Data.FI Regional Director, Central America (Guatemala City, Guatemala) 149 views

Data.FI Regional Director, Central America (Guatemala City, Guatemala)

Company Overview:

About Palladium – Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people’s lives. 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.  

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com

Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.

Purpose of Position

Palladium is currently seeking a Regional Director, Central America (based in Guatemala City, Guatemala) to support implementation of the Translating Data for Implementation (Data.FI) award. Data.FI is a five-year global project funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Data.FI works to accelerate and sustain access to high-quality data to expedite HIV and COVID-19 epidemic control and maintenance. Data.FI supports host country governments to enhance existing health information systems (HIS) and conduct in-depth analysis of epidemiologic and program data to inform management responses to gaps in programming and sustain impact by supporting local partner transition.

The Regional Director will lead a team of technical advisors with expertise in digital health and data analytics to support governments in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama through USAID to better monitor and mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic and improve health information systems for HIV. The Regional Director will provide leadership and technical oversight of the Data.FI program in the region, including building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders and submission of all technical products to the highest standard of quality. 

This position is based in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The initial position term is 12 months, with an extension dependent on continued project funding. 

Primary responsibilities: 

•Provide overall leadership and management oversight to Data.FI/Central America, including financial and contractual oversight, managing a team of Guatemala-based digital health staff and data analysts, to achieve the objectives and benchmarks laid out in the country-specific workplans 
•Ensure the strategic and functional integration across all technical areas of individual country workplans and ensure efficiencies in implementation across various countries workplans 
•Provide technical oversight to any project partners and sub-contractors in Guatemala
•Support project planning, contribute technical expertise as necessary to ensure project implementation, with a focus on results and financial accountability for all project activities
•Ensure that monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are properly developed and lead reporting of activity progress and benchmarks
•Establish quality assurance standards in-line with Data.FI and USAID standards
•Contribute to a cost share plan for the buy-in
•With technical staff, advise USAID and Central America governments on priorities and approaches with respect to COVID-19 immunization and HIV information systems and data analytics 
•In collaboration with the Palladium Country Representative, Guatemala, maintain strong, positive working relationships with the Guatemala government, USAID/Guatemala, PAHO, Palladium colleagues, USAID Washington, and partners, including but not limited to major subrecipients, local grantees, subcontractors, and local governments, to ensure effective implementation of project activities
•Contribute strategic vision on program sustainability including strategies for building local capacity across countries and share lessons learned in the region
•Advise on best governance principles, including ownership, inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, integrity, and ethical standards; balance the interests of various stakeholders and support participatory governance through multisectoral partnerships
•Promote project work within LAC and globally, contributing to thought leadership. Author blogs and related communications about the project’s work. Represent project at national, regional, and global technical forums as required.
•Collaborate with the Palladium Country Representative, Guatemala and other Palladium projects in the region to maximize efficiencies and coordination.

Minimum education and experience required

•Masters level education in public health, medicine, health informatics, monitoring and evaluation, or another relevant field of study; MBA or PMP certification would be an asset; MD preferred.
•Significant experience managing complex health programs including a health information system component  , with experience in program management; staff oversight and supervision; and tracking project performance. Experience managing a USAID-funded program strongly preferred. 
•Significant technical experience in health information systems strengthening or digital health or data use. 
•Recent work experience supporting national health information systems in Guatemala and/or the region (the last three years). 
•Experience working at different levels of the health system, from the district to the national level, in Central America countries, including strong working relationships with regional government staffing working in strategic information and informatics and PAHO.

Key competencies and professional expertise required

•Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with USAID, government officials, and other development partners (including PAHO) in the region. Demonstrated high-level stakeholder alignment skills. 
•Demonstrated understanding of health information systems including surveillance systems. Experience supporting immunization information systems is preferred. 
•Demonstrated understanding of the COVID-19 and HIV data streams in Guatemala (and preferably Honduras, El Salvador and Panama), and the information needs of stakeholders from the facility level through to the national level. 
•Strong management skills, strategic vision, leadership qualities, professional reputation, and ability to create synergies across a program of work.
•Experience overseeing a team of M&E and health informatics professionals, based across multiple sites.  
•Detail-oriented and deadline-driven with strong organizational skills and ability to work in a dynamic and agile environment with changing requirements and priorities. 
•Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of a fast-moving and multicultural team while maintaining a client-centered focus, and promoting diversity and inclusion across different cultures, genders, and hierarchical levels. 
•Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
•Sound problem solving and decision-making skills.
•Entrepreneurial and inquisitive mindset that takes initiative to learn new systems, technologies, and skills pertinent to the work of Data.FI.
•Professional level of oral and written fluency in both Spanish and English. 
•Willingness to travel within Central America up to 25% of the time and internationally, periodically.
•Current legal authorization to work long-term in Guatemala.

Reporting requirements

The role reports directly to the US-based Deputy Project Director and the Palladium Country Representative in Guatemala. Reporting requirements include:

•Attendance at routine Data.FI team meetings;
•Provision of regular updates to line managers, including status of Key Result Areas (KRAs), and any other material matters and/or areas of concern;
•Lead reporting to USAID for all LAC activities;
•Other reporting as requested by the line manager.

Relationships

•The role is part of the Data.FI Project Team and will work in coordination with Palladium’s Guatemala Country Representative, the US-based LAC Regional Manager, and US-based and regional technical leadership and project management staff. 
•This role will supervise a number of technical and administrative positions.

Authority levels

•The role carries a degree of autonomy on technical leadership with appropriate consultation. 
•Oversee and maintain quality control over project activities at the country level.
•With the US-based LAC Regional Manager, manage LAC country budgets. 
•Contribute to process improvement through innovative and cost-effective proposals and ideas.