Job Details

Job Description

Director, Strategic Planning and Information Management

Zambia National Public Health Institute

The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) has the mandate to lead health security for the Republic of Zambia. Resolve to Save Lives, a US-based global public health organization, works closely with Ministries of Health and national public health institutes in Africa to strengthen epidemic preparedness capacity, accelerate disease detection and response, and use data effectively to inform action. ZNPHI is collaborating with Resolve to Save Lives on a new surveillance program to enhance disease and contextual/risk data through strengthened surveillance and innovations in epidemic intelligence, effective use of existing and emergent data throughout the event lifecycle, and development of data tools and products that support key decision-makers from communities, the health sector, and government bodies.

ZNPHI seeks to recruit a suitably qualified and experienced person to be appointed as Director, Strategic Planning and Information Management (SPIM) under this collaborative project.

Job Title:  Director, Strategic Planning and Information Management (SPIM)

Reports to:  Director General-Zambia National Public Health Institute

Location:  Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI)

Fixed-term Employment: Through August 31, 2026, with possibility of extension

Job Purpose:

The Director, Strategic Planning and Information Management shall be responsible for strategic planning, research and information management that are an essential pre-requisite to the formulation of coherent policies in the successful implementation of the Zambia National Public Health Institute strategic goals. He/she shall also advise and support all matters concerning the formulation of draft long-term policies in public health security and ensure that they are approved and implemented. This is a cross cutting role that will oversee the management of technical staff responsible for supporting public health informatics requirements, data synthesis and information packaging from all departments across the Institute.

Core Duties and Responsibilities:

Corporate Planning

• Coordinates effectively the development, implementation and review of the ZNPHI Strategic Plan (SP) in order to ensure attainment of the Institutes strategic objectives
• Monitors the implementation of the Strategic Plan by analyzing the performance of ZNPHI against set targets and ensures that quarterly Performance Review Reports are prepared on time
• Facilitates the mid-term and end of term evaluations of the ZNPHI Strategic Plan
• Ensures effective monitoring of the implementation of strategic and operational plans to ensure quality, quantity, timeliness and results in relation to planned objectives and expected outcomes
• Provides strategic planning and oversight for implementation of public health informatics and data management initiatives to support the ZNPHI Strategic Plan and Collaborative Surveillance between ZNPHI, MOH and other sectors

Planning and Budgeting

• Coordinates the development and implementation Annual Work Plans and Budgets in order to achieve set targets
• Coordinates the consolidation of budgets against set objectives/policies in order to ensure appropriate use of resources
• Monitors the activities of budget and takes corrective action as necessary

Programme/Project Management and Coordination

• Works closely with other Departments and Units at ZNPHI in implementing performance improvement programs and projects in order to ensure effective performance
• Coordinates the direction of strategic planning process for projects implementation across ZNPHI’s functional areas in order to attain set objectives
• Coordinates all Directorates, Units and stakeholders in the development and communication of project strategies with high impact, clear targets and measurable outcomes that support the implementation of the ZNPHI Strategic Plan linked to the National Development Plan and the National Health Strategic Plan
• Develops proposals and concept notes for potential donors and funders to ensure adequate resources in order to ensure effective implementation of the ZNPHI Strategic Plan
• Develops metrics, presentations and reports demonstrating strategic impact of projects and interventions to the ZNPHI Board, Government, Cooperating Partners and other stakeholders in the public health sector in order to facilitate knowledge sharing
• Manages SPIM staff as assigned, ensuring clear objectives, responsibilities, feedback and alignment to the ZNPHI Strategic Plan, public health informatics and data management efforts

Organization of Regular Project Meetings and Assessments

• Coordinates and manages organisation of programme/project inception workshops and meetings that deploy program implementing strategies, determines annual work plans, and introduces the programme management regulations
• Coordinates periodic programme/project implementation review meetings and assessments on all current projects
• Coordinates quarterly and annual performance review meetings and review of implementation work plans for the following year

Programme/Projects Documentation

• Ensures that quarterly monitoring reports and Programme bulletins are compiled (on regular basis) for dissemination within ZNPHI and other stakeholders
• Assists Departments in compiling annual reports to be submitted the periodic review meetings
• Ensures timely preparation of end project reports, highlighting the lessons learnt and recommendations for future engagements with project funders, sector players, etc.

Implementation of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) Performance Management System

• Oversees the implementation of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) performance management system at ZNPHI that will be used to measure the delivery of the ZNPHI strategy in order to ensure the Institute is aligned with the strategy
• Oversees the development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that will be used for measuring performance for ZNPHI

Leadership & Research

• Custodian of the data accumulated in the Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC)
• Routine review of data matrices and track trends of key data within the PHEOC
• Leads in conceptualization, design and proposal writing for research and program grants
• Oversight on research projects within, and across departments
• Lead analysis of various datasets resulting in research/program communicates, peer reviewed journal publications and policy briefs

Required Qualifications, Skills & Experience:

• Full Grade 12 School Certificate with minimum five O level credits including English and Mathematics
• PhD in a relevant field of study such as Biostatistics, Informatics, Epidemiology, Health Economics, Demography, Mathematics or equivalent.
• At least 10 years’ experience supporting a high-level executive, or other relevant experience
• Demonstrable experience in public health, policy and public communication; and partner liaison
• Research experience including grantsmanship

Desired experience

• Minimum of 5 years of work experience at Director level in health informatics, Planning and Research, Director-Monitoring and Evaluation or related responsibilities is desirable
• Demonstrable experience working in or with a governmental agency
• Experience working in the health sector is desirable
• Familiarity with Zambian health sector
• Experience working with and on Donor funded projects is an added advantage
• Demonstrable ability to attract research or donor funding

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Team building skills
• Must be computer literate and proficient in MS Office
• Excellent interpersonal and public relation skills
• Capacity in decision-making and problem-solving

Please submit your cover letter and resume by February 2, 2024.

We are grateful for your interest in our work and for your application. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications typically received, we can only reply to shortlisted candidates. Thank you.