Program Officer

MAIN RESPONSIBILITY

The Program Officer is embedded in the MSH Ethiopia Country team to strengthen day-to-day project management for multiple concurrent programs. The role supports effective implementation by coordinating the project’s milestone plan, tracking deadlines and dependencies, ensuring that complete supporting documentation is assembled for milestone review and payment requests.

Working closely with MSH Country Lead and technical, finance, operations, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), and headquarters teams, the program officer follows up on agreed actions from different meetings and guidance/requests coming from US Department of State, obtains required inputs from responsible colleagues and identifies delays, risks or documentation gaps requiring management attention.

The role maintains project management tools, reporting calendars, trackers, and organized records to support timely reporting, informed decision-making, donor compliance, and audit readiness. The position coordinates and monitors work across functions and supports to project activities, responsibility for technical and operational quality with the representative leads.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITY

• Support planning, coordinating and implementation of MSH Ethiopia projects activities in accordance with approved workplans, milestones and project objectives
• Work closely with technical teams, government counterparts’ partners and stake holders to facilitate timely implementation
• Coordinate meetings, workshops, training sessions, and other program activities, including preparations of agendas, materials, and follow- up actions
• Track implementation progress and identify delays, challenges or issues requiring management attention.
• Follow up with responsible staff and Partners on agreed actions, deliverables and deadlines.
• Follow up with responsible staff partners on DOS guidance and requests
• Support coordination between technical, finance, operations and headquarters teams to facilitate program implementation.
• Support the presentation and timely submission of reports, workplans, presentations and other required deliverables.
• Collect, review and consolidate input from staff, partners and other stakeholders.
• Document program activities, meetings, achievements, lessons learned and implementation challenges.
• Maintain organized records of program documents, reports, correspondence and supporting Materials
• Ensure documentation is complete and consistent with project, donor, and MSH requirements.
• Support the preparation of documentation related to project deliverables, milestones and payment requests when required.
• Coordinate meetings, workshops, training sessions and other project events.
• Prepare agendas, invitations, presentations, participant lists and other meeting materials.
• Coordinate with government institutions, partners, consultants, and other stakeholders on meeting arrangements and follow-up
• Work with finance and operations teams to facilitate logistical arrangements and required documentation when needed.
• Support field visits, partner meetings, and other program-related activities, as needed.
• Support travel arrangements and coordination for projects staff, headquarters visitors, and consultants, when required for project activities
• Prepare correspondence, briefing materials, and other documents requested by project leadership.
• Coordinate administrative follow-up related to program activities, consultants, and service providers
• Perform other duties consistent with the position as assigned by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED EDUCATION  

• Bachelor’s degree in projects management, business or public administration, international development, public health or a related field.
• Preferred: - Master’s Degree in related field.

REQUIRED MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

• 6 years of relevant experience in project coordination or management, preferably supporting donor-funded health or international development programs

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Strong project planning coordination, organization, and follow-up skills with close attention to deadlines and details.
• Experience maintaining milestone plans, action trackers, reporting calendars, document repositories or comparable project management tools.
• Ability to interpret award requirements, coordinate inputs across technical and operational teams and assemble complete supporting documentation.
• Ability to identify dependencies, risks, delay, and documentation gaps and escalate them clearly and promptly.
• Demonstrated ability to obtain timely input and commitments from colleagues at different levels while maintaining productive working relationships.
• Strong analytical, writing, presentation, and records, management skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications: experience with SharePoint, Smart sheets, or similar collaboration and tracking tools is preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills is English

MSH is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws. MSH complies with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act, as amended, and all related applicable regulations.

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