Portfolio Director

JOB SUMMARY:      

The Portfolio Director (PD-HQ) is the representative and champion of the project at the MSH Global Office. The Portfolio Director brings a strategic view, application of best practices in project management, and client relationship skills throughout the project cycle. With the Project Director/Chief of Party, the PD-HQ leads assigned projects to ensure that the project team achieves stated objectives within budget and in compliance with contractual regulations and MSH policies. In partnership with the PD and Technical Strategy Partner (TSP) the PD-HQ ensures technical excellence in line with MSH’s standards, values, and mission. The PD-HQ reinforces a culture of data analysis and data use for decision-making. The Portfolio Director supervises and supports the Project Director. The PD-HQ focuses strategically on new business development initiatives primarily within his/her countries and liaises with corporate business development and strategy leadership.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversight of Project Delivery (45%)

• Provides strategic leadership and management support to the Project Director to deliver high-quality results within budget and in accordance with MSH’s Standards of Implementation Excellence.
• Remains informed and knowledgeable of the project environment, the network of stakeholders, constituents, and counterparts, and supports the Project Director in the management of these relationships.
• Facilitates internal coordination and linkages required to achieve technical and administrative management objectives.
• Establishes regular communication and relationships with clients to ensure MSH responsiveness to donor needs and requests.
• Provide guidance and support to the Project Director as s/he partners with client and donor for preparation and execution of external evaluations and audits. 
• Ensures that project start-ups and closeouts are planned and executed efficiently, timely, and effectively.
• Prioritizes data analysis and use of data for decision-making and adaptive project management. Guides the Project Director to lead a collaborative approach to develop, review, and monitor the annual work plan, budget, Performance Monitoring Plan, progress reports, Environmental Mitigation Plan, strategic communications plan, MSH Project Reviews, short term technical assistance plan, risk management plan and ad hoc reports.
• Ensures Project Director delivers timely and high-quality technical, financial, contractual, and other deliverables and sub-award monitoring and mitigation plans are developed and implemented. Provides guidance and oversight to Project Director for contractual compliance.
• Provides strategic support to the Project Director to develop cost-share plans and monitor cost-share contributions as part of routine project financial performance monitoring.
• Works closely with the Project Director to periodically review project staffing levels, internal relationships, and staff performance, advise on sensitive personnel issues and engage HR as warranted.
• Promotes the effective use of shared services among projects in the country and from corporate services to ensure operational efficiencies by actively engaging the Project Directors in finding solutions to challenges with shared and corporate services aspects of project success.
• Supports the Project Director to develop a comprehensive project risk management plan to ensure a strong control environment and that project risks are identified, assessed, prioritized, mitigated, and monitored.
• Works with the Project Director in the preparation and execution of internal audits and ensures timely resolution of issues identified.
• Provides guidance and support to the Project Director as s/he partners with client and donor for preparation and execution of external evaluations and audits.
• Oversees and ensures that compliant management and operations systems are in place to effectively support the project’s technical activities and safeguard MSH.
• Ensures the Project Director and the full project team are aware of and comply with all donor regulations, local laws, MSH policies, procedures, and personnel standards (technical, contractual, financial, business ethics, etc.).
• Conducts project management support and Project Director supervision visits, as needed, to observe and review project performance, systems, culture, and work environment.
• With the Project Director, routinely analyze the project’s financial performance and ensure the project burn rate is appropriate.  

Management of Project Director Performance (25%)

• Works with Project Director to develop clear Performance Objectives and Professional Development Goals and actively monitor and discuss these objectives throughout the year and evaluate their attainment during the annual Performance Review.
• Orients Project Director to position responsibilities. Provide or organize any on-the-job or refresher training or orientation as needed. 
• Coaches Project Director on issues pertaining to financial and risk management, donor relationship management, staff management, program design, and annual work planning and communications.
• Provides needed coaching/mentoring to assure continued high performance, leadership development, and succession planning based on PD’s professional development goals and assessed performance.
• Supports the Project Director to create and foster a collaborative working environment within the project team including the home office support team.
   

Strategic Knowledge Exchange and Business Development (20%)

• Promotes knowledge exchange and lessons learned by working with the project team, Senior Manager, and TSP to identify and document challenges, solutions, innovations, best practices, and lessons learned.
• Provides strategic inputs to and liaises with a new business development organization, including identifying program opportunities, selecting strong program leadership and staff candidates, intelligence gathering, positioning, and contributing to proposals.

Contributions to Program Delivery and MSH (10%)

• Works closely with Lead Portfolio Director and the VP – Program Delivery Group as part of the Program Delivery leadership team.
• Actively participates in staff meetings, assigned working groups, information sessions, etc.
• Support the rollout and adherence to new policies and procedures.
• Coaches and mentors staff related to their work on assigned projects (e.g., CPME Senior Managers and project officers, technical contributors, strategic information contributors).

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• 15+ years of relevant and related work experience with international development project management and a master’s degree or higher in a field of study relevant to job responsibility.
• At least 10 years of management experience managing health projects in lower and middle countries.
• Demonstrated successful experience in the management of USAID and other donor-funded activities (e.g., CDC, World Bank, DFID, Gates Foundation, Global Fund, foreign governments, etc.) and new business development.
• Experience managing USAID contracts, familiar with contractual requirements and processes.
• Significant experience managing long-term projects and supervising professional staff and senior staff such as Project Directors and headquarters project management & support staff.
• Significant relevant experience in pharmaceutical management systems development and/or supply chain management strengthening in lower/middle income country context highly preferred
• Experience working in a lower income country environment on a long-term assignment or multiple short-term assignments.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated capacity to lead a team and collaborate with colleagues and partner organizations to achieve results.
• Ability to coach and lead from behind 
• Experience operating successfully in a matrix environment.  
• Strong writing and oral presentation skills in English and a second language as appropriate for the portfolio of countries under supervision.
• Proven track record in the financial management of international projects.
• Background in pharmaceutical systems strengthening and/or supply chain management in the health sector desired
• Understanding of USAID and field Missions; USG audiences, trends, and requirements.

COMPETENCIES:

• Functional and Technical Skills
• Problem Solving & Decision Quality
• Emotional Resilience, Integrity, Collaboration, Empowerment
• Assessing, Managing, and Measuring Work

MSH considers multiple job-related factors when determining an offer, including but not limited to, business and organizational needs, candidate qualifications, internal equity, location, and internal budget.
 

Salary is just one of many aspects of our total rewards package; at MSH, our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive set of competitive benefits that includes a substantial vacation, sick and holiday policies, training and development programs, competitive insurance coverage for health, vision, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability, 401k plan, Flexible Spending Account, among others.
 

MSH is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, religion, creed, citizenship, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job requirements. MSH will take affirmative action to ensure that qualified applicants are employed and that employees are treated without regard to their race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran and disability status. In compliance with U.S. Department of Labor Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act, MSH has developed and maintains an affirmative action program and plan.

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