Program Director

Karachi Based

Pathfinder 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, advocate for sound reproductive health policies, and, through all of our work, improve the rights and lives of the people we serve.

Job Summary

Pathfinder International, Pakistan is implementing various family planning and HSS projects in the country. Specifically, we aim to concretize our support to the institutionalization of critical Family Planning best practices in the provinces based on our in-depth experience of FP programming and specifically our flagship project Naya Qadam. We welcome applications from senior qualified candidates who are interested in reproductive health and MNCH, are experts in results-based management for public policy implementation, and possess the competencies, education, and experience cited below. 

The Director Programs position at Pathfinder International focuses on implementing family planning and health and social services projects in the country. The role involves providing Management oversight and  leadership for Pathfinder programs, focusing on PPFP and PAFP, and collaborating with the project team to ensure deliverables meet the needs of intended populations. The role also involves collaborating with government and key partners on program design, overall goals, management, and monitoring. The Director also assesses technical and training needs, reviews and adapts training materials, and contributes to scaling up successful experiences in implementing best practices in clinical and community settings. The Director also partners with other technical advisors to enable policy, research, and programs benefiting women and female children.

Key Job Outcomes:

Provides strategic technical leadership and expertise to project sites on the implementation/ management of high-quality SRHR and HSS Delivery at community levels through Pathfinder Programs. Responsible for aligning and integrating project strategies and activities with existing systems, including women and child affairs, health, education, and others, with which adolescents interact Leads in the development of or providing technical assistance in the global and country-specific approaches, tools and materials supporting tailored approaches for intended populations in SRHR and PPFP and PAFP Delivery programs. Builds on existing tools and develops or adapts innovative approaches to ensure the efficiency, acceptability and impact of SRHR products and services.

Project Implementation

Ensures that project performance objectives and mandated deliverables such as technical activities, annual work plans, and programmatic/financial/technical reports are carried out in a timely fashion, meet the highest quality standards and take into account the donor's requirements and procedures.  Collaborates with other project teams, other donors, and country-based entities in the development and implementation of SRHR and HSS Delivery to bring a broad range of resources to meet multiple needs of intended populations.

Programming Design & Implementation 

Leads in the design, development, and implementation of innovative, effective, country-appropriate programming for SRHR to build and develop the capacity of intended populations.

Technical Assistant

Provides technical assistance to country offices, host-country governments, local partners, and other agencies to assess needs and develop SRHR PPFP and PAFP Integrated Service Delivery standards and guidance, and/or provide SRHR and HSS services that are responsive to the needs of intended populations.

Technical Support for Proposal 

Technical Support for Proposals: Provides technical support on the development of proposals, including participation in strategizing for technical approach, proposal writing, and proposal review.

Resource Management

Collaborates with other project teams, other donors, and country-based entities in the development and implementation of SRHR and HSS Delivery to bring a broad range of resources to meet multiple needs of intended populations.

Quality Assurance

Works with the technical team to ensure that best practices for services and service integration are well documented, evaluated, and poised for scale-up. Coaches and builds teams to optimize staff performance programming, target setting, and project work and scale-up.

Liaison with Key Stakeholders

Liaises and coordinates with key stakeholders and donors.

Country Team Coordination

Support the Country Director in leadership for the country program, business growth, team development, and operational excellence including building capacities of the team, government health managers, and policymakers on the institutionalization of Family Planning, PPFP, and PAFP, through result-based management approaches, exploring new constituencies for project success,   and strengthening the positioning of the organization.

Education and Work Experience

• Master’s degree in public health, management, public policy or related discipline.

• 10 years experience in working in international development, preferably in implementing programs in developing countries seeking to empower women and girls.

• Software Applications: Advanced knowledge of MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.

• Languages: Proven writing and speaking skills using local languages and English language.

• Communication and Influencing Skills: Proven ability to influence others through diplomacy and proven oral and written communication skills.

• Self-Management and Teamwork: Ability to work independently or as a member of the team, ability to be detail-oriented, and ability to manage stress effectively in a fast-paced environment.

• Global-Local approach: Ability to thrive in a global local organization and country-led decision-making.

Confidentiality: Ability to maintain confidentiality on work-related matters

Preferred Education and Work Experience:

• 5 years of international non-profit experience

• Experience with multi-donor-funded complex projects

• Knowledge of World Bank TA packages, particularly for Universal Health Coverage

• Experience in project design and successful business development

• Experience living or working in developing countries that aids in understanding program context, field realities, and technical needs

• Passion for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Commitment to family planning, reproductive health services, gender, maternal, and child health services, and eradication of harmful traditional practices.

Minimally Required Job-Specific Competencies/Attributes:

• Country-Specific Public Health System: Advanced knowledge of the countries’ public health systems.

• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Deep knowledge of family planning and reproductive health principles, practices, and services of programs, including program strategies and indicators, and the latest professional developments in SRHR and HSS Delivery. Proven skills in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating development and intervention activities, preferably with USAID, WHO, or other donor organizations working in the health sector.

• Program Operations and Development: Mastery of skills in implementing and managing similar program operations in the developing world, including advocacy.

• Proposal Development: Mastery of skills in proposal development from concept to full proposal, resource mobilization, and proven ability to raise substantial research/development funds.

• Leadership: Mastery of skills as a leader in health and health service delivery strengthening in developing countries and proven ability in developing strategic plans.

• Program and Project Planning and Management: Deep skills in program and project management and planning to fulfill performance objectives, including the timely implementation and reporting of donor-funded program activities.

• Operations and Financial Management: Deep knowledge of operations and financial management in developing countries.

• Change Leadership: Ability to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility in managing change across a broad group of stakeholders in an inclusive manner.

• Presentation Skills: Proven ability to make presentations on results and products to small and large groups.

Community Relations: Mastery of skills in facilitating work relationships between partners, government officials, and communities

Other Information:

1. Travel required (30% or less)

2. Uses cellular and office phones, laptop or desktop computer.

3. This job description format focuses on the main duties of the position and is not intended to list every potential task or assignment.

4. Duties can and will change to meet the changing priorities of the department and organization.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Statement

Pathfinder International provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Safeguarding and Protection Statement

Pathfinder is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the people we serve and our staff. We have zero tolerance for any type of behavior that inflicts harm on children, young people, adults, our staff, and partners including sexual abuse, harassment, bullying, and exploitation. We do everything possible to ensure that we recruit only those who are suitable to work with us. We expect that everyone we hire will abide by our safeguarding and related policies and will report any suspected or known violations. This job is subject to a range of vetting checks as legally permitted in the country where they are being hired. By applying, the job applicant acknowledges they understand our intent to verify suitability to work with us.