Health Project Coordinator

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title

Program Coordinator – Accelerated Immunisation and Health Systems Strengthening (AIHSS)

Location

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (with regular travel to project locations)

Reports To

Health Program Manager

Employment Type

Full-Time

Direct Reports

Project Officers, Technical Officers, Consultants (as applicable)

ABOUT CHILDFUND PNG

ChildFund Papua New Guinea (CFPNG) works alongside children, communities, government, and development partners to create lasting change that enables children and young people to thrive. Through partnerships and locally led approaches, CFPNG implements Programs in health, education, child protection, resilience, climate adaptation, and community development.

The Accelerated Immunisation and Health Systems Strengthening (AIHSS) Program supports national and sub-national efforts to improve immunisation coverage, strengthen health systems, enhance service delivery, and improve health outcomes for children, women, and vulnerable populations across Papua New Guinea.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Program Coordinator – Accelerated Immunisation and Health Systems Strengthening (AIHSS) is responsible for the overall coordination, management, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the AIHSS Program.

The role provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure Program activities are delivered effectively, efficiently, and in accordance with donor requirements, ChildFund policies, and government priorities. The Coordinator will work closely with the National Department of Health, Provincial Health Authorities, development partners, and communities to strengthen immunisation systems, health planning, public financial management, service delivery, accountability mechanisms, and community engagement.

The Program Coordinator will ensure high-quality Program delivery, effective stakeholder engagement, sound financial management, and achievement of Program outcomes that contribute to improved health and wellbeing for children and communities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Program Leadership and Coordination

• Lead the planning, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of all AIHSS Program activities.
• Ensure Program delivery is aligned with approved work plans, budgets, donor agreements, and performance targets.
• Coordinate Program implementation across project locations and stakeholders.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and guidance to project staff and consultants.
• Ensure Program activities contribute to strengthening health systems and improving immunisation outcomes.
• Monitor Program progress and proactively address implementation challenges and risks.
• Promote adaptive management and continuous learning throughout Program implementation.

1. Technical Leadership and Quality Assurance

• Provide technical oversight to activities related to immunisation strengthening, health systems strengthening, public financial management, health planning, governance, and accountability.
• Support capacity strengthening initiatives for Provincial Health Authorities, district health services, and frontline health workers.
• Ensure Program approaches align with national health policies, strategies, and international best practices.
• Promote evidence-based programming and utilisation of Program data for decision-making.
• Ensure quality standards are maintained across all Program activities.

1. Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with the National Department of Health, Provincial Health Authorities, district health teams, development partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Represent ChildFund PNG in technical working groups, coordination forums, and stakeholder meetings.
• Facilitate collaboration and coordination between government partners and Program stakeholders.
• Strengthen partnerships that support Program sustainability and impact.
• Ensure effective communication and stakeholder engagement throughout Program implementation.

1. Program Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Lead development and implementation of annual work plans and activity schedules.
• Ensure Program monitoring systems are effectively implemented.
• Work closely with the MEL team to track Program performance and outcome indicators.
• Review Program data and use findings to improve Program effectiveness.
• Document lessons learned, best practices, innovations, and success stories.
• Contribute to Program evaluations, reviews, assessments, and learning activities

1. Financial and Grant Management

• Manage Program budgets and ensure expenditure aligns with approved budgets and donor requirements.
• Monitor budget performance and regularly review Budget versus Actual (BvA) reports.
• Ensure timely forecasting, financial planning, and expenditure tracking.
• Approve Program expenditures within delegated authority limits.
• Work closely with finance and operations teams to ensure compliance and accountability.
• Identify and address financial risks and implementation bottlenecks.
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• Reporting and Donor Compliance

• Prepare high-quality donor reports, Program updates, briefing notes, and management reports.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting against Program indicators and targets.
• Maintain compliance with donor agreements, contractual obligations, and ChildFund policies.
• Support donor visits, audits, reviews, and monitoring missions.
• Ensure documentation is complete and readily available for reporting and compliance purposes.

1. Team Leadership and Capacity Strengthening

• Provide leadership, coaching, and support to Program staff.
• Promote a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture.
• Support staff development and performance management processes.
• Strengthen technical and project management capacity within the Program team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, learning, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

1. Safeguarding, GEDSI and Risk Management

• Ensure safeguarding principles are integrated across all Program activities.
• Promote Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) within Program design and implementation.
• Identify, monitor, and manage Program risks.
• Ensure compliance with ChildFund policies, donor requirements, and relevant legislation.
• Maintain a safe and ethical working environment for staff, partners, and participants.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Health Systems Management, Health Administration, Development Studies, Project Management, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Postgraduate qualification in Public Health, Health Systems, Development Management, or related discipline is highly desirable.

Essential Experience

• Minimum 5 years' experience managing health, immunisation, or health systems strengthening Programs.
• Demonstrated experience working with government health systems and Provincial Health Authorities.
• Experience managing donor-funded Programs and grants.
• Experience in Program planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Experience building and maintaining partnerships with government, donors, and development partners.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating complex projects.

Essential Skills and Competencies

• Strong Program and project management skills.
• Sound understanding of health systems strengthening and immunisation programming.
• Strong financial and budget management skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.

Desirable

• Experience working in Papua New Guinea's health sector.
• Experience supporting public financial management, health governance, or social accountability initiatives.
• Familiarity with National Department of Health systems and policies.
• Experience working with DFAT, UNICEF, WHO, Gavi, World Bank, or similar donors and partners.