Technical Program Officer

Technical Program Officer

MiracleFeet is a global nonprofit working to eliminate a leading cause of physical disability worldwide. Over two million children live with the severe consequences of a treatable birth defect known as clubfoot, and 200,000 more babies are born with it every year. Thanks to a non-surgical solution called the Ponseti Method, 95% of cases can be fully treated for less than USD$500. Since 2010, MiracleFeet has scaled this proven, low-cost treatment to more than 36 countries where children previously had limited or no access to care.

Are you a health professional who is passionate about the rights of all children to access high quality medical care? Are you thrilled by the idea of working with partners all over the world to get a simple, life-changing treatment delivered to a high standard, every time? The MiracleFeet model emphasizes integration of clubfoot services in the primary health care system with a focus on workforce development, service delivery and implementation of best practices for quality clubfoot treatment and programming, including the use of digital tools and other innovative solutions. As MiracleFeet continues to grow, the technical expertise needed to oversee quality, push interventions and best practices in service delivery and workforce development continue to grow.

If so, join our movement to work toward a world where all children born with clubfoot realize their rights to quality treatment. Our global team is made up of health professionals, social entrepreneurs, project managers, data nerds, innovators, and activists. In accordance with our values, we strive to create a collaborative, collegial, and respectful environment to ensure all staff feel valued, included, and appreciated. In all facets of our work, we celebrate creative thinking and problem-solving.

Summary

The technical team at MiracleFeet champions the adoption of effective Ponseti clinical practice to health care providers, country partners and on the international stage. The team focuses on three core areas of programs: 1) clinical excellence; 2) workforce development; and 3) knowledge building and learning. The Technical Program Officer (TPO) will support and coordinate initiatives related to improving clinical quality and promote the adoption of clinical best practices across MiracleFeet’s programs through a range of project management, technical, and administrative tasks. Specifically, the TPO will support the Technical Director in implementing strategic initiatives in workforce development, including pre-service, in-service training and mentoring; the sharing and implementation of best practices in clubfoot treatment to improve service delivery for all MiracleFeet programs; and the prioritization and oversight of any medical or clinical research projects or case studies.

This position reports to the Technical Director and works closely with all members of the programs team (both at headquarters and in the field). This is a full-time, remote position seeking a bilingual (French and English) candidate living in West or Central Africa.

Essential Functions

Clinical Excellence

• Maintain strong relationships with Programs Staff and global program partners, identifying needs for technical assistance and developing plans for culturally and clinically sound interventions.
• Provide technical assistance to MiracleFeet’s monitoring and program planning cycles, including monthly, quarterly and annual clinical quality analysis of clinical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and subsequent development of appropriate work plan recommendations.
• Develop and implement targeted campaigns and approaches to address clinical quality concerns at a global, regional and country level.
• Liaise with MiracleFeet’s Medical Advisory Board to consider clinical changes, decisions or strategies that affect treatment.
• Participate in data system strengthening activities to continuously improve the quality of the clinical data used in program monitoring.

Workforce Development

• Develop and maintain an inventory of evidence-based training materials, standards, and curricula needed to meet the technical/clinical needs of programs.
• Provide project management and technical inputs for research projects or case studies that MiracleFeet might undertake alone or as part of other networks/consortiums
• Ensure that implementation of technical projects and technical assistance functions smoothly and efficiently, and that appropriate coordination occurs with HQ and relevant partners (including financial management, developing contracts and arranging payment of consultants, procurement of training supplies, liaising with vendors, etc.),
• Take responsibility for the quality, cadence and effectiveness of Ponseti training and ongoing clinical mentorship in partner clubfoot programs.
• Act as lead trainer and clinical mentor in regional or specific country-level trainings or during partner visits.
• Assist in developing and reviewing technical documents and reports through writing, editing, proofreading, and data analysis.

Knowledge Building and Learning

• Support the preparation, review, editing, and dissemination of project-related reports and documents, including subcontract scopes of work, country strategies, progress updates, curricula, and other documents and reports.
• Represent MiracleFeet externally, giving technical presentations and project status updates.
• Nurture relationships with key technical partnerships and alliances and support the growth the organization’s network of strategic partners.
• Share insights and promote continuous learning within the organization through sharing of project learning and results with appropriate teams or our in-country partners.
• Document successes, lessons learned and challenges in implementation of workforce development and service delivery and provide inputs in these areas for program for both internal and external audiences, including donors, and implementing partners
• Identify opportunities to share MiracleFeet’s programmatic activities at conferences and support the preparation and submission of abstracts and presentations
• Ensure that necessary staff, partners, and stakeholders (both at HQ and in-country) are included in sharing of information and knowledge and that the flow of information is multi-directional.

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by the individual in this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the position. Employees may have other duties assigned at any time.

Minimum Qualifications

• Clinical degree in medicine or a rehabilitation profession. Advanced degree preferred.
• Technical experience in Ponseti clubfoot treatment strongly preferred
• Must be able to read, write and speak fluently in both English and French
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in managing/implementing public health or international development projects.
• Ability to travel internationally as needed

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent project management skills
• Excellent verbal, written interpersonal and presentation skills in English and French
• Excels at operating in a fast paced, collaborative environment
• Politically-savvy and culturally competent: skilled in diplomacy and relationship-building, sensitive to cultural norms and expectations
• Flexible to the needs of the organization and the challenges often faced when working in low- and middle-income countries
• Able to organize one’s time and work autonomously
• Proactive, creative, and takes initiative
• Attention to detail

Salary/Benefits

• Please note this is a remote position.
• Applicants must already reside in and have the appropriate work permit in the country where they will be located. Please note that MiracleFeet is unable to sponsor employment visas.
• Salary commensurate with experience and country compensation levels.
• This position is on a contract basis. MiracleFeet will not offer a U.S.-based employment contract to non-U.S. nationals.