Deputy Project Director World Bank Multisectoral Nutrition and Health Project, Democratic Republic of Congo

In anticipation of a new multi-year World Bank Multisectoral Nutrition and Health Project, IMA is seeking a Deputy Project Director to lead an approximately $75-100 million project, to be based in the two Kasai states in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Corus International is a family of organizations that believes that those who were born into impossible circumstances deserve the opportunity for a better life. Corus was formed through the strategic merger of IMA World Health (operating as a public health organization since 1960), and Lutheran World Relief (operating as a livelihoods organization since 1945), and today includes the smaller entities of Charlie Goldsmith Associates, Ground Up Investing, and Farmers Market Coffee. Corus International works in over 20 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, with a primary focus on health, livelihoods, and emergency response.

Corus International’s largest country portfolio is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where IMA World Health has worked alongside the Congolese government, donors, and a variety of local and international partners since 2000, with a staff of over 200. Programs revitalize the country’s health system, improve WASH access and systems, prevent and respond to SGBV, promote clean energy, and improve the health of the population. The portfolio includes a focus on both sustainable development and humanitarian assistance activities and operates out of two base offices in Kinshasa and Goma.

Based in Kinshasa, the Deputy Project Director will report to the Project Director and will provide technical leadership and management support for the anticipated $75-100 million World Bank-funded Multisectoral Nutrition and Health Project, which will operate in the Kasai and Kasai Central Provinces. The Deputy Project Director will have the lead role in project reporting and documentation efforts, ensuring targets are reached and impacts are achieved. S/he also will play a lead role supporting the Project Director to ensure cost effectiveness. The incumbent also will support compliance with Corus HQ policies and procedures, as well as WB rules and regulations. This includes monitoring the quality of program implementation and may also include responsibility for ensuring sub-awardee compliance and monitoring the quality of program implementation.

Actual hiring is contingent upon successful project award and World Bank approval.

Key Responsibilities:

• Monitor project implementation, including tracking progress of program targets and deliverables; identifying issues that need to be addressed; and ensuring all reporting requirements are met
• Communication and coordination with partners, key staff, and consultants
• Use sound judgement to trouble-shoot routine problems and issues, while appropriately elevating larger, more complex, and/or sensitive challenges
• Exercise a proactive approach to identifying, communicating, and disseminating successes and achievements
• Facilitate strong and productive working relationships with all key stakeholders, internal and external, such as implementing and technical partners, Corus HQ, WB, and host country government counterparts
• Organize quarterly consortium and partner meetings
• Together with technical staff, support development (and necessary updates) of the annual workplan and M&E plan
• Support the Project Director in overseeing project deliverables, including leading and ensuring technical and financial report preparation and high-quality timely submission
• Ensure project expenses are reasonable, allowable, prudent, and spent in accordance with donor rules and regulations; support annual auditing efforts
• Supervise program managers and associates, including setting performance objectives, monitoring performance, and ensuring coordinated work streams
• Assist in developing research proposals from project data and work with partners on production of high-quality publications
• As delegated by the Project Director, represent the project in public and professional fora through meetings, conferences, and presentations; represent the project during donor and high-level visits, including those from USG and private agencies
• Complete other relevant tasks as assigned by the Project Director and/or Corus HQ, including serving as the acting Project Director when necessary (e.g. leave coverage, etc.)
• Direct preparation of annual work plans, project activity updates, and other project- related communication and reporting materials
• Support compliance with WB rules and regulations

Qualifications

• Master’s in Public Health or Nutrition required
• Proven technical expertise working on large-scale public health sector nutrition projects, including at least five years of senior-level management experience working on international donor agency-funded projects
• Strong technical background in nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programming, including:
  • interventions to reduce stunting reduction, including evidence and key determinants of child stunting; and
  • acute malnutrition interventions and best practices
• Knowledge and experience with health systems capacity strengthening required; preference for experience/knowledge of performance-based financing
• Experience collaborating and coordinating with local and national host government agencies and aligning program activities and results with national strategies
• Deep knowledge of the political, social, and economic context of DRC required, with experience working in DRC preferred
• Strong staff supervision skills and demonstrated ability to coordinate programs with partners from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong communication skills, including both written and oral presentation skills; proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse public and private partners
• Fluency in both French and English, with professional proficiency in writing required

IMA/Corus International prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by U.S. or International law.