Project Director - Kenya Human Resources for Health (HRH)

Company Profile

About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development, and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities, and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental, and financial benefits.

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved - and is committed to continuing to improve - economies, societies and most importantly, people's lives. In Kenya, with a staff of 129 people, Palladium works in economic growth, private sector engagement, health, data and digital solutions. In health, with USAID funding under HPP and HP+, Palladium worked to advance sustainable financing of Kenya’s health policy priorities with a focus in HIV planning, reproductive health, malaria, and maternal health. The Afya Pwani project builds county health systems and capacity, and strengthens governance for strategic planning, and health information systems development. The Kenya Health Management Information Systems II Project, funded by the CDC works to improve clinical service delivery by strengthening electronic medical records systems and creating a data warehouse.

Palladium is a child-safe organization, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status. 

Position Overview

The Project Director will provide overall strategic, technical leadership, and oversight to the program. S/he must have an appropriate balance of technical, managerial, and interpersonal skills and experience. The Project Director must have depth and breadth of technical expertise and experience in designing and implementing comprehensive public health interventions, and related capacity strengthening. The Project Director must have technical expertise in one of the five technical areas – health workforce management, quality improvement, HRH information systems, health financing, or community health services. She/he must have the requisite management expertise, interpersonal skills, and established professional relationships to successfully implement the project. Having the capacity to successfully interact with host country agencies, including national and county government, development partners, civil society and community-based organizations is essential. The skills and experience of the Project Director must be complementary to those of the Deputy Project Director.

The ideal candidate will have the senior level project management experience and the technical depth in human resources for health (HRH) program implementation that focuses on workforce management, improving quality of care, human resource information systems and digital tools that support the health workforce performance. In addition, the candidate will be a recognized leader in the HRH space and have experience networking with Government of Kenya and other key stakeholders.

Roles and Responsibilities

Assumes overall responsibility for the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project activities.
Provide technical leadership in health workforce management, quality improvement, HRH information systems, health financing, or community health services.
Serves as the main interface between the project and USG, host government stakeholders and Palladium senior management.
Assume responsibility for partner management ensuring that partners are fully engaged and participate in the project.
Responsible for overseeing completion and submission of quality technical deliverables and reports
Responsible for overseeing project budget and finances including timely financial performance reporting, budget projections and project spending.
Represent the project at relevant professional meetings, working groups and seminars.
Prepare analyses, recommendations, briefing notes, white papers, and assessments for internal and client use.

Position Requirements

Extensive progressively increasing responsibility in public health with at least 5 years’ experience in a senior leadership position on a project that focuses on health workforce in Kenya or similar settings.
Previous chief of party or senior health project experience.
Recognized leader in health workforce development and management.
Demonstrated oral and written communication abilities are essential as the Project Director will hold ultimate responsibility for the quality and timeliness of project reporting and communication efforts.
Demonstrated organizational and analytical skills, and ability to build synergies across technical disciplines and teams.
Demonstrated management and supervisory experience of a relevant scope and scale.
Oversight of local capacity development efforts, including working with local partners to ensure adherence to all sub-award and grant-management requirements.
Experience in interacting with host country agencies, including national and county government, development partners, civil society and community-based organizations is essential.
Knowledge of country-led development approaches and stakeholder engagement models
Knowledge of USG regulations and administrative procedures.
Experience building a creative and talented team and leading toward a unified vision.
Prior experience developing strategic plans, workplans, and/or activity plans for large workforce development programs.
Ability to communicate effectively and high comfort level writing and presenting data and information in a compelling way to different audiences.
Excellent written and spoken English and ability to communicate across technical disciplines and non-technical audience required.