Associate Director Programs

Overview

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus. Today, along with HIV, we work in conjunction with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, reduce maternal and child mortality, combat chronic malnutrition, and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health, digital health, and health financing. With each new and innovative program, our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions, that programs are designed to scale nationally, and learnings are shared globally.

About

At CHAI, our people are our greatest asset, and none of this work would be possible without their talent, time, dedication and passion for our mission and values. We are a highly diverse team of enthusiastic individuals across 40 countries with a broad range of skillsets and life experiences. CHAI is deeply grounded in the countries we work in, with the majority of our staff based in program countries. Learn more about our exciting work:

CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to providing an environment of fairness, and mutual respect where all applicants have access to equal employment opportunities. CHAI values diversity and inclusion and recognizes that our mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people with diverse experience, backgrounds, and culture.

Position Overview

The Associate Director Programs is responsible for providing strategic oversight and operational leadership for CHAI’s programmatic initiatives in Papua New Guinea. Working closely with the Country Manager, the Associate Director will drive the development and implementation of program strategies, ensure alignment with national health priorities, and oversee high-quality execution across various health initiatives. This role requires strong leadership skills, the ability to build and maintain partnerships, and the capacity to oversee multiple programs.

Responsibilities

1. Strategic planning and program leadership
2. Collaborate with the Country Manager in defining and executing the strategic vision for CHAI PNG.
3. Identify and address key challenges to the effective implementation of program strategies, working closely with the National Department of Health, key donors, and other health partners.
4. Stay informed on global health trends and donor landscapes, advising the Country Manager on how CHAI PNG can capitalize on emerging opportunities to support government priorities.
5. Oversee program performance, ensuring alignment with work plans and budgets while supporting program leads in strategic planning and problem-solving.
6. Design a comprehensive Primary Healthcare strategy across CHAI’s maternal and child health programs.
7. Team leadership and development
8. Manage and mentor a high-performing, motivated team across various program areas.
9. Promote effective communication and coordination across program clusters to maximize the impact of interventions and optimize resource utilization.
10. Foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, contributing to strategic decision-making as part of the Country Leadership Team.
11. Stakeholder engagement and relationship building
12. Develop and manage relationships with government counterparts, donors, and development partners to advance CHAI’s mission.
13. Represent CHAI PNG at national and international meetings, contributing to discussions on national health policies and programs.
14. Support the National Department of Health in strengthening provincial health systems with a focus on Women and Children's health needs at the PHC level.
15. Program development and growth
16. Identify and pursue opportunities for program expansion, building CHAI’s presence and influence in PNG.
17. Lead the development of new initiatives, including grant writing, application follow-up, and the startup of new projects or programs, in collaboration with the Country Manager.
18. Ensure that program activities are culturally sensitive and responsive to local communities while aligning with national health priorities.
19. Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL)
20. Oversee the development and implementation of a robust MEL framework to track program progress, measure impact, and facilitate continuous learning and improvement.
21. Ensure that all monitoring, evaluation, and reporting requirements to program donors are met, maintaining regular communication with CHAI global teams.
22. Promote effective documentation, knowledge management, and learning within and across programs.
23. Resource mobilization and donor relations
24. Assist the Country Manager in resource mobilization efforts, including building and maintaining new donor relationships.
25. Support the preparation of donor reports, ensuring they meet CHAI’s quality standards and are submitted in a timely manner.
26. Grant management
27. Oversee the management of program budgets in collaboration with the Grants Lead, ensuring that expenditure aligns with set program goals, objectives, and workplans.
28. Ensure timely preparation and submission of reports to donors, providing updates on program progress and financial performance.
29. Identify and flag potential risks to program success, and work with the team to develop mitigation strategies to minimize impact on program deliverables.
30. Ensure the tracking and monitoring of grant expenditures, supporting effective financial stewardship and donor compliance.
31. Perform any other tasks assigned by the Country Manager.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree (Masters-level or above preferred) in a relevant field such as public health, public policy, international development, business administration.
2. At least 10 years of experience, including management of health programs in Papua New Guinea (private or public sector), with progressive levels of responsibility, including resource mobilization and strategic planning.
3. Proven track record as a strong leader, with substantial experience in building, managing, and mentoring teams with diverse backgrounds and skills.
4. Critical and strategic thinking and problem-solving skills; ability to think creatively about long-term program goals and the detailed steps needed to achieve those goals.
5. Excellent written and oral communication skills, with strong spoken English and one additional language spoken in Papua New Guinea.
6. Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to work effectively in a multicultural and often remote environment.

Advantages

1. Experience developing and executing multi-year strategy in a resource-limited setting.
2. Extensive knowledge of public health systems in Papua New Guinea.
3. Experience working with government in Papua New Guinea.