Chief Technical Officer/Director – Community Engagement and Advocacy

Are you passionate about empowering communities for improved health and nutrition outcomes? If yes, then this could be your opportunity to use your skills and experience to design and implement innovative approaches to promote greater community engagement, empowerment and ownership of health and nutrition services in Ethiopia.

Project overview:

IPE Global is looking to deliver an anticipated four-year USAID-funded initiative, 'Empowered Communities Activity', in Ethiopia. This Activity aims to achieve better health and nutrition outcomes through improved community ownership of health and strengthened social accountability systems and platforms. The Activity will have a significant focus and engagement at the woreda and community level, supporting the strengthening of community platforms, enhancing citizens' voices and fostering greater accountability and quality health services. Implementation strategies will include engagement of local Non-State Actors (NSAs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and attention to health system functionality, community health-seeking behaviors and care-seeking practices to improve and contribute to higher-quality, more client-centered health services at Health Post (HP) and Health Center (HC) levels. The Activity will be implemented in up to 30 selected woredas in three agrarian and one pastoralist region of Ethiopia, namely Afar, Amhara, Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's (SNNP).

Job Description:

IPE Global is seeking a skilled and motivated individual to join our team as the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) for the upcoming USAID-funded Activity in Ethiopia. The CTO will play a pivotal role in leading community engagement efforts, advocating for health-related issues, and building and strengthening relationships with various stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the project. S/he will lead in strategizing the project plan to foster relations with community members and other stakeholders. The CTO will also be responsible for developing an advocacy plan to promote community awareness of health rights and RMNCAH-N.

Key responsibilities:

• Design and implement comprehensive community engagement and advocacy strategies to engage with community members, organizations, and key stakeholders to promote greater community engagement, empowerment and ownership of RMNCAH-N services; build advocacy capacity of non-State Actors (NSAs) to strengthen accountabity, transparency and responsivenesss of health systems;
• Build technical and leadership capacities of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and non-State Actors (NSAs) to improve engagement, ownership, and functionality of community systems/platforms to drive greater social accountability and ultimately, improved health outcomes in target communities;
• Identify opportunities for collaboration, partnerships, and initiatives that align with the project's goals and objectives;
• Cultivate strong relationships with community members, local community organizations, yoiuth and other relevant stakeholders. Collaborate with them to develop joint initiatives using human centered design and other approaches to improve community engagement, empowerment and ownership of health and nutrition services;
• Lead a team of community engagement and advocacy professionals, providing guidance, mentorship, and support;
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment, encouraging innovation, creativity, and a strong commitment to our organization's mission;
• Ensure the effective implementation of planned community interventions, monitor their progress, and evaluate their outcomes;
• Oversee the planning, organization, and execution of community events, workshops, and campaigns;
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful event outcomes and maximum community participation.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in communications, public relations, social sciences or other relevant disciplines;
• At least 12 years of proven experience of working in community engagement, advocacy on health, nutrition, or a related field, with a minimum of 5 years in a leadership role;
• Strong understanding of community development principles, social justice issues, and advocacy strategies in Ethiopia or East Africa;
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage diverse audiences and convey complex ideas effectively;
• Demonstrated experience in building and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders, and media outlets;
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire a team towards achieving shared goals;
• Exceptional organizational and project management abilities, with the capacity to prioritize multiple tasks, engage with multiple community stakeholders and meet deadlines;
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting, with the ability to derive insights and make data-driven decisions;
• Good understanding and experience of implementing human centered design (HCD) approaches will be an advantage;
• Passion for social impact, community development, and driving positive change.