Senior Project Advisor Job Opening – Apply Now for Leadership Role

Job Title:           Senior Project Advisor            

Reporting to:  Project Director, Malaria Elimination in Zanzibar (MEZA)

Location:           ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA

Who are we

PSI is a network of locally rooted, globally connected organizations working to achieve consumer-powered healthcare — people-centered health systems that ensure quality, affordable care wherever and whenever it is needed. Our origins in sexual and reproductive health have grown into a broader mission. Today, we work with the public and private sectors as well as local communities, prioritizing people’s voice and choice and developing solutions to meet their essential health needs. Over the past five decades, we have helped push boundaries, break taboos, set trends, and develop innovative solutions to complex global health challenges.

Join us!

PSI is seeking a Senior Project Advisor for an anticipated 3-year Malaria Elimination project based in Zanzibar. The Senior Project Advisor will be accountable for decentralized malaria surveillance and response and for District Empowerment, including technical, operational, and financial aspects of District Health operations. This position will coordinate closely with government partners at the National and District levels in Zanzibar, across the project team, and with implementing partners to achieve project deliverables. The Senior Project Advisor will also lead reporting to donors, partners, and stakeholders as necessary both nationally and internationally. The Senior Project Advisor will leverage evidence, best practices, and local context to support strategy development and achieve project outcomes in alignment with the Zanzibar Malaria Strategic Plan and priorities of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.  

Your contributions

• Technical leadership and knowledge management of the project – provide technical expertise throughout implementation, ensuring activities and outputs are technically sound, responsive to local context, and optimize available resources to achieve project objectives. Actively seek opportunities for synergy and efficiencies with other donors and implementing partners and prioritize the scale up and sustainability of project activities, initiatives, and systems. Represent the project at internal and external fora.
• Collaboration with Government Stakeholders – liaise with and support the work of government staff at the National and District levels to promote coordinated, decentralized, and targeted malaria surveillance and response. Liaise with and support other government partners, such as the Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Center or other Programs, as needed, to engage the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar in malaria elimination activities.
• Program Leadership & Management – coordination with project team members, timely implementation and reporting of activities. Ensure that grant operations and sub-grantee management activities are in full compliance with PSI and donor regulations and operations.
• External Representation – build and maintain strong and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders in Malaria Elimination in Zanzibar, including but not limited to the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program, Zanzibar Ministry of Health, and multisectoral actors involved in achieving Malaria Elimination in Zanzibar. Manage regular engagement with WHO, the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Committee, and other key stakeholders on a strategic level to ensure the project meets its policy and sustainability objectives and liaise with other project partners to ensure coordination and implementation of project.
• Donor Liaison – serve as a key liaison with the Gates Foundation, as well as other donors interested in PMC.

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Technical Advisor will be responsible for designing and implementing strategies to assist the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination through decentralized malaria surveillance and response activities and district empowerment. This will include technical, operational, and financial aspects of malaria surveillance and response, and critically consider broader district operational needs as necessary. In addition, the Senior Technical Advisor will support strategic decision making and project reporting.

• In collaboration with the project team and national stakeholders, provide strategic input on issues related to decentralizing malaria surveillance and response in Zanzibar; including but not limited to, supporting coordination at the District and National levels, optimizing financial resources, and seeking opportunities to leverage other sectors and financial resources across the health system.
• Collaborate closely with government partners at National and District levels to ensure decentralization of malaria surveillance and response is achieved.
• Coordinate within the project and other health initiatives in Zanzibar to promote decentralization and identify opportunities to optimize resources with implementing partners.
• Support the institutionalization of the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Technical Working Group (ZMETWG).
• Support National level government staff to streamline roles and responsibilities pertaining to malaria surveillance and response, and if needed, other government programs.
• Support District level health staff to operationalize data-informed, coordinated, and targeted malaria response.
• Liaise with other government agencies, including but not limited to the Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Center, to achieve project deliverables.
• Interpret and use routine data and provide technical guidance for programmatic adaptations to achieve project outcomes.
• Support the development or review of strategic national guidance and project documents, as needed.
• Lead the development of project reporting, including periodic reporting to the government, donors, and routine deliverable reviews, in collaboration with the project team.
• Present the results of project milestones and achievements in written reports and oral presentations, nationally and internationally as needed.

What are we looking for?

• Master’s Degree (or international equivalent) MSc, MPH, MBA, MHA, MPA, MHS, MHE or equivalent.
• At least 8 years’ experience supporting District Health systems, preference for experience with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar or the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program
• At least 5 years’ experience working with District Health operations, preference for experience optimizing and streamlining resources and procedures
• Experience using programmatic data for decision-making a plus
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with government, donors, and implementing partners
• Excellent diplomatic skills and proven ability to work effectively with government officials, partners, donors, and stakeholders at high levels and in complex working environments.
• Demonstrated ability to establish consensus across many stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability in developing strategy and translating strategy into action.
• Change management experience preferred.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking and planning skills, with emphasis on the ability to operationalize and oversee the execution of workplans.
• Fluency / professional working competency in English and Swahili required.
• Strong leadership skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate and work across teams.
• Ability to build and maintain productive working relationships with a wide network of partners and stakeholders.
• Established leadership skills with a proven ability to nurture, develop and deliver through teams.
• Ability to work effectively and sensitively cross-culturally, motivating people and teams.
• Ability to monitor and assess performance of self, other individuals, and / or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

The candidate we hire will embody PSI’s corporate values:

Measurement: You use hard evidence to make decisions and guide your work. You set clear goalposts in advance and explain clearly if you need to move them.
Pragmatism: You’ll strive to deliver the best possible result with the resources available. You won’t be paralyzed by a need to make things perfect.
Honesty: You own your mistakes and are open about your shortcomings – it’s the only way you’ll learn and improve.
Collaboration: You’ll quickly establish a mental map of whom you can rely on for what, on your team, at headquarters, and in our country offices – if you try to do it all yourself, you won’t succeed.
Trust: You accept limits to your sphere of control and give colleagues the benefit of doubt.
Commitment: You are in it for the long-haul and want to grow with the organization, just like PSI serves its consumers and partners with host-country governments through thick and thin.

References will be required. The successful candidate will be required to pass both background and reference checks.

PSI is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. We encourage applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds and experiences regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, age, disability, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

How to apply:

Application for the position must include:

• A cover letter illustrates your suitability for the position against the listed requirements.
• Detailed curriculum vitae showing contact address, email, and day –time mobile phone number (s) and three (3) referees, ONE being your last employer.

Application will be considered valid, if sent/received before 1700hrs, Friday, 11^th July 2025. Please note that only short –listed candidates meeting the above requirements will be contacted. Send you application to recruitment@psi.or.tz in MS Word or PDF file. Indicate the name of the position on the subject line of your email.