Country: United States of America
Closing date: 18 Dec 2016
Pathfinder International Overview
Pathfinder International is a global leader in sexual and reproductive health and rights. We place sexual and reproductive health care at the center of all that we do—believing that it is not only a fundamental human right, but is critical for expanding life opportunities for women, families, communities, and nations, and paving the way for transformations in environmental stewardship and innovations to contribute to in poverty reduction. Pathfinder provides women, men, and adolescents with a range of quality health services—from contraception and maternal care to HIV prevention and AIDS care and treatment. Pathfinder strives to strengthen access to contraception, ensure availability of safe abortion services and post-abortion care, advocate for sound sexual and reproductive health policies, and, through all of our work, improve the rights and lives of the people we serve.
Program Overview
This position sits within the Technical Services Unit, which is part of the Technical and Program Strengthening Department (TAPS) department. The Technical and Program Strengthening Department (TAPS) coordinates, manages and increases visibility and funding for Pathfinder International programs. TAPS provides support to determine the strategic direction of Pathfinder programs and to ensure the alignment of programmatic and technical realities in the field with organizational strategies. TAPS also provides strategic leadership of all technical aspects of Pathfinder International’s programs. In close collaboration with Pathfinder’s field and Headquarters staff, TAPS conceptualizes and plans program development activities and builds on country and international best practices.
The Technical Services unit is comprised by three teams – the Integrated System Strengthening Team, the Implementation Learning Team, and the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Team. This position sits within the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Team.
Position Purpose
The Adolescent and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health (AYSRH) Advisor will provide technical expertise to enhance the overall quality of Pathfinder’s AYSRH programs in alignment with Pathfinder’s global AYSRH strategy. The AYSRH Advisor will work within and across countries, as well as across technical areas, to help build capacity to implement more strategic AYSRH interventions and programs in line with national and global health agendas.
In addition s/he will support Pathfinder’s visibility as a technical leader in AYSRH through participation in technical consultations and meetings, development of presentations and publications, and contributions to technical dialogues in the US and internationally. S/he will also contribute to Pathfinder’s learning around AYSRH, including fostering cross-country learning, conducting analysis of programs, and contributing to technical documentation.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
- Under the leadership of the Senior Technical Advisor for AYSRH, collaborates to develop/update and advance Pathfinder global ASRH strategy, including in the areas of contraception, abortion, maternal health, HIV, gender and rights as they relate to adolescents and youth
- Provides technical assistance in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of Pathfinder's AYSRH programs including programs that focus on the intersection between gender equality and AYSRH.
- Provides capacity building in AYSRH and gender to Pathfinder staff and local partners including government and civil society partners.
- Provides quality assurance with regard to global and field-based AYSRH strategies and materials (including supporting development and use of AYSRH quality standards)
- Develops/updates/adapts and/or reviews and/or disseminates AYSRH materials and technical tools/curricula including maintaining the technical assistance library on AYSRH
- Serves as either a technical lead, technical writer, or inputter on project proposals as needed.
- Ensures research results and best practices related to AYSRH and gender are incorporated into practice and programs
- Adopts and disseminates guidelines, standards of practice, protocols and other tools to improve quality AYSRH programming and services
- Participates on both country support and technical teams and task forces
- Coordinates South-to-South learning, exchange visits/study tours and networking in various initiatives in the regions, including virtual content area teams (VCAT)
Technical leadership, visibility, and external relations
- Coordinates development, preparation, and dissemination/publication of technical papers, documents, tools, and materials related to AYSRH.
- Establishes and maintains working relationships with counterparts in other agencies (e.g., WHO, USAID, international NGOs, and other service delivery projects/organizations).
- Participates in listserves or meetings related to AYSRH and gender, and disseminates technical updates, best practices, and lessons learned to HQ staff and field offices.
- Participates in and present at regional and international conferences, technical consultations, meetings, and working groups/coalitions related to AYSRH and gender, including coordinating meetings and events at the Pathfinder DC Office
- Collaborates with Advocacy Unit to support AYSRH advocacy activities domestically and globally
- Works with partner organizations (both government and NGO) and other stakeholders, to design and implement evidence-informed strategies related to AYSRH and gender.
- Works with Pathfinder staff to identify new opportunities for Pathfinder to develop innovative approaches in AYSRH and gender programming
- Increase Pathfinder’s technical visibility through contributing to social media, including participating in technical listserv discussions, writing blog posts, and contributing to other social media platforms.
- Presenting on behalf of Pathfinder at external technical events, including conferences, webinars and other technical events hosted by Pathfinder or partner organizations.
Basic Requirements
- Masters of Public Health or other related degree
- Minimum of three years related public health/sexual and reproductive health or international development-related work experience
- Willingness to travel at least 30%
- Demonstrated technical expertise in AYSRH, including at least 1 year working in AYSRH
- Knowledge of gender and the intersections of gender and AYSRH
- Knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights, contraception and HIV and AIDS issues, programs and projects
- Commitment to the mission, vision and values of Pathfinder International
- Demonstrated proposal development experience with USG and private foundation opportunities
- Willingness to lead and provide technical inputs to USG and foundation proposals a minimum of 15-20% time
- Ability to analyze and use quantitative and qualitative data to articulate strategy and opportunities for programmatic interventions or course-corrections
- Strategic thinker with ability to write clearly and express complex concepts in AYSRH and gender
- Experience working in a developing country
- Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills with an emphasis on being thorough, detail-oriented, with ability to multi-task and work under tight time-lines
- Ability to work as a team member with minimal supervision
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Fluency in written and spoken English
- Computer proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as design and layout programs
Preferred Qualifications
- Fluency in French, Portuguese, or another language
- Minimum of two years previous studying or working in a developing country or countries
How to apply: