Associate Director, Strategic Purchasing

Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.

We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.

Opportunity

R4D, through funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is implementing the Nigeria Primary Health Financing Project and seeks an Associate Director with expertise in Strategic Health Purchasing to provide strategic and technical leadership for the Strategic Purchasing workstream. The main goal of the Project is to mobilize increased funding to the frontline health facilities and to increase the utilization of primary health care services, especially for pregnant women, children under five, and those living in poverty by supporting the effective scale-up of BHCPF implementation. To meet this goal, the program will focus on consolidating the gains in the Federal budget process work by cascading to the States, improving on the strategic purchasing of primary health in the country, and the capacity building and strengthening governance and oversight functions of federal-level agencies. This will help position them to effectively support state-level implementation of BHCPF towards achieving service delivery outcomes and impact on health outcomes. The Project seeks to drive effective & efficient health care financing (HCF) by supporting the national scale-up of implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and promoting the development and implementation of mechanisms to improve Primary Health Care (PHC) financing.

The Associate Director will work closely with key actors at the federal and subnational levels to improve the strategic purchasing of primary healthcare using the benefit package review as an entry point. The Associate Director will report to the Country Director and will collaborate with other members of the R4D leadership team. The location of this position is Abuja, Nigeria. The Associate Director will work with team members based in a variety of global time zones, including, but not limited to, the East coast of the United States and multiple countries in Africa.

Responsibilities

The Associate Director is expected to perform the following primary duties:
Strategic Direction and Technical Leadership
Identify, assess, and inform R4D about trends and opportunities for strategic health purchasing in Nigeria.
Work with the Country Director and team to set the strategic direction for the R4D Strategic Health Purchasing Sub-portfolio in Nigeria.
Identification of country demand for strategic health purchasing support, engagement with country stakeholders, and the design and implementation of packages of support based on identified demand.
Development of strategic purchasing knowledge products and their effective dissemination.
Partnership Development
Establish and maintain relations with key stakeholders particularly the Federal and State governments, ministries of health, health purchasing institutions, research and policy institutions across Nigeria to facilitate collaboration on strategic health purchasing.
Develop and sustain partnerships with international, regional and local technical partners to enhance program development and service delivery.
Cultivate partnerships with donors (foundations, institutional etc.) for increased investments towards Strategic purchasing in Nigeria.
Program Management & Implementation
Monitor delivery of programs for quality improvement. Track key deliverables and key performance indicators to ensure that all workstreams are on-track to achieve their results.
Work with program partners and R4D teams to ensure the development of activities that contribute to the sustainability (financial, approach, impact etc.)
Ensure smooth start-up of all new work. Develop highly effective teams of existing and/or newly recruited staff. Promote strong funder and partner relationships. Ensure sound and feasible budgets and work plans.
Advocacy
Communicate with stakeholders both locally and internationally to keep them informed of R4D’s work and solicit support and commitment.
Form alliances that promote strategic health purchasing in sub-Saharan Africa.
Human Resource
Coach and mentor staff as appropriate to achieve high levels of performance.
Support a thriving work environment that attracts, optimizes and retains high-performing talent.
Participates fully as a member of R4D by contributing, assisting and participating in projects, activities, and initiatives as requested by management

Qualifications

Advanced degree in health economics, health financing, health policy, public health, or related field.
At least 10 years of experience in health financing, universal health coverage, health systems strengthening or health policy role at a senior level.
Demonstrated experience contributing to national/international health financing, health systems reform or UHC strategy and policy development.
Experience and a strong reputation working with or liaising with government institutions and multilateral organizations and institutions would be an advantage.
Demonstrated leadership showing strategic thinking in designing and executing projects, including steering work planning, managing and mentoring colleagues, and overseeing compliant and cost-effective use of resources to deliver on objectives.
Strong skills in process facilitation and stakeholder management across diverse groups, including government and development partners.
Understanding of collaborative working methods.
Ability to coach and mentor junior staff. Ability to promote a highly engaged organizational culture of excellence and continuous improvement that values learning and innovation, entrepreneurship, and commitment to organizational diversity, equity, inclusion, and professional growth.
Ability to participate in public forums and effectively engage local and international audiences to ensure strong communication about R4D’s work.
Track record of leading and publishing global knowledge and analytic products and presenting them to external audiences on global and country panels and conferences.
Ability to set priorities and handle multiple competing time and resource demands; highly organized.
Decisiveness and ability to reach timely decisions and initiate action appropriately.
Entrepreneurship, sound commercial judgment, and instinct.
Willingness and ability to travel throughout sub-Saharan Africa
Strong interpersonal skills and experience working with cross cultural teams.
Fluency in English including excellent written and verbal communication, report writing, and presentation skills.

Results for Development is an EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering and nurturing an energetic, collaborative and diverse workforce. R4D provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.