Program Director

Management Sciences for Health • Arlington, VA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

MSH seeks a Program Director for a potential 5-year Rapid Outbreak and Response (ROR) project funded by the Bureau of Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD) of the U.S. Department of State. The program aims to advance timely, effective responses to infectious disease outbreaks by supporting immediate response actions during the earliest stages of an outbreak when rapid intervention can significantly limit transmission and reduce morbidity and mortality. The program capitalizes on existing country capacities and partnerships to support swift activation of outbreak response activities, complementing national leadership and established response frameworks. Activities support countries to 1) Rapid Activation and Surge Response, 2) Early Detection, Containment, and Mitigation, 3) Coordinated and Operationally Effective Response Support, and 4) System Reinforcement and Transition from emergency surge to recovery. MSH is a global health nonprofit that works with local partners from the Ministry to the community to build strong, resilient, and equitable health systems in more than 150 countries. This position is subject to project award and funding. The job location is flexible to candidates in the U.S. and other countries where MSH can hire. Candidates can be remote or on-site.

Requirements

• MPH, MD, or relevant master’s degree required; PhD in epidemiology, public health surveillance, infectious diseases, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 8-10+ years of progressively responsible experience in global health security, epidemic preparedness, surveillance system strengthening, laboratory systems, or emergency response.
• Demonstrated subject-matter expertise in at least two core GHS areas: epidemic prevention, public health surveillance, laboratory detection systems, GHS workforce development, emergency preparedness/response, or One Health.
• Strong experience partnering with Ministries of Health, national public health institutes, and government stakeholders.
• Prior experience directing large international donor-funded projects, preferably USG-funded.
• Proven strategic planning, visioning, and high-level stakeholder engagement.
• Familiarity with USG regulations, reporting systems, and program implementation expectations.
• Excellent communication, diplomacy, conflict resolution, and team leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work within complex networks and coordinate across technical, geographic, and institutional boundaries.
• Fluency in English required; French fluency is advantageous and preferred.

Nice To Haves

• PhD in epidemiology, public health surveillance, infectious diseases, or related field preferred.
• French fluency is advantageous and preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee implementation of all project activities related to rapid activation and surge response, early detection, containment, and mitigation to infectious disease threats, coordinated and operationally effective response support, and system reinforcement and transition from emergency surge to recovery. This work includes outbreak prevention and response, early warning systems, surveillance, laboratory detection, emergency response capacity, and national, regional, and international coordination.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the donor, ensuring high-quality deliverables, compliance, and timely achievement of program milestones.
• Ensure strong coordination with MOHs, national public health institutes, regional bodies, implementing partners, relevant academic institutions, and other USG agencies and other donors working in global health security.
• Uphold MSH standards for financial, contractual, political, and technical integrity.
• Provide vision and leadership to design, adapt, and implement technical approaches supporting GHS across the Prevent–Detect–Respond spectrum.
• Oversee development and refinement of the results framework, performance monitoring plan, MERL systems, and annual work plans as required by the donor.
• Guide strategies to build government capacities to lead and manage GHS efforts including strengthen surveillance systems such as event-based and indicator-based surveillance, early warning, digital disease detection, and data sharing with national and global partners.
• Support enhancement of laboratory systems, biosafety, sample transport systems, diagnostic capacity, and data-to-action processes.
• Develop strategies to strengthen and expand public health workforce as needed/ requested.
• Oversee activities to strengthen emergency operations, including rapid response teams, incident management systems, and multisector coordination mechanisms.
• Ensure documentation, learning, and dissemination of project results for maximum global impact.
• Ensure strong operational management, including compliance with GHSD and USG requirements and MSH SOPs.
• Establish a streamlined project staffing structure that reflects technical and geographic priorities and optimizes coordination with MOHs, USG and other entities; build a strong team of exceptional experts and professionals who deliver.
• Manage, mentor, and develop project staff through supportive supervision, performance management, and capacity-building plans.
• Promote a culture of learning, accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with GHSD, other USG agencies, MOHs, national public health institutes, implementing partners, regional bodies, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure that project intelligence, political developments, risk factors, and opportunities are continuously monitored and communicated internally.
• Represent the project and MSH in national, regional, and global GHS fora.
• Ensure strong thought leadership and shared learning strategies and platforms.

Benefits

• substantial vacation, sick and holiday policies
• training and development programs
• competitive insurance coverage for health, vision, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability
• 401k plan
• Flexible Spending Account

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees