Program Manager, Early Childhood Development at PATH

Our Early Childhood Development (ECD) team is a global leader in the integration of child development into health systems. PATH’s pioneering approach is designed to support all parents of young children get the support they need to enable their children to reach their full developmental potential. PATH works with government and strategic partners to build the leadership and policy context that facilitates provision of quality ECD services to be delivered sustainably and at scale as part of a routine package of PHC services. We build evidence to support the advocacy that creates government and donor readiness to invest in young children more holistically. We recognize that many mothers, especially young and first-time mothers, require specialized support for their own and their child’s well-being and innovate to help governments and communities to respond to these needs. PATH leverages its country-level experience to help shape global goods and donor practice through partnerships with WHO, UNICEF, and others and through active membership in networks such as the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) and the THRIVE Coalition. PATH’s ECD team includes diverse and dynamic colleagues in Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa, and the USA.

The ECD Program Manager will serve as overall ECD Team Leader and reports to the PHC Director. The ECD Program Manager has the following primary responsibilities:

Ensure high quality implementation of projects

• Provide technical and tactical expertise to the ECD team to inform project planning, implementation and evaluation, and to other PATH teams working on projects with related components
• Proactively problem solve technical issues; identify technical strengthening priority areas together with staff and regional and country partners; manage provision of ECD technical assistance and expertise across organization
• Reinforce application of continuous quality improvement approaches and partner capacity development strategies
• Have oversight for activities of staff, contractors, and consultants to meet deliverables and ensure that projects are on track.
• Contribute to, review, and approve project deliverables
• Serve as project director for select multi-country projects within the portfolio as appropriate

Generate new revenue across geographies

• Foster innovative ideas and opportunities through co-creation with country programs, the PHC program, PATH overall and external partners
• Develop, identify, and secure strategic partnerships to advance innovation and access to expanded Nurturing Care for ECD services
• Create a diversified, sustainable and coherent portfolio that effectively links across ECD projects and across PATH Teams and Programs to contribute to better integration and impact
• Understand donor priorities and cultivate relationships that lead to new opportunities
• Serve as either proposal team leader or technical lead for proposals as appropriate and oversee and support leadership of ECD new business opportunities by others
• Review and provide constructive feedback on draft proposals to leverage opportunities for ECD integration into designs of other teams and programs while ensuring quality and alignment with PATH’s PHC and overall strategic goals

Lead and build the capacity of a global team with strong connections across PATH

• Lead ECD team, including supervising, coaching and mentoring staff in many geographic locations and advancing a transparent, inclusive, and respectful global team culture that empowers team members for enhanced localization of decision making
• Build technical capacity across PATH in early childhood development through mentorship, development of cross-PATH collaborations, and recruitment of new technical expertise, including at country level and aligned with PATH’s deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
• Provide and oversee ECD inputs to relevant opportunities led by other teams within PATH; identify opportunities to elevate ECD within other health area bids and projects, in coordination with other PATH leaders. Foster connection through various innovations that promote the larger PHC program across PATH and position to strengthen program linkages with ECDAN specifically
• Provide leadership consistent with PATH’s mission, values, and policies
• Model cultural and organizational agility, transparency, and commitment to work collaboratively internally and externally, as well as clear and open communication approaches in a dynamic environment

Required Experience:

• Master’s degree in public health, public policy, or related field plus a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in ECD, or a related field preferred or an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered
• Proven technical leadership in various aspects of ECD (or related field) in the areas of program design, implementation, measurement, and research
• Enthusiasm for and proven proficiency and success in business development of awards ranging in size from pilot-larger scale (>$2 Million); experience in shaping new ideas into compelling proposals to building a pipeline of prospects through to managing partnerships; successful business development with domestic and international philanthropies as well as USAID is highly desirable; Exceptional written and oral communications geared to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences, and proven ability to make presentations to and facilitate meetings of small and large groups
• Demonstrated people management skills with commitment to building a shared vision of the future and positive team culture across multiple country sites, including at least three years of management or supervisory experience. Above-average emotional intelligence and ability to give and receive constructive feedback
• Documented experience contributing to an inclusive environment and discussing issues of diversity, equity and inclusion as it relates to team and overall PATH priorities
• Excellent team player with ability to obtain results from dynamic teams and effectively manage and share updates and information from initiatives taking place across the ECD and broader PATH portfolios
• Excellent collaborator with ability to see and create connections across health areas, as well as across functional areas (e.g. digital health, diagnostics, advocacy etc.) within a matrixed organization
• Fluency in English required; working knowledge of other languages (e.g. French, Portuguese) is an advantage
• Available to travel nationally and internationally estimated at 20 percent per PATH’s travel and safety guidelines
• Must have legal authorization to work in one of the PATH country office locations noted

Location: Any PATH office location in the Africa region, Europe, and United States.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement

PATH has instituted a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all employees, interns, consultants, and temporary staff based in the United States. Individuals selected for job opportunities in the United States must be fully vaccinated, and show proof of vaccination status, upon hire. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson. Individuals with medical issues or sincerely held religious beliefs that prevent them from getting the vaccine may request an exemption from the vaccine requirement.

PATH is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued.

PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.