Policy Coordinator, NCDI Poverty Network

Mass General Brigham•Boston, MA

17d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Center for Integration Science in Global Health Equity (CIS) is an innovative collaboration between Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Partners in Health (PIH). The Center serves as the co-secretariat for the NCDI Poverty Network, which is dedicated to improving the lives of populations doubly afflicted by extreme poverty and non-communicable diseases and injuries. The CIS provides technical, policy, advocacy, and financial support for National NCDI Poverty Commissions and implementing partners in Network countries as they progress through a four-phase theory of change, including situational analysis of disease burden and health system capacities, priority setting, design of integrated delivery strategies, and implementation of clinical services within the public sector. The NCDI Poverty Network has pioneered the development and implementation of PEN-Plus (the Package of Essential NCD Interventions - Plus) as an integrated service model for severe childhood-onset chronic diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, sickle cell, and childhood-onset heart disease. PEN-Plus is currently implemented in 15 countries across Africa, South Asia, and the Caribbean, and has been endorsed by the WHO African Region as a regional strategy. The CIS works closely with national governments, development partners and donors, UN agencies, and local implementers to finance and scale implementation of PEN-Plus in countries with extreme poverty. The CIS is now recruiting for a NCDI Poverty Network Policy Coordinator to directly support National NCDI Poverty Commissions and in-country partner organizations to plan and execute activities related to the NCDI Poverty Network’s four-stage theory of change. Directly reporting to the Policy Director and in support of Regional Advisors, the Policy Coordinator will lead direct communications with National Commission and other in-country focal points for Network activities, develop and review technical content, and build workplans and support partners with achieving key milestones. The Policy Coordinator will also support Regional Advisors with technical review and contribution to PEN-Plus National Operational Plans for PEN-Plus and associated in-country partnership engagement to implement these plans with local stakeholders. The Policy Coordinator will support the Policy Director in technical partnerships with leading multilateral global and regional agencies (e.g. World Health Organization, UNICEF, Africa CDC) and assist with organizing meetings and events (both virtual and in-person). Finally, the Policy Coordinator will coordinate with key CIS technical teams (e.g., Integration Science, PEN-Plus), and collaborate with the CIS Administrative Director to ensure appropriate financial planning and reporting of activities within the policy workstream. Overall, the Policy Coordinator will be expected to navigate a complex virtual and multi-cultural environment and detailed organizational and multi-tasking skills will be paramount.

Requirements

Advanced degree (minimum Masters degree) in Public Health, Health Policy, or similar field is required
Minimum 5 years of project-oriented experience and proven results with health systems, health system strengthening, or health policy in resource-limited international settings is required
Ability to navigate a complex virtual and multicultural work environment across time zones is required
Availability to travel internationally (up to 10% FTE) for partner meetings and events, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, or with the co-secretariats in Boston or Maputo

Nice To Haves

Extensive work experience (5+ years) in countries that are part of the NCDI Poverty Network is highly desirable

Responsibilities

Support for National NCDI Poverty Commissions and other in-country policy-oriented activities : Lead on project management for policy-oriented “Phase I” activities of the Network, including project planning, organization, and reporting
Plan, schedule, and execute routine communication with in-country partners and focal points to ensure timely execution of planned activities
Develop, review, or edit technical content associated with NCDI Poverty Commission or other in-country policy-oriented activities with Policy Director, Regional Advisors, and other Secretariat members. Technical content includes analyses or reports detailing topics such as disease epidemiology, health system capacities, priority setting, and/or health financing.
Ensure updated Terms of Reference with in-country partners for policy-oriented activities
Support development, costing, and in-country partnership building for PEN-Plus National Operational Plans
Support technical review and development of PEN-Plus National Operational Plans, in particular resource estimation
Engage local, regional, and global stakeholders in dissemination, review, and alignment of National Operational Plans
Collaboration with key technical global or regional partners
Organize and structure regular communication with key regional/global multilateral or technical partners of the Network, including meeting agendas, minutes, and follow-up
Develop shared technical outputs from technical collaborations, such as meeting reports, joint analyses, or communication materials
Ensure updated Memoranda of Understanding with collaborating technical partners
Coordination within Secretariat technical teams and administration
Coordinate the NCDI Poverty Network Steering Committee materials and briefings
Organize and coordinate monthly NCDI Poverty Network Secretariat Rounds and other virtual meetings and events, such as internal briefing sessions or Network member events
Organize and facilitate Network co-Secretariat communication and collaboration (between Boston and Maputo)
Coordinate policy workstream activities closely with other Secretariat teams and workstreams, primarily Integration Science, PEN-Plus, and Advancement (including Advocacy and Membership and Engagement)
Provide routine updates and communication with CIS Administrative Director to ensure proper budget planning and execution of subawards to in-country partners