Summary
This position addresses the agency’s strategic need to expand its capacity to take Save the Children’s (SC) flagship work in community mobilization and community systems strengthening to greater scale. Department of Global Health’s (DGH) programming has grown dramatically, producing a rapid increase in demand for technical assistance in planning and implementing large-scale community systems strengthening and mobilization which empower communities to initiate and sustain health and social change that achieves improved health outcomes. In particular, this position will develop and lead evidence based CM inputs and provide technical assistance to SC staff and key local partners (MoH, CSOs) in country programs. Key areas of demand include:
- Applying evidence based theory and best practices for expanded global health impact, addressing gender and social norms that influence key household behaviors and care-seeking that improves health outcomes;
- Adapt evidence based SBCC methodologies to new areas of programming and developing, testing and documenting the effectiveness of innovative SBCC methodologies;
- Strengthening and supporting application of tools to monitor and measure SBCC, community mobilization and other community capacity strengthening approaches; and
- Document and disseminate SC’s experience and program learning through internal platforms like Savenet/Onenet and other knowledge management platforms.
The Senior Specialist will be a key resource to DGH. S/he will work within DGH’s cross-functional Community Systems Strengthening Team and closely with other technical teams within DGH. This position will enable SC to provide technical leadership and support, and position the agency to more actively influence the design and implementation of evidence based programming across its global health portfolio. In all, this position is primarily technical, and does not involve line management at this time. The position will support all Department of Global Health technical teams.
Essential Duties, Responsibilities and Impact
Provides input to the strategic and operational plan for their functional area. Develops short term plans and establishes priorities affecting own area. Accountable for achieving results in short term plan. Responsible for setting clear objectives and measures for self and others. Exercise independent judgment and discretion on significant matters related to functional area. Objectives and milestones are determined jointly by employee and supervisor and implemented with management support. Functional based policy and practices exist. Incumbent is provided with the “what”, but is most likely to determine the “how.” May exercise management supervision of administrative or professional staff, or program(s) Provides information to their Manager or to other Senior Managers so that they can make accurate decisions. Builds effective relationships with peers and managers. Relates well to all kinds of people.
Technical Leadership for Global Programming (Essential Duty, 35% of Time)
- Apply evidence-based approaches to reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, HIV/AIDS and nutrition programs;
- Develop and deliver training and tools; and support capacity strengthening of HQ and country teams for greater scale, and enhanced quality of CM and CSS activities;
- Work with field and global teams to expand the base of program documentation. Develop / adapt facilitation tools for applying evidence based CM and SBCC methods to new areas of DGH programming;
- Work with technical units and field staff to develop and/or adapt specific indicators and tools to measure CM, CSS and SBCC;
- Provide support for DGH strategic planning, including short and long term goals.
Lead Program Quality Improvement (Essential Duty, 35% of Time)
- Build capacity of SC staff and partners through training and mentoring using SC (and other) key community mobilization and SBCC materials, including How to Mobilize Communities for Health and Social Change and the Partnership Defined Quality Trainers Guides;
- Support the design, planning, roll-out, monitoring and evaluation of SBCC strategies and activities, providing technical guidance through short-term technical assistance to country programs.
Support Resource Mobilization (Essential Duty, 20% of Time)
- Provide technical support and assistance for designing and implementing evidence based SBCC for global health programming at scale;
- Work with DGH team members and SCI health staff to share learning and represent work with donors and potential partners;
- Identify and pursue opportunities to expand and grow SBCC work;
- Support proposal development processes, providing technical inputs, review and guidance, and drafting text as needed for proposals, work plans and reports.
Knowledge Management (Essential Duty, 10% of Time)
- Expand agency capacity for documentation and dissemination of program results in close coordination with DGH’s Knowledge Management team;
- Document and disseminate SC’s SBCC experience and program learning to address global health needs;
- Curate and maintain an SBCC section on the SC internal knowledge management system;
- Ensure that all materials produced in programs for which you are responsible have been posted to Savenet/Onenet;
- Ensure that portions of SC’s website that contain information on programs for which you are responsible are up to date. Submit materials for inclusion on the SC internal knowledge management system. Identify materials on that system that are out-of-date;
- Build capacity of global and SCI health staff in SBCC.
Required Background and Experience, Skills and Behaviors
Professional Level of Technical or Managerial knowledge, skills, and experience to manage the operational activities of a Unit or Team, or provide the technical and management support related to various size programs, grants or projects.
Minimum five-ten years professional experience with behavioral, health communication programming aspects of global health, including at least three years working on health programs within a developing country context;
Master’s degree or higher in public health, social psychology, health communication or other relevant behavioral/social science field;
Understanding of global health and community development theory and practice;
Thorough knowledge of the current literature on health behavioral research globally, with particular attention to: determinants of behaviors; theoretical frameworks for individual behavior change and broader transformations of social norms; effectiveness of diverse behavioral approaches, including individual, small group, community and mass media interventions; and state-of-the-art design and evaluation activities;
Experience in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating evidence based SBCC to improve access, demand and quality of care and individual behaviors;
Skills in participatory facilitation and competency-based training of others at master trainer level useful;
Experience and background in institutional development and organizational capacity-strengthening approaches useful;
Ability to work well independently and in multi-cultural team environments;
Excellent written and verbal English language skills, with additional French or Spanish language preferred.
Ability to travel at least 50% of the time
Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries, including the United States. We aim to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives by improving their health, education and economic opportunities. In times of acute crisis, we mobilize rapid assistance to help children recover from the effects of war, conflict and natural disasters. Each year, we and our partners reach millions of children in communities around the world. Our dedicated and diverse staff work hard to improve the well-being of children everywhere.
Save the Children provides an attractive benefits package including competitive salaries, a matching retirement plan, health and welfare benefits, life insurance, an employee assistance program, generous time off and much more. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.
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