Futures Group seeking Project Director

[Guest guest]

Futures Group is a management, marketing, research, and strategic

planning organization that help clients make well-informed decisions

in the presence of future uncertainty. Since its founding in 1971, the

Futures Group has worked in more than 60 developing countries to

build local capacity to design and implement effective strategies to

address critical development issues. We have earned a reputation as a global

leader in public health and social concerns, including population,

family planning, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and sexually

transmitted infections, safe motherhood, poverty alleviation, education, and the

environment.

Purpose: The Project Director (PD) will have overall responsibility

for directing the Futures Group Avahan Advocacy Program in HIV/AIDS.

Overall Program Description: The Avahan Advocacy Program (AAP)

utilizes a capacity building model to help galvanize the leadership around

HIV/AIDS and foster a supportive environment for HIV prevention, care

and treatment efforts. There is a special emphasis on reducing

HIV-related stigma and discrimination by increasing leadership

involvement at all levels. As a result, partners and stakeholders

will be better placed to understand the impact of the HIV epidemic and

take effective advocacy, policy and program measures to address it. The

program will be operational in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,

Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, and Delhi.

Responsibilities:

The Project Director is responsible for the technical, program,

personnel, operations, and financial management of the AAP in all six

locations. This includes overall responsibility for assessing state

policy and advocacy conditions, designing state programs, and

ensuring state and national programmes are carried out and monitored

successfully. Additionally, the PD is responsible for working in

partnership and coordinating with other members of the Avahan team to

support the overall objectives of the Gates Avahan Initiative in

India.

Specific responsibilities include:

1. Reports to the Futures Group Managing Director.

2. Provide management leadership and overall technical direction of

project activities to all staff.

3. Work closely with the Managing Director to assure that project

objectives are met in a timely and effective manner.

4. Provide technical and management guidance to the 5 State

Coordinators

in policy areas including advocacy, policy dialogue, multisectoral

approaches, planning and finance, and capacity development.

5. Identify training needs of State Coordinators, other AAP staff and

partners and create opportunities to build local capacity.

6. Coordinate interaction and experience sharing amongst AAP staff

and partners

7. Provide specific guidance to state programs on subcontracting,

grants, systems, and operating procedures. Review and approve project

and state-level work plans and budgets. Approve travel, consultant

agreements, subcontracts and grants.

8. Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation activities

implemented by country programs.

9. Responsible for annual program and financial reports as well as

other ad hoc reports as required.

10. Initiate and participate in liaison activities with Avahan

partners, other agencies and organizations to ensure information sharing,

coordination, and collaboration.

11. Interact with Gates Foundation project managers and facilitate

communication in both directions.

Qualifications: Senior level position requiring 10 yrs minimum,

demonstrated experience, successfully managing HIV/AIDS or similar

health activities. Knowledge and experience with standard

contracting, management systems, operational procedures, budgeting and financial

reporting required. Documented experience leading policy and advocacy

activities in the field. Technical expertise in HIV/AIDS working with

vulnerable populations, treatment access, or policy issues essential.

Excellent oral and written skills required in English. Knowledge of

Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Marathi besides Hindi is an added

advantage.

Experience working with teams of diverse cultural and professional

backgrounds required. This position will be based in Hyderabad.

People with HIV are encouraged to apply.

To apply visit the job board found on our website

www.futuresgroup.com.