Director, Health and Humanitarian Affairs at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).  We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Director, Health and Humanitarian Affairs

Requisition ID:  541
Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Organization: African Union Commission - AUC
Reports to: Commissioner Health, Humanitarian Affairs & Social Development
Directorate: Health, Humanitarian Affairs & Social Development
Number of Direct Reports: 2
Number of Indirect Reports: 14
Grade: D1

Purpose of Job

• To provide strategic direction and leadership in managing the operations of the Health and Humanitarian Affairs Directorate in order to achieve the AU strategic objectives and goals

 Main Functions

• Develops and executes the overall strategy for the department and ensures alignment with overall organizational strategy; 
• Manages and supervises employees within the directorate, ensures the timely delivery of the directorate’s goals and effective staff performance evaluation;
• Drives the implementation and monitoring of policies, strategies and programs to contribute to the effective implementation of relevant AU Policy Organs Decisions;
• Ensures the delivery of the directorate’s annual targets in line with the organization’s overall goals and maintains robust departmental monitoring and evaluation systems;
• Provides technical leadership and ensures efficient functioning of all Divisions within the department/directorate; 
• Manages the work of the Department/Directorate and supervises direct reports to ensure their effective performance in line with the organization’s performance management policy and system; 
• Leads the directorate/department and ensures effective management of personnel, budget, performance, program quality, employee relations matters and training in conformity with relevant rules, policies and procedures;  
• Builds and maintains good working relations and collaboration with other directorates/departments; 
• Develops and maintains regular working relations with senior stakeholders in Member State and partner institution; 
• Coordinates meetings between the organization and relevant partners; 
• Ensures the preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports and other reports; 
• Ensures the effective management of funds contributed to the organization, attributed to the directorate/department; 
• Implements and Maintains thematic partnerships in support of the mandate of the Directorate;
• Develops and oversees policy development and guidelines in line with the organization’s legal framework; 
• Designs policies consistent with the AU’s strategic goals and mandate in order to address the pertinent issues in the relevant area; 
• Prepares and oversees integrated programs, projects and overall activities of the organization.
• Maintains a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent. 
• Develops and maintains standard operating procedures (SOP’s) for the department
• Manages risks, develops mitigation measures and ensures business continuity of the department/directorate.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Provides technical guidance and supervise the preparation and formulation of appropriate programs, policies and strategies related to Health, population, nutrition and Humanitarian Affairs at the continental level and follow up on their implementation within Member States; 
• Supervises the activities of the Specialized Agencies and Institutions of the African Union within the Department working in the areas of Health, nutrition, population and Humanitarian Affairs; 
• Supervises the preparation and management of Ministerial Conferences and other relevant high-level meetings and engagements in the areas Health and Humanitarian Affairs;
• Reviews and provides strategic guidance regarding the key continental health and humanitarian policies and frameworks;
• Liaises /Coordinates with the UN, and other international organization on matters related to Health and Humanitarian Affairs in Africa;
• Oversees and ensures effective execution of activities of relevant the AU Agenda 2063 Flagship projects in the field of health and humanitarian affairs, ensuring complementarity and synergy with AUDA-NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities and other continental institutions;Plans, promotes, and develops projects and programs in areas of public health, humanitarian, nutrition and population by stimulating their activities and providing leadership;
• Manages Department’s responses, defining the strategy, partnerships, as well as resourcing needed to implement responses in an efficient, effective and accountable manner;
• Promotes a continuous learning environment within the department, through dissemination of trends and up-to-date thinking on health and humanitarian issues, in particular early warning information, emergency preparedness and good practice in resilience-building approaches in disasters and emergency management;
• Coordinates timely engagement of AUC and relevant AU Decision making bodies, relevant AU Organs, RECs, Government authorities, Partners, national, regional, continental and global networks, UN Agencies and UN-led initiatives as well as established national structures;
• Builds and leads an effective team dedicated to fulfilling the department’s mandate through highly successful program implementation, stakeholder engagement, and donor relations;
• Develops and implements plans and objectives for the department in an effective and innovative fashion as well as Assess and report progress in meeting department objectives; and
• Supervises, guides, and delegates Heads of Divisions in their duties, ensuring Department’s policies and guidelines are clearly communicated while assessing, managing, and resolving problematic developments and situations.
• Provides strategic advice and technical support to the Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development in preparing statements, proposals, briefs, reports and other relevant tasks;
• Any other related assignments as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Public Administration, International Development, HHumanitarian Services or relevant Medical Sciences or social science studies with a minimum of fifteen (15) years of relevant experience of which eight (8) should be at managerial level and five (5) years at the supervisory level.

Required Skills:

• Ability to use strong managerial delegation, political tact and supervisory skills to achieve documented objectives 
• Ability to work effectively with people from various backgrounds and create an environment where diversity is respected 
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with top-level stakeholders 
• Ability to identify key strategic opportunities and risks 
• Ability to actively seek, identify and apply appropriate technology to improve programme delivery 
• Ability to delegate the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority with regard to performance management and professional development 
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language(s) is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight.
• Developing others.
• Change Management.
• Managing Risk.

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship.
• Foster Accountability Culture.
• Learning Orientation.
• Communicating with Influence.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking.
• Job Knowledge and information sharing.
• Drive for the result.
• Continuous improvement orientation.

Tenure of Appointment

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Remuneration

• Indicative basic salary of US$ 78,138.00 (D1 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (46% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 26,208.00 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

Application Closing Date
19th July, 2021.