Vacancy: Strategic Information (SI) Director

Company Profile

USAID Advancing Nutrition is USAID’s flagship multi-sectoral nutrition project, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners. Launched in September 2018, USAID Advancing Nutrition implements and provides technical support to nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change, and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity and advance development.

From 2020 - 2022, USAID Advancing Nutrition will provide technical support and assessment services to advance the Government of Ghana’s efforts to improve equitable delivery of quality services that promote household resilience and early childhood growth and development. Technical services provided through USAID Advancing Nutrition will strengthen national and local government planning in Northern Ghana and stimulate the development of multisectoral solutions most pressing food security and nutrition problems. The portfolio will encompass activities funded by USAID/Washington as well as the USAID Ghana Mission.

Job Description

Strategic Information (SI) Director, USAID Resilience in Northern Ghana II (RING II)

Background

John Snow, Inc.  (JSI) seeks highly qualified and accomplished public health leaders and providers for the anticipated United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Resilience in Northern Ghana II (RING II)). If awarded to JSI, this five-year program will be led by JSI with other international and Ghanaian organizations, in partnership with National and sub-National entities in the Government of Ghana. If awarded, JSI will coordinate and provide technical assistance and training to support the Government of Ghana to achieve its stated health, agriculture and nutrition goals, with a focus on increasing demand for improved agriculture, nutrition and health practices and services in communities throughout Northern Ghana. 

Job Summary

The Strategic Information (SI) Director will be a full-time position based in JSI’s office in Tamale, Ghana. JSI defines SI as evidence-based data that is curated and packaged for use by internal and external stakeholders to further program objectives. To ensure that the portfolio of RING II’s activities contributes to achieving results, the SI Director will provide high quality technical assistance to the RING II team, implementing partners, GOG counterparts, and other stakeholders in the conceptualization, development, and implementation of a program SI system.  The SI Director will lead the SI Unit and provide overall management for all its activities. S/he will provide oversight to the monitoring and evaluation (M&E), research and learning (R&L), and policy and advocacy activities to steer and prioritize SI activities based on RING II’s priorities and concerns. S/he will ensure accurate data analyses and reports are conceptualized and generated to inform program and national dialogue. S/he will coordinate with external partners to promote RING II’s SI agenda. The SI Director will be supervised by the RING II Chief of Party (COP).

Primary Responsibilities and Duties

• Lead the continuous development, implementation, and promotion of RING II’s SI and advocacy strategy and guide the data generated to ensure it informs program objectives.


• Coordinate, supervise, and manage the SI Unit to ensure quality, timeliness, and efficiency of tasks according to the work plan and that the SI Unit activities contribute to the program’s strategic objectives and the national family planning’s strategic goals.


• Coordinate closely with the Program Documentation Manger to ensure that program data is shared appropriately with stakeholders (e.g., effective data visualization) and used to tell the story of project achievements.


• Ensure correct and timely reporting and tracking of program achievements in accordance with USAID Ghana and RING II requirements.


• Ensure data collection via monitoring and research are based on best practices and provide on-the-job training for skills development where appropriate.


• Make recommendations for improvements for data collection and reporting systems in order to improve the quality and maximize the use of data to achieve program objectives. 


• Serve as RING II’s focal point for SI and liaise closely with all units within the RING II team to ensure a consistent SI approach.


• Coordinate consultants as needed to support the work and special activities undertaken by the SI Unit and in consultation with the COP.


• Identify areas where SI training is needed, develop curricula to build staff capacity in SI.


• Participate in national and international forums to ensure effective exchange of SI and liaise with partners, donors, sub-grantees, and other stakeholders about RING II’s performance data and lessons learned.


• Keep abreast of literature and latest developments in technical areas and SI programming and of relevant legislation and activities of government bodies to incorporate cutting edge approaches and methodologies into program SI work.


• Oversee the preparation of data for quarterly and annual reports to USAID Ghana, the annual work planning process, policy and advocacy briefs, and other needs as identified.


• Conduct field visits to observe, monitor, and provide guidance, conduct data quality assessments (DQA) and provide quality feedback on the use of program data for management and decision making.


• Collaborate with RING II’s technical teams to identify activities, processes and/or outcomes that are worthy of documentation, and design a system for capturing lessons learned and best practices.


• Perform other duties as assigned by the COP which contribute to the achievement of program objectives.

Required Skills or Experience

• PhD degree in public health with a minimum of ten years of experience in strategic information or related field (or a Master’s degree with a minimum of fifteen years’ experience) with international donor funded projects, preferably having experience with USAID-funded projects; experience with USAID reporting required.


• Ability to conceptualize and translate abstract concepts, ideas, and procedures into non-technical explanations and recommendations around a SI framework.


• Experience leading the development and implementation of policy and advocacy strategies and plans.


• Experience managing data, information, and evaluations on large-scale health or FP activities; working knowledge of FP/RH is essential. 


• Advanced knowledge of data management processes, data quality assurance, and best practices in data dissemination and data use, with an in-depth knowledge of SI and web-based systems desired.


• Detail- and results-oriented person with the ability to work independently and organize multiple tasks and responsibilities within time constraints.


• Excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of a diverse team of professionals, and demonstrated consensus-building skills.


• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Ghanaian local language required.


• Computer skills are essential, including word processing; a familiarity with graphics and statistical analysis a plus.  


• Based in Tamale with ability to frequently travel to remote areas in Northern Ghana.