Pathfinder International Overview

Pathfinder International is a global leader in sexual and reproductive health. We place reproductive health care at the center of all that we do—believing that it is not only a fundamental human right, but is critical for expanding life opportunities for women, families, communities, and nations, and paving the way for transformations in environmental stewardship, decreases in population pressures, and innovations in poverty reduction. Pathfinder provides women, men, and adolescents with a range of quality health services—from contraception and maternal care to HIV prevention and AIDS care and treatment. Pathfinder strives to strengthen access to family planning, ensure availability of safe abortion services and post-abortion care, advocate for sound reproductive health policies, and, through all of our work, improve the rights and lives of the people we serve.

Program Overview

Pathfinder’s Technical Services Unit provides guidance and expertise in a variety of technical areas to strengthen Pathfinder field offices and government and NGO partners, who implement Pathfinder projects. These areas of technical expertise include contraception, abortion and postabortion care, maternal and newborn health, HIV and AIDS, adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health, technical documentation and communications, and knowledge management. TSU staff provide overall technical direction in their key areas, including technical assistance to field offices and development of relevant curricula and technical tools.

Position Purpose

The Senior Contraception Advisor provides overall technical leadership in the areas of contraception and commodity security. S/he develops contraceptive service delivery strategies with project staff, in a manner that reflects an organization-wide strategy while accommodating proven country-specific approaches. S/he will be the technical lead on contraception and commodity security, with a special focus on long-acting and permanent methods and integration of contraceptive services within other health services (HIV, MNCH). S/he will coordinate and collaborate with partners to develop capacity in the design, management, and monitoring of programs that link contraceptive services with other health and non-health activities. S/he will assess technical and training needs, review and adapt training materials, provide training and document/disseminate best practices for contraceptive services in clinical and non-clinical settings. S/he will ensure that Pathfinder draws on state-of-the-art knowledge and practices, and will be responsible for representing Pathfinder’s contraceptive work at donor meetings, interagency working groups, and other technical forums.

Key Responsibilities

•Provides overall technical guidance and leadership in the design and implementation of strategies related to contraception throughout the organization including the design of service delivery models/systems to accelerate service expansion and ensure quality of care;
•Supports cross fertilization and technical capacity building efforts within the organization (both field and HQ) related to contraception and commodity security. This will require the assessment of current skill sets and the development of a technical assistance and mentoring plan to address gaps.
•Leads the development of quality standards related to Pathfinder International’s contraceptive service delivery, commodity security, and demand generation activities;
•Assists Pathfinder country offices, country governments, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Missions, local implementing partners, and other organizations to assess needs and provide contraceptive services that address community and client needs and preferences;
•Coordinates with Pathfinder country programs, other organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other institutions to accelerate integration of contraception and other health services (HIV, MNCH) and service linkages with non-health institutions;
•Works as a team member with other Pathfinder staff, both field and HQ, to design programs and develop project proposals;
•Works with Pathfinder staff to identify new opportunities for Pathfinder to develop innovative approaches to the delivery of quality RH/contraceptive services;
•Works with partner organizations (both government and NGO) and other stakeholders, to design and implement evidence-based contraceptive strategies;
•Develops, implements, and replicates innovative strategies to link technical areas, in collaboration with other Pathfinder HQ and field staff;
•Provides clinical training in contraception.
•Provides assistance to public-sector ministries and agencies engaged in policy or health sector reform on contraceptive service issues;
•Develops, reviews, adapts and disseminates guidelines, standards of practice, protocols and other tools to improve quality in clinical and non-clinical settings;
•Participates in development, preparation, and dissemination/publication of technical papers and documents.
•Represent Pathfinder at professional meetings and events;
•Collaborates with World Health Organization (WHO), USAID, international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and other service delivery projects/organizations;
•Participates on country support team and technical task forces;

Basic Requirements

•Masters (or other advanced) Degree or Ph.D. in Public Health or other related field.
•Minimum of ten years of experience in contraception/reproductive health, preferably including several years with USAID or USAID-funded projects.
•Demonstrated leadership in working and collaborating with other technical advisors, experts and host country staff from the public, private, NGO and commercial sectors.
•Comprehensive knowledge of current trends and best practices in contraception, reproductive health and commodity security in developing countries.
•Commitment to the mission, vision and values of Pathfinder International.
•Strong written and interpersonal communication skills.
•Excellent organizational skills with an emphasis on being thorough, detail-oriented, with ability to multi-task and work under tight time-lines.
•Ability to work effectively as a senior individual contributor or in a highly collaborative team.
•Fluent in written and spoken English.
•Excellent computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
•Previous overseas living and/or work experience in one or more developing countries
•Ability to travel internationally up to 30%.

Preferred Qualifications

•Clinical degree required; physician, nurse-midwife or nurse practitioner.
•Proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese, French or other language.

Job location is Washington, DC preferable or Watertown, MA.

Pathfinder International is proud to be an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please apply at: http://www.pathfind.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Employment