Head of Division - Health Workforce Development 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 Organization 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: Head of Division - Health Workforce Development

Requisition ID: 2145
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Contract Type: Regular
Job Grade: P5
Reports to: Director, Centre for Health Systems Strengthening and Public Health Institutes
Directorate / Department / Organ: Centre for Health Systems Strengthening and Public Health Institutes
Division: Health Workforce Development
Number of Direct Reports: 4
Number of Indirect Reports: 0

Purpose of Job

• The Head of Division for Health Workforce Development at Africa CDC shall lead and coordinate the development of the institution’s health workforce development strategy and guide the continuous skill development, retention, and career paths of staff through various programs and linkage with relevant fields and sectors.

Main Functions

• Supervises the Health Workforce Development Division, including designing, implementing, and maintaining the division’s workplan, and oversight for all deliverables and reporting.
• Designs strategies and policies in order to address the pertinent issues related to health workforce development.
• Contributes to the development of the business continuity plan and ensures its implementation at the Division level.
• Provides strategic direction, technical leadership, and oversight to the health workforce component of the Africa CDC strategic priorities.
• Ensures a comprehensive approach to human capacity development and provides programmatic leadership to ensure seamless planning, implementation of activities, and technical support.
• Oversees the expansion and development of new and existing activities of the Division.
• Ensures risk management and mitigation for health workforce development related issues.
• Engages stakeholders within Members States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in designing and implementing health workforce strategies.
• Represents the organisation and explains its position at relevant meetings and conferences.
• Mobilises funds from donors and allocates them towards the implementation of strategies and activities of the Division.

Specific Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the development of Africa CDC public health workforce development strategy and guidance for continuous skill development, retention, and career paths.
• Strengthen and enhance implementation of the existing health workforce programmes and ensure linkages with animal, agriculture and environmental sectors.
• Provide direct supervision to health workforce development technical staff in the Division.
• Lead and coordinate with other partners for standardization and accreditation of Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP) in Africa.
• Oversee the Africa CDC Scholar, Public Health Leadership, and Fellowship programmes for Africa.
• Supports operational and translational research capacities relevant for health workforce for public health institutions in Africa.
• Research new technologies and methodologies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health workforce trainings and capacity building.
• Work with AU Member States that do not have FETP to explore country-specific or regional training programmes that best suit their needs.
• Oversee the establishment of a continental health workforce database and support the strengthening of National Health Workforce Accounts.
• Facilitate and strengthen RCCs in promoting inter-country collaboration on health workforce development.
• Support establishment and strengthening of National Public Health Institutes to coordinate health workforce development using a multi-sectoral approach.
• Represent Africa CDC in technical meetings, conferences or similar platforms.
• Prepare periodic financial and budget execution reports and monitor budget execution at Division level.
• Represent Africa CDC’s scientific interests as a member of a scientific review committee, study group and be part of developing public health scientific policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Support National Public Health Institutes capacity building on health workforce development.
• Coordinate the delivery of technical services in support of Africa CDC Emergency Response activities as appropriate.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned by the supervisor.  

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology or other closely related fields, with twelve (12) years of work experience of which a minimum of seven (7) and five (5) years of managerial and supervisory roles respectively.
• Qualifications in leadership development, organizational development, capacity building or any such related fields is desirable.
• Experience working at national or international public health or academic/research institutions with required, and practical experience in learning and workforce development.

Required Skills:

• Managerial skills, political tactfulness and supervisory skills to achieve documented objectives.
• Ability to initiate and promote collaborative approaches between geographically and culturally disparate partners.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations both internally and externally.
• Ability to identify key strategic opportunities and risks.
• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff.
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese and Spanish); fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Perspective
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk..

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationships
• Communicating with impact
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Fosters Innovation
• Drive for Results.

Tenure of Appointment

• The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period.
• Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

Remuneration
The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of USD126,440.93  (P5 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 108,357.41 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Application Closing Date
15th March, 2024 (11h59 p.m. EAT).

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.
• Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas, Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.
• The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Gender Mainstreaming: The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.