View Vacancy – International Health Strengthening Project – Technical Advisor (02/21 LUS) D6

Main Purpose of Job

This post is located in Lusaka and attached to the British High Commission but within Public Health England’s (PHE) Global Public Health division, led by the Director of Global Public Health. The Global Public Health division supports the delivery of PHE’s Global Health Strategy. It provides a corporate service to PHE supporting the oversight, coordination and delivery of PHE’s international activity and working with UK government departments and other UK partners to build and strengthen international public health links. The division also maintains its own extensive portfolio of global health programs and projects, focusing on capacity building and health system strengthening in partner countries.

This post is ideal for those with proven knowledge and experience of capacity building and workforce development, applied within the public health sector. We are seeking individuals with both technical knowledge and the ability to influence and negotiate – building relationships with local and international stakeholders as necessary to deliver on their objectives.

The post-holder will provide in-country public health specialist level input to PHE’s Global Public Health division work focused on the delivery of the DHSC-funded International Health Regulation (IHR) strengthening project. The IHR strengthening project work is in 5 countries, one of which is Zambia. The post holder will work with the Zambia country lead and ZNPHI to deliver on PHE’s and ZNPHI’s shared objectives for our collaboration on workforce development. A key aim of the IHR Project is to support NPHIs in the development of a trained local workforce, that will continue beyond the duration of the project, and will embed and build on success to date but also provide an opportunity to strengthen capacity upstream and more broadly. The post-holder will provide expert workforce development advice to the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) and other government departments to ensure a holistic approach to improving IHR compliance which addresses priority needs.

You will be a highly organised, creative team player who is a self-starter and has excellent written and verbal communication skills. You will have a broad range of communications engagement skills, and a thorough understanding of public health issues gained through experience in the field. You will have excellent negotiation skills, enabling you to deal sensitively with stakeholders with complex and sometimes conflicting interests. You will be expected to show strong drive to complete and evidence progress, recognising the importance of compliance and reporting.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the PHE Country Lead for Zambia and senior leadership of ZNPHI to identify needs, develop and deliver workforce development projects. This includes development of workforce strategies and plans; implementation plans and capability building activity (learning and development projects).

• Facilitating alignment between the work projects of ZNPHI and PHE’s capacity building activities. This will include working with PHE technical teams to refine, steer and coordinate input into Zambian priorities.

• Support Country Lead and UK Workforce Team by engaging in contracting process with partners in National Institute- establishing readiness and capacity for workforce development initiatives

• Work with Country Lead, in country colleagues, UK based Delivery Teams, and relevant partners to implement sustainable Workforce Development solutions within and between countries

• Support workforce development activity by engaging with participants from ZNPHI to ensure sustained activity by ensuring actions are agreed, completed and recorded (virtual and in-person)

• Ensure compliance with planning and reporting practice required for the IHR project including achievement of project plans, milestones and evaluation

• Contribute to any cross-project workforce development initiatives as and when required

• Contribute to development of the IHR Project’s In-country team, supporting colleagues as work requires and as directed by Country Lead.

• Report writing and communication of activities and deliverables as required by Country Lead quarterly reporting, input to weekly meetings, quarterly technical working group meetings, etc.

• Undergraduate degree and other relevant professional qualification or experience.

• Experience of devising, implementing and delivering Workforce development projects across organisations

• Experience of working in or with government departments, NGOs, and similar institutions

• Experience in an organisation with complex stakeholder interactions

• Proven track record of cross-team and cross organisation collaboration, Ability to build and nurture key relationships and maintain effective networks

• Experience of organising and managing events

• A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable “can-do” attitude that can see way through challenges.

• Knowledge of, and a keen interest in the health sector and context in Africa

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

• Excellent computer skills and proficient in excel, word, outlook, and access

• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace