Watoto Care Project Manager at Touch Health Tanzania

Touch Health, an iNGO working to build the health systems of the future in sub-Saharan Africa, is seeking an outstanding individual to join its team as its Project Manager for the watotoCare Program. The Project Manager will join a team of highly mission-driven professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, ranging from management consulting to global public health. The Project Manager will lead the broader watotoCare program team, working closely in collaboration partners and local and national Tanzanian Government, becoming an integral part of Touch’s commitment to improving health in sub-Saharan Africa.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking a Project Manager to lead the implementation of watotoCare Phase 2: a multi-site expansion and Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) across 4 district hospitals in Tanzania, building on a successful pilot that enrolled over 5,000 newborns at Sengerema District Hospital.

The Project Manager will lead a lean, high-impact local implementation team based out of Mwanza, overseeing day-to-day operations across 4+ hospital sites in the Lake Zone and Tanga regions, as well as continued operations at Sengerema. The Project Manager will coordinate closely with Touch’s Program Team and Director of Clinical Services in Tanzania, with IDinsight (the independent RCT research partner), and with Touch’s international pool of experts for program design, development, and M&E. The Project Manager will report to the Chief Program Officer and work in close coordination with the Director of Clinical Services.

The full-time role will be based in Mwanza, Tanzania, with regular travel to implementation sites across the Lake Zone and Tanga region, and to Dodoma for national stakeholder engagement with the Ministry of Health, PMORALG and institutional stakeholders.

Responsibilities of the role may be adapted based upon the experience of the successful candidate.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Responsible for overall leadership, management, and implementation of watotoCare Phase 2 across 4 hospitals in the Mwanza and Tanga regions, including the set-up and operational running of 4 RCT sites, and ensuring continuity at Sengerema
• Line-manage the program team comprised of field officers working at implementation sites
• Manage and coordinate all elements of effective program implementation, including budgeting, on the ground implementation, and oversight to ensure delivery of quality outputs on time and within budget
• Foster strong and collaborative working relationships with key Government of Tanzania stakeholders – Ministry of Health (MOH) and Prime Minister Office – Regional and Local Government (PMO-RALG), Regional and Council Health Management Teams (R/DHMTs) and hospital management teams while demonstrating high level engagement skills
• Manage relationships with funders and partners – e.g. NEST360, SBBC, Jacaranda Health, academic researchers, and ICT development partners
• Participate in decision-making and problem-solving with program leadership to design, develop and plan the watotoCare expansion plans
• Lead the program team and collaborate with partners and M&E experts to undertake effective monitoring and evaluation of the program
• Serve as the primary operational liaison with IDinsight, the independent RCT research partner, coordinating enrollment logistics, data collection workflows, and adherence to the research protocol across all 4 RCT sites
• Conduct data analyses and prepare reports on program implementation progress and impact for management, donors or other stakeholders
• Conduct stakeholder meetings with funders, partners and/or government stakeholders, to communicate program progress, advise of issues and drive key decision
• Assist with compliance with donor requirements, Government of Tanzania relevant regulations, and organizational policies and procedures
• Contribute to strengthening Touch’s profile with major donors and implementing partners, including Government of Tanzania central authorities, international organizations and prospective funders
• Contribute to expanding Touch’s knowledge of the Tanzania health system and international public health issues, including relationships with main stakeholders
• Assist with preparation of funding proposals to expand or continue program activities
• Contribute to suite of communication vehicles, including conference presentations, articles, and marketing materials
• Communicate regularly and effectively with various program partners

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Education, Skills and Experience:

• Minimum 8 years’ relevant professional experience in program design, implementation, and management, ideally including multi-site program scale-up in a low-resource setting with research components
• Advanced degree in relevant field (e.g., MBA, MPH, MPA, international development) or equivalent demonstrated professional experience
• Experience working with and interaction with government and donor stakeholders in Tanzania
• Strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, negotiation, organizational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to self-manage and work independently without day-to-day oversight to complete deliverables on time and at a high level of quality
• Prior experience managing and tracking complex budgets
• Experience in program monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and international development; familiarity with research study operations or clinical trial coordination is a strong asset
• Experience managing ICT-enabled health programs or digital health tools, and comfort working with data systems for enrollment tracking, scheduling, and operational oversight
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong analytical abilities, both quantitative and qualitative
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, especially in the functional use of Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft Word
• Solid relationship-building skills and cross-cultural sensitivity: ability to interface with external stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds
• Good judgment and discretion to represent Touch Health in a highly professional manner, as well as respect for local culture
• Willing to work flexible hours across time zones, as needed