.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent and demonstrated organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent and demonstrated project management and technical skills.
• Ability to influence, motivate, negotiate and work well with others.
• Ability to exercise judgment within generally defined practices and policies in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, practices and policies related to global health security.
• Proven ability to ensure that budgets, schedules, and performance requirements are met.
• Excellent and demonstrated leadership, organizational, and project management skills.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication and analytical skills in English; additional language skills  a bonus.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Works on problems of complex scope and require in depth evaluation of issues and assessment of intangible factors.
• Exercises judgment within broadly defined practices and policies to select methods and techniques for obtaining results.
• Decisions made generally affect overall success of functional, division or company operations.
• Problems encountered are complex, highly varied and require considerable judgment to obtain results.

Supervision Given/Received:

• Provides direct supervision to technical staff in country
• Leads and directs staff to achieve strategic project goals in country, ensuring alignment with USG priorities.
• Coordinates across STRIDES Management Team to set budgets, goals, and develops procedures and training for project.

Education:

• Master’s Degree or its International Equivalent in Public Health, Epidemiology, Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Laboratory Science, Health Systems Strengthening, or a related field from a recognized university.
• Project Management (PM) Certification or (PhD) in Public Health, preferred.

Experience:

• Typically requires a minimum of 12+ years of relevant technical/project management experience (including 8+ years of leadership, strong business acumen and/or line management experience).
• Prior work experience with MoHP, MoALD and their respective departments, divisions and centers and in an international non-governmental organization (NGO) is preferred.
• Prior experience implementing USG-funded contracts strongly preferred.

Typical Physical Demands:

●          Typical office environment.

●          Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive

●          Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

●          Ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs.

Technology to be Used: Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

Travel Requirements: Up to 30% local and regional travel

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work and are subject to modification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. 

 FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. FHI 360 is committed to providing equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran with respect to policies, programs, or activities. 

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

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