Principal Manager, Cardiovascular Health

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) is a US-based, global public health organization with a mission to prevent 100 million deaths from heart disease and to make the world safer from epidemics. Since 2017, Resolve to Save Lives has partnered with low-and middle-income country governments, multilateral agencies, academic and other civil society partners, and communities to implement policies and programs to treat and control hypertension, reduce sodium intake, eliminate artificial trans fats, and strengthen systems for epidemic prevention. 

The Cardiovascular Health (CVH) unit at RTSL provides technical assistance in developing cardiovascular disease prevention programs to help countries improve their people's heart health. Working with our partners to improve the control of high blood pressure, reduce salt intake, and eliminate transfat from the global food supply, the CVH team has helped save countless lives from cardiovascular disease.  

Background

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) collaborates with the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Ethiopia on Cardiovascular Health (CVH) programming to end preventable deaths from cardiovascular disease. We support the Ethiopian Hypertension Control Initiative, focusing on ensuring the quality, accessibility, and standard of care for hypertension at the primary healthcare level. RTSL also advocates for the prevention and reduction of CVH risk factors through the endorsement of the Unhealthy Diet Control Proclamation. These efforts require advocacy and strong partnerships with the MOH and other government partners to ensure continuous access to medications, the integration of digital health tools to enhance patient care, and data-driven decision-making and evidence-based policy formulation and implementation. Furthermore, RTSL works closely with the MOH to develop strategic documents that guide program implementation and strengthen capacity for non-communicable disease program management, coordination and implementation at national, regional and local levels. 

Position Purpose

The Principal Manager, Cardiovascular Health ensures harmonization and alignment of RTSL's cardiovascular health program with national strategic priorities and operational plans. The position holder executes activities in close collaboration with the MOH, Regional Health Bureaus, and multisectoral platforms established to support these efforts. The position holder is expected to establish strong partnerships and collaborative working relationships with national technical working groups (TWGs) functioning under the leadership of the MOH and other relevant agencies. Additionally, they assist the MOH and relevant agencies such as EPSS and EFDA in developing, implementing, and monitoring advocacy strategies and are responsible for partnership management, program implementation, reporting, and facilitating performance review and learning. The Principal Manager, Cardiovascular Health leads a team of five composed of senior program managers and technical advisors who work on hypertension and nutrition programming. 

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Advocacy and Partnership Management:

• Analyze and develop a deep understanding of the programming and political landscape concerning CVH to guide effective partnership management, advocacy efforts, resource allocation and mobilization. 
• Work closely with the RTSL global Directors for Nutrition and Hypertension, the Country Director, and the CVH team to develop an advocacy strategy that supports global and national program endorsement and advancement with a focus on the endorsement of the Unhealthy Diet Control Proclamation, improved medicines access, and adoption of effective information systems for patient monitoring for the CVH program. 
• Coordinate with a range of partners to foster and strengthen advocacy for the CVH program at the national level. 
• In collaboration with RTSL's Senior Program Managers for Hypertension and Nutrition, actively participate in partnership platforms coordinated by the MOH and other agencies, particularly regarding the Unhealthy Diet Control Proclamation and medication access. 
• Build strategic partnerships by representing the CVH program on key national platforms, ensuring strong partnerships and visibility for RTSL. 
• Represent the CVH program in national-level partnership forums alongside the Senior Program Managers. 
• Develop advocacy guidance and policy briefs in collaboration with the Senior Program Managers and RTSL global directors to advance the CVH program goals. 
• Promote CVH program response prioritization for increased government funding at national and subnational levels. 
• Support resource mobilization efforts of MOH and other agencies.  

Technical Leadership and Team Management:

• Provide strategic thought leadership for CVH program implementation. 
• Serve as the CVH program lead, acting as the primary liaison between government counterparts, including MOH, EPSS, EFDA, EPHI, partners, and RTSL, for all CVH-related programs.  
• Lead the development of the country's CVH strategic plan and costed action plan. 
• Lead CVH program execution by coordinating overall planning, implementation, monitoring, and documentation. 
• Manage the CVH team, including the Senior Program Managers for Nutrition and Hypertension, and provide technical and managerial guidance and oversight of a Senior Technical Advisor embedded at the MOH. 
• Build and support a high-performing CVH program team and enable an inclusive culture through coaching and real-time feedback on issues such as technical strategy, planning, program management, and measurement.  
• Participate in the Ethiopia Senior Management Team (SMT) to assist the Country Director in organizational management and ensure strong partnerships with government offices and partners. 
• Represent RTSL at relevant national, regional, and international technical working groups (TWGs) and scientific conferences 
• Participate in key CVH coordination platforms such as the NCD Task Force, multisectoral engagement, and Medication Access discussions. 

Performance Monitoring and Learning: 

• Oversee evidence generation and data analysis for the CVH program. 
• Facilitate regular CVH program performance monitoring and learning meetings.  
• Collaborate with the Senior and Regional Program Managers, ensuring documentation and dissemination of success stories, best practices, and program achievements. 
• Co-lead the technical management meetings with the Principal Manager for Prevent Epidemics to foster cross-program learning and collaboration within RTSL. 
• Ensure documentation of the progress of the Unhealthy Diet Control Proclamation, including challenges and risks.  
• Promote the use of digital systems to support data-driven decision-making, national strategic planning, and policy formulation. 
• Compile and submit the monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual CVH program reports for governments, authorities, and the global office.  

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Master's degree or higher in public health, public policy and/or related field  

Experience: 

• 12+ years of work experience in public health with focused experience in program management, policy advocacy and partnership management. 
• Proven experience supporting advocacy for public health policy development and implementation.  
• Experience working with government agencies such as MOH, regional health bureaus, and non-government organizations. 
• Experience leading and managing teams. 

Skills & abilities: 

• Deep understanding of the Ethiopian public health and health care system, relevant policies, political context, and landscape.  
• Familiarity with national and global policies, frameworks, and strategic initiatives related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cardiovascular health, is preferred. 
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and influencing skills, with proven ability to advocate for public health policy changes, resource allocation, and government commitment at the national level. 
• Experience in cross-sector collaboration with the ability to work collaboratively with various government agencies, NGOs, international organizations, and other stakeholders in public health. 
• Well-honed leadership, team management, coaching and mentoring skills to support capacity strengthening of staff and partners; able to work harmoniously with individuals from diverse backgrounds. 
• Excellent written communication skills in English for preparing policy briefs and reports.  
• Excellent facilitation and presentation skills for conducting high-level meetings with stakeholders and decision-makers. 
• Highly motivated, self-starter who can adapt, problem solve and be creative as needed. 
• Time management skills with the ability to work in a deadline-oriented environment and prioritize and manage multiple tasks independently. 
• Ability to conduct landscape analyses and use the results to develop effective advocacy plans and materials. 
• Excellent skills in building and maintaining strong, effective relationships and partnerships with key national and subnational stakeholders.  
• Time management skills with the ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment  
• Excellent computer literacy skills, including MS Office applications, particularly MS Excel, PowerPoint, and virtual communication platforms 
• Fluency in spoken and written English in addition to Amharic  

Other: 

• Willingness and ability to travel up to 20% of the time across Ethiopia. 
• Passion for the mission and values of Resolve to Save Lives. 

Compensation and Benefits 

Resolve to Save Lives prides itself on cultivating a supportive, connected remote team doing work that matters. We do everything possible to ensure our employees are connected and set up for success. 

The salary for this role is competitive and set according to national labor rates for the international NGO sector in Ethiopia. The exact offer will be determined by various factors, such as the candidate's skills and experience relative to the requirements of the role.

In addition to a competitive salary, Resolve to Save Lives provides a generous package of benefits, including: 

• Health insurance for you and your dependents 
• Contributions toward retirement  
• Paid annual leave and sick leave, in addition to public holidays 
• Two paid, week-long organization-wide breaks at mid-year and end-of-year  
• Professional development and home office setup benefits 
• Up-to-date computer equipment 

RTSL believes its programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We encourage applications from and provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, organ donor status, or status as a veteran. Resolve to Save Lives complies with all applicable US EEO laws.