Executive Director, mHealth Alliance

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Closing date 1st March 2014
 
Overview
In early 2014, the mHealth Alliance is moving its base of operation from Washington, DC to South Africa.  This strategic decision by the Partnership Board and Executive leadership of the mHealth Alliance came from its success in catalyzing and mainstreaming mHealth at the global level and the growing portfolio of work and demand for capacity and policy development support at the country and regional level.  To support this move, the mHealth Alliance is seeking a dynamic Executive Director to provide strategic and executive leadership to the overall mission and vision of the Alliance and its on-going programs.  

The mHealth Alliance champions the use of mobile technologies to improve health throughout the world. Working with diverse partners to integrate mHealth into multiple sectors, the Alliance serves as a convener for the mHealth community to overcome common challenges by sharing tools, knowledge, experience, and lessons learned. The mHealth Alliance advocates for more research and evaluation to advance the evidence base; seeks to build capacity among health and industry decision-makers, managers, and practitioners; promotes sustainable business models; supports systems integration by advocating for standardization and interoperability of mHealth platforms; and promotes policies that mitigate the risk for investment in mHealth and ensure its long-term viability.  The mHealth Alliance also hosts HUB (Health Unbound), a global online community for resource sharing and collaborative solution generation.

The mHealth Alliance seeks a highly motivated individual to lead and drive advancement of the mHealth field and a highly motivated and enthusiastic team.  The Executive Director will have the following areas of responsibility: Strategic Planning, Executive/Financial Oversight, and Communications/ Advocacy.  

Working Relationships
The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors of the mHealth Alliance.
The Executive Director of the mHealth Alliance works closely with strategic partners, members and representative stakeholders within the mHealth and global health communities, seeking guidance and recommendations on direction and operations of the organization.
The Executive Director serves as executive and strategic liaison with the UN Foundation, Praekelt Foundation, and other hosting and/or co-locating partners.

Major Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Planning
Design the organizational structure and governance of the mHealth Alliance.
Lead the establishment of a Board of Directors, in coordination with the mHealth Alliance staff and Partnership Board, including recruitment, governance, and Board meetings.
Lead multi-year strategic planning, annual planning, budgeting and reporting activities for the mHealth Alliance in consultation with the Board and Alliance senior management.
Develop and execute a plan to grow the mHealth Alliance’s regional portfolio and country-level engagement in Africa and Asia (new business development).
Identify partnerships and opportunities that can amplify the mHealth Alliance’s reach and influence as a leading initiative in mobile health, as well as ensure coordination with other related initiatives, at the global, regional, and country levels.
 
Executive/Financial Oversight
Provide executive oversight to specific projects (current and new) of the mHealth Alliance, including Information Communication Technologies for Saving One Million Lives (ICT4SOML) Initiative in Nigeria, the Innovation Working Group Catalytic Grants Program, and the mHealth Expert Learning Program (mHELP).
In coordination with the mHealth Alliance board and strategic partners, develop a fundraising strategy, identify targets, prepare proposals and funding pitches, attend fundraising meetings and deliver presentations about the work of the mHealth Alliance.
Ensure the financial health of the mHealth Alliance by providing executive oversight to the routine development and review of income/expense budgets and monitoring reports.
Ensure that all mHealth Alliance donors are adequately stewarded and reporting requirements fulfilled.
Lead recruitment and hiring for mHealth Alliance staff and all strategic consultants, as well as provide ongoing management.

Communications/Advocacy
Identify, plan and participate in speaking events and conferences to highlight the mHealth Alliance and advocate for the needs of the mHealth and global health communities.
Represent the mHealth Alliance at outside meetings and professional gatherings.
Serve a primary spokesperson for the mHealth Alliance with the media.
 
Other duties as needed.

Selection Criteria
Advanced degree, or more, in public health, public policy, international development, or other fields related to information technology or telecommunications; or documented equivalent experience in related field.
A minimum of 10-15 years of experience in global health, information technology, and/or communications.  Strong experience in the intersection of policy, IT, and development desired.
Significant professional experience in low and middle-income countries required.
Demonstrable expertise in and knowledge of mHealth, particularly in low and middle-income countries.
Experience in a not-for-profit management and public-private partnerships preferred.
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships internally and externally while driving progress toward defined objectives and holding staff accountable.
Excellent writing, editing and verbal communication skills in English.
In-depth familiarity with operational management, fundraising, marketing and membership programs.
Strong communications, research, and project management skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact culturally, linguistically, and diplomatically with diverse internal and external individuals.
Initiative, self-motivated, resourceful, detail oriented, dependability, strong attention to detail.
Must be able to work collaboratively in a team environment, co-coordinating competing priorities to achieve goals in a timely fashion.
High degree of professionalism, along with excellent, persuasive verbal and written skills required with advanced knowledge of and proficiency in the MS Office Suite.
Ability to travel a minimum of 30% per year, nationally and internationally.
Ability to meet regular attendance/tardiness policy.
Ability to work under pressure and handle stress.

Method of Application:
A suitability statement and CV should be sent to [email protected]. Please include “Executive Director, mHealth Alliance” in the Subject Line of the email.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Closing date 1st March 2014.