Senior Program Officer, Primary Health Care, Safestart+ Project

⏸ Applications are temporarily paused for this position
PATH Kampala, Central Region, UG

Published 2026-02-22

Description

PATH current employees - please log in and apply

 

PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing heath challenges.

PATH is implementing the SAFEStart+ project, a UNITAID-funded initiative focused on eliminating vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and Chagas disease. The project strengthens integrated service delivery models, generates evidence, and facilitates scale-up across multiple countries.

The four-year project is designed for maximum reach and impact by scaling up integrated EVT programs in four core-engagement countries (Malawi, Nigeria, Paraguay, and Uganda); addressing specific barriers to EVT scale-up and validation in five focused-activity countries (Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, South Africa, and Vietnam); and disseminating innovations, successes, and lessons learned to ten peer-learning countries. The project focuses on four core outputs: country-led EVT demand and scale-up through community leadership and systems strengthening; evidence generation through implementation science and cost modeling; strategic market shaping to unlock barriers to essential EVT products; and effective transition and financing of integrated EVT programs by governments and donors.

SAFEStart+ employs a co-leadership model with strong community engagement, working closely with consortium partners including the International Community of Women Living with HIV Eastern Africa (ICWEA) and World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) to ensure meaningful participation of women with lived experience in project design, implementation, and monitoring.

Position Summary

The Senior / Program Officer provides primary support to the Project Director in managing technical, operational, and administrative aspects of SAFEStart+, operating as a deputy director to the Project Director. This position works hand-in-hand with the Project Director and co-manages partnerships with Unitaid, WHO headquarters and regional offices (AFRO & PAHO), program implementers and research partners (University of Washington, Harvard University), Africa CDC, GAVI, and other key stakeholders including country-level partners, implementers, and research institutions. Strong French language capabilities are required for effective francophone stakeholder engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Product Development

Take leadership of specific technical elements of the projects with a priority focus on the learning agenda, continuous quality improvement, project performance analyses, M&E and metrics.

Lead development of strategic technical reports, policy briefs, and programmatic guidance documents that synthesize project findings and provide actionable recommendations for country implementation and global scale-up

Coordinate creation of training materials, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and implementation toolkits for integrated EVT service delivery models, ensuring technical accuracy and country-specific adaptation

Oversee production of evidence dissemination packages, knowledge products, and learning resources for diverse audiences including country partners, donors, and global health stakeholders

Support development of technical presentations, briefing materials, and visual communication products for donor meetings, stakeholder convenings, and international conferences

Coordinate preparation and quality assurance of project deliverables, milestone reports, and programmatic reporting for UNITAID, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and project objectives

Ensure technical quality, consistency, and alignment across all project materials, communications, and knowledge products produced by consortium members and country partners

Project Management & Coordination

Oversee work in Francophone countries (DRC and Senegal)

Coordinate Project Management Team (PMT) activities including weekly meetings with PATH, ICWEA, and WHA leadership, ensuring effective communication and decision-making across consortium partners

Support comprehensive implementation of project workplans across all four outputs, monitoring deliverables, timelines, and milestones to ensure project objectives are met within prescribed timeframes

Ensure high-quality, compliant donor reporting—coordinating inputs and providing final technical and programmatic review.

Provide high-level oversight and guidance to SPA-led administrative, coordination, and documentation functions—ensuring effective meeting support, information flow, compliance, and overall project operational continuity.

Facilitate Program Steering Committee (PSC) coordination including meeting preparation, agenda development, and follow-up on action items and strategic recommendations

Coordinate with the PADM and senior project assistant to track partner performance.

Support risk management and mitigation strategies, working with the Project Director to identify and address potential challenges to project implementation

Oversee project communication strategies and stakeholder engagement plans to ensure consistent technical messaging and strategic alignment across all project activities

Country Implementation Support

Provide technical assistance and guidance to country teams on implementation of integrated EVT models, supporting adaptation of global guidance to local contexts and health system requirements

Support coordination and strengthening of Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and Community Advisory Boards (CABs) in core-engagement and focused-activity countries

Facilitate sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches across implementation sites, promoting continuous quality improvement and adaptive learning

Support monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities, data collection, and performance assessment across project sites to inform adaptive management and evidence generation

Assist in coordination of implementation science studies and research activities embedded within programmatic EVT delivery across core countries

Partnership & Stakeholder Coordination

Serve as primary day-to-day liaison with the donor, ensuring seamless communication, technical and strategic alignment, and coordination on project implementation.

Coordinate strategic relationships and regular engagement with WHO headquarters and regional offices including PAHO & WHO

Act as focal point for assigned countries and facilitate communication and coordination with country-level partners, including ministries of health, national technical working groups (TWGs), community advisory boards (CABs), and implementing organizations across all project countries

Support senior staff in their engagement with external partners, donors and technical agencies.

Coordinate with peer-learning countries and focal points to ensure effective knowledge sharing and capacity building opportunities

Deputizing Responsibilities

Represent the SAFEStart+ project and PATH at high-level meetings, conferences, and stakeholder events when the Project Director is unavailable, ensuring continuity of strategic engagement

Provide comprehensive project updates and strategic briefings to senior management, UNITAID, and external stakeholders as required

Serve as primary point of contact for urgent project matters and stakeholder communications when Project Director is not available

Core Competencies

Partnership Management:  Build effective relationships with diverse stakeholders

Technical Capabilities and Communication:  Lead on specific technical areas; translate complex concepts for different audiences

Strategic Thinking:  Understand objectives within global health context

Quality Assurance:  Commitment to maintaining high standards for technical products, project deliverables, and stakeholder communications

Project Management and Coordination:  Manage multiple priorities with attention to detail

Adaptability:  Flexibility in fast-paced, evolving environment

Results Orientation:  Focus on achieving project outcomes and impact

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

Master's degree in public health, international development, or related field

3-5 years international health programming experience in LMICs including project coordination and/or partnership management experience

Experience in HIV, STIs, viral hepatitis, and/or maternal/child health

Experience in designing and implementing learning agendas, M&E frameworks, CQI and data use for action

Essential Skills

Fluency in French and English (written and spoken)

CQI and/or quantitative data analyses

Strong technical writing and communication skills

Effective stakeholder partnership management

Project management and coordination capabilities

Preferred

UNITAID program experience and policy knowledge

Working Conditions

This position is based in Geneva, Switzerland, with occasional international travel required (up to 20-25% of time) to project implementation countries, partner meetings, and global health conferences. The role requires regular participation in virtual meetings across multiple time zones to coordinate with country partners, consortium members, and stakeholders in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The position operates within a fast-paced, dynamic environment with high expectations for quality, responsiveness, and strategic thinking. Flexibility in working hours may be required to accommodate coordination across global partnerships and urgent project needs. Technical knowledge related to Pr EP, innovative diagnostics, climate change and/or mpox Understanding of service delivery integration, primary health care and universal health coverage








Location

Kampala
Central Region
Uganda
Advertisement:



Attributes

Job type Full time
Contract type Permanent
Salary type Monthly
Occupation Senior program officer, primary health care, safestart+ project
Send resume
PATH
PATH
2 active jobs
Registered 2023-06-07
Uganda

PATH is an international nonprofit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. By collaborating with diverse public- and private-sector partners, we help provide appropriate health technologies and vital strategies that change the way people think and act. Our work improves global health and well-being. Specialties global health, public health, biomedical
All vacancies from employers (2) Report vacancy
Send resume
Are you looking for a job? Publish your resume
Non-logged user
Hello wave
Welcome! Sign in or register