EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)
EDC is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development firms. EDC designs, implements, and evaluates programs to improve education, health, and economic opportunity worldwide. Collaborating with both public and private partners, we strive for a world where all people are empowered to live healthy, productive lives.
EDC is committed to diversity in the workplace.
The International Development Division has an opening for a Youth and Adolescent Health Specialist, reporting to the Senior International Technical Advisor, in Washington, DC.
POSITION SUMMARY
With more than 50 years of conducting research and implementing projects in the U.S. and developing countries, EDC recognizes the fundamental and reciprocal connections between health, education and productivity. We know that adolescence and youth are critically-important life stages, full of opportunity and risk. As adolescents move into young adulthood, the risks and opportunities increase, the choices grow more complex, and the decisions more consequential. EDC is implementing new approaches to address the needs of adolescents and youth, integrating our education work with the promotion of healthy behaviors and with the effective delivery of health services to youth.
The Youth and Adolescent Health Specialist will join EDC’s International Development Division (IDD) and will work closely with other IDD staff working on cross-sectoral youth development activities. S/he will design and support new programs relating to the promotion of healthy behaviors and the delivery of FP/RH services for adolescents and youth in developing countries. S/he will participate in relevant Technical Working Groups externally, and will liaise with other development partners engaged in issues relating to sexual and reproductive health and youth.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The person in this position is expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders; and to work respectfully with EDC colleagues. The job requires adherence to EDC policies & procedures.
Technical Leadership: Provide technical support and quality assurance to EDC’s field programs as they develop, and support cross-sectoral activities that empower young people to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing. Provide technical, programmatic and results-oriented leadership by liaising with Ministries of Health, international donors, USG agencies, and international and local partners. Mentor EDC staff on innovative, sustainable behavior change strategies for AYSRH and improved service delivery to youth.
Business Development: Lead technical writing for new proposals with a youth/adolescent health component. Develop strategies and cultivate institutional partnerships for responding to donor solicitations. Ensure that responsive strategies and detailed implementation plans for health promotion, behavior change and improved service delivery are incorporated into EDC’s proposals. Rely on a strong background in evidence-based Global Health trends and tools to design and articulate interventions, adapt them to specific populations and stakeholders, and pay close attention to cost-effectiveness in resource-lean environments.
The Youth and Adolescent Health Specialist
- Is responsible for partnering successfully with home office project director and field office leadership and with Division, Administration and Finance (A&F) , expatriate and local staff
- Helps represent EDC and the project in the host country; liaises with government officials, civil society, other partners and clients, funders, and vendors
- Demonstrates diplomacy and leadership to foster an atmosphere of teamwork, productivity, creativity, fairness, equity, and innovation, in support of EDC’s commitment to diversity
- Negotiates and mediates effectively
- Interacts with large numbers of program participants or team members, guiding feedback exchanges, facilitating problem-solving, and providing expertise
- Troubleshoots problems and proposes solutions
- Oversees technical coordination; secures consensus about priorities and competing workload demands
- Assists in building staff cohesion across different activity areas
- Fosters excellent communications among all parties, including with EDC home offices
- Travels
- Manages and coordinates activities of subcontractors and all partners to create synergy
- May supervise technical staff; directs and coordinates work of technical staff
- May organize and coach teams
- May oversee training programs, workshops, conferences, or other collaborations
QUALIFICATIONS
This position requires educational achievement; excellent writing skills; demonstrable initiative, creativity, and flexibility; ability to work independently and effectively in groups; and strong interpersonal & organizational skills. Specific requirements:
- Master’s degree or equivalent
- PhD preferred
- With Master’s degree, 7–10 years related experience, including a minimum of 5 years supervisory/project management or program development experience
- With PhD, 5–7 years related experience (as above)
- Demonstrated understanding of global public health issues related to youth and adolescents, especially FP/RH, HIV/AIDS, MCH and behavior change interventions.
- Proven experience in preparing successful proposals in response to donor solicitations.
- Experience providing technical assistance in youth and adolescent health to a range of partners
- Knowledge of best practices and state-of-the-art in community-based youth health programming
- Proven track record of designing and implementing innovative, results-oriented behavior change programs
- Experience in conducting assessments and demonstrated ability to analyze and use data gathered from communities to design effective behavior change strategies
- Extensive international experience and experience in a developing country required
- Willingness to travel internationally
- Outstanding leadership and communication skills
- Excellent analytical skills and aptitude for details
- Capacity to work in difficult conditions and function well under pressure
The candidate must possess a strong technical background in the following areas:
- Youth Health/Adolescent Health
- Sexual & Reproductive Health
- Social and Behavior Change for Improved Health
- HIV/AIDS: prevention, care and treatment
- Sexuality Education
- Community Health
- OVC Programming
As an EOE/AA employer, EDC does not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and veteran or disability status. EDC is a smoke-free workplace.
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