The Team Leader will have overall responsibility for the management and coordination of all project activities, staff, and leadership to achieve sustainable results in accordance with the contract and donor guidelines.

S/he will serve as the primary liaison with FCDO, the Government of Sierra Leone, IMA headquarters and other relevant project stakeholders. S/he will ensure the project’s goals, objectives, and strategy are achieved and that contractual requirements are met on time and within budget.

S/he is responsible for directing the project team with an integrated vision, applying effective leadership and strategic planning skills, management experience, outstanding interpersonal skills, and strong written and oral communication skills.

The Team Leader also ensures that all management systems, from technical to M&E to finance actively support timely and accurate project reporting and cost effectiveness for successful implementation of the project. Additionally, S/he is responsible for ensuring compliance with Corus’s policies and procedures and FCDO rules and regulations, including responsibility for ensuring sub-awardee compliance and monitoring the quality of program implementation.

The position will be based in Freetown. S/he will report directly to the Senior Regional Director, West Africa and Haiti.

Actual hiring is contingent upon successful activity award and FCDO approval. Sierra Leonean nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities:

Provide overall project, strategic and technical leadership, and supervision of all project activities, including sub-awardees and project personnel, to ensure program activities maximize project objectives.

Lead all project planning responsibilities, including the production of annual workplans and budgets and performance monitoring plan, ensuring alignment of the budget to expected results and ensuring cost-effective use of resources.

Lead the Project Management Unit, providing overall leadership and supervision of all project activities, including sub-awardees/contractors and project personnel.

Evaluate project effectiveness and determine corrective action needed to improve goal achievement, in accordance with the Senior Regional Director and the Technical Program Manager at headquarters.

Identify lessons learned and best practices for external dissemination.

Serve as the primary point of contact with FCDO, project partners, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, and key stakeholders.

Liaise with FCDO partners and other donors, as well as implementing partners and stakeholders, to ensure coordination of and harmonization with other relevant activities in Sierra Leone.

Oversee responses to donor reporting and key project deliverables, including periodic technical and financial reports, specified in the award to ensure high-quality and timely deliverables.

Ensure compliance with FCDO award and IMA World Health headquarters requirements, policies, and regulations.

Monitor staff performance and provide capacity strengthening support when needed.

Ensure visibility of project results, achievements, and lessons learned through presentations at conferences and workshops and/or by publishing articles through professional journals.

Recruit and directly supervise local project staff in line with IMA World Health HR policies; oversee the management and development of project office human resources to ensure a diverse, skilled, and productive workforce; an effective leadership team; and an organizational culture where IMA’s values are practiced.

Manage funds and sub awards; closely monitor project expenditures.

Together with field and project staff, prepare annual budgets; ensure and supervise regular financial reporting; keep FCDO apprised of significant variances.

Ensure project expenses are reasonable, allocable, prudent, and spent in accordance with FCDO rules and regulations, support annual audit procedure.

Oversee property and equipment acquisition, disposition, and management.

Qualifications:

Master’s degree or higher in Public Health, International development, or similar field is required.

10 years of demonstrated experience in implementing, leading, and managing large health programs is required. Familiarity with and expertise in overseeing financial and contractual management aspects of project management is crucial, requiring outstanding organizational skills.

At least 5 years of prior experience as a Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader or equivalent (preferably on an FCDO-funded project) is required.

Experience overseeing development and implementation of M&E and knowledge management strategies relevant to international public health projects.

Experience overseeing sub-awardees to achieve project results.

Outstanding written and oral communication and interpersonal skills in English are required.

Deep knowledge of the health context of Sierra Leone required, with experience working in Sierra Leone strongly preferred.

Demonstrated experience leading diverse teams to achieve successful project implementation, financial management, and reporting.

Experience collaborating and coordinating with local and national host government agencies and aligning program activities and results with national strategies.

Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with regional/district governments, representatives from other key stakeholders (such as NGOs, CSOs, etc.), and the private sector.

Demonstrated ability to operate at advanced levels of authority and accountability for achieving results.

Awareness of FCDO rules and regulations and compliance standards required.