Head of Division, Health Systems, Diseases and Nutrition

The incumbent provides strategic leadership in designing strategies and policies for the efficient running of the Health Systems, Diseases and Nutrition Division. The role involves supervising staff, managing division activities, engaging stakeholders, mobilizing funding, and representing the organization at conferences.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and manage employees of the division with regard to organisation and performance evaluation.
• Manage the work of the Division and supervise direct reports to ensure their effective performance as per organization’s performance management policy and system.
• Design strategies and policies consistent with the Department’s goals to address pertinent issues in the relevant area.
• Contribute to the development of the departmental business continuity plan and ensure implementation at division level.
• Manage risk within the division and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Design and plan policy programs to achieve the strategies.
• Develop new and review activities as components of the strategies and policies.
• Address problems arising to current approaches to relevant area.
• Engage stakeholders within Member States and RECs in designing and implementing strategies.
• Represent the organisation and explain its position at conferences.
• Mobilise funding from all donors to execute strategies and activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports and monitor budget execution at Division level.
• Initiate the formulation of policies, programs and strategies related to Health System, Disease, Population, and Nutrition at the continental level and monitor their implementation within Member States.
• Set the direction of the division strategic interventions, plans, priorities and workflows and facilitate communication and cooperation between the division and other divisions and department.
• Analyse and monitor all aspects of Health including Health System, Disease, Population and Nutrition and provide expertise, policy advice and technical leadership within the department.
• Advocate for and sensitize Member States on commitments of Heads of State and Government to Health including Health System, diseases, population and Nutrition.
• Promote, coordinate and harmonise the programs and activities of the sectors/units within the division and with relevant departments in the commission.
• Study and analyse problem situations and major trends in health in Africa and plan and harmonize related issues and program on Member States and global commitments.
• Represent the departments in activities related to health and report back on issues discussed and action required.
• Assist the director in enhancing cooperation and collaboration with relevant department of the commission, Member States, UN agencies, AU partners, specialized institutions, NGOs and Civil Society Organizations.
• Promote African and other international and regional cooperation in collaboration with Member States, RECs and inter-Governmental Organizations, NGOs particularly in implementation of AU decisions and AU plan of action.
• Coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Africa Health Strategy and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa and the AU Plan of Action on Violence Prevention in Africa.
• Ensure the management of the division including personal issues, performance, quality assurance and budget management.
• Prepare programs budget and proposal, project and funding proposal related to the division.
• Monitor operational activities and program implementation in terms of expenditure and substance and prepare progress reports with recommendation for corrective action to the director when necessary.
• Prepare and manage ministerial conferences and meetings and other high level meetings and activities including preparation of documents and reports.
• Prepare and submit periodical reports on activities including specific missions and progress reports on the implementation of various policies instruments and decisions, Health policy and health system reforms, traditional medicine, diseases, Nutrition and population.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Health Sciences, Health Systems, Nutrition or related field of studies.
• Twelve (12) years of relevant work experience.
• Seven (7) years of experience at managerial level.
• Five (5) years of experience at supervisory level.
• Working experience in the health field, as a Medical Doctor will be an asset.
• Ability to initiate and promote collaborative approaches between geographically and culturally disparate partners.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations both internally and externally.
• Ability to develop and delegate clear program goals, plans and actions, including budgets, that are consistent with agreed strategies.
• Communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff.
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Skills

• Health Systems Management
• Public Health
• Nutrition
• Program Development
• Budget Management
• Staff Supervision
• Strategic Leadership
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Partnership Building
• Programme Planning
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Policy Design
• Funding Mobilization
• Medical Knowledge
• Bilingual Communication

Languages

Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, Spanish