Programme Overview:

The FCDO-funded Ending Preventable Deaths (EPD) Support Programme is designed to provide both short- and long-term technical assistance to FCDO central and country teams. It will complement UK investments that contribute to EPD across three EPD approach pillars: 1) strong health systems; 2) human rights, gender and equality, including sexual and reproductive health and rights; and 3) healthier environments including WASH, climate and health, nutrition and air pollution. The focus will be on the 11 flagship EPD countries: Bangladesh, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and South Sudan, but may also include countries in protracted crises: Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. _ _

The technical assistance will not directly support programmes but will aim to boost FCDO country teams’ ability to influence the policy, legal, and strategic environment essential to making progress in tandem with centrally managed and bilateral country programmes.

Initially the programme budget will be £7million over 3 years, with an anticipated start date of Autumn 2024. There is an optional contract and budget extension subject to approval.

Employment is contingent upon successful award of the EPD support programme to Abt Global

The Opportunity:

The Team Leader will be responsible for providing overall leadership and technical direction to the EPD Support Programme. (S)he will be accountable for all programme implementation and deliverables, ensuring that the programme consistently provides high-quality, demand-driven technical support and delivers both payment KPIs and Log-Frame outputs and outcomes. (S)he will lead all technical, management, contractual, and personnel decisions and manage the core programme team. (S)he will maximise value for money, minimise risks, and confirm that the programme is compliant with FCDO terms and conditions. The Team Leader will act as Abt’s senior representative with all programme stakeholders, including FCDO and partners.

Core Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic oversight, direction, and management across technical, operational, and financial programme components; this will include oversight of consultant recruitment and management of the TA roster and of consultant contracting and performance.

• Manage performance of the programme against objectives and indicators and implement corrective actions as needed.

• Oversee and manage the programme annual work plan and monitoring, evaluation, and learning plans.

• Lead the management of and collegial collaboration with downstream partners.

• Lead, manage, and mentor the core team; directly supervise the EPD team programme staff.

• Oversee project risk, compliance, duty of care, and security, in liaison with international Abt staff and propose mitigation measures.

• Perform strong financial management, including reporting and budgetary management.

• Provide short-term technical assistance as needed.

• Ensure compliance with FCDO and Abt Global’s codes of conduct, policies and procedures.

• Uphold and deliver on the programme’s commitment to value for money.

• Act as an ambassador for Abt Global; foster and maintain strong and positive working relationships with FCDO country teams, the EPD Hub, and other stakeholders.

Core Requirements:

• 10+ years of leadership and management experience, ideally of FCDO Health programmes.

• Extensive background and advanced technical expertise (spanning both theoretical and applied knowledge) related to health system strengthening, with a focus on aspects of RMNCH and gender-responsive programming in Africa and Asia; experience with at least one of the EPD countries is ideal.

• Experience in overseeing and quality assuring the work of technical assistance consultants; this includes reviewing initial concepts, advising on designs, providing input to assessments, and peer reviewing.

• Excellent written and verbal communication.

• Excellent leadership, representation, organisational, and interpersonal skills, both in-person and remotely. 

• Proficiency in English is required. Proficiency in French is ideal.

• UK-based.

What We Value:

• Technical Skills, Excellence and Quality

• Project & Task Management

• People Relations / Management

• Business Insight/Development & Client Relations

• Collaboration, Thought Leadership & Rep Cap

What We Offer

Abt Global values individuality and celebrates difference with a strong commitment to diversity, equality, racial equity and inclusion; we encourage applications from diverse backgrounds perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are deeply committed to safeguarding, to protect and prevent harm and abuse to individuals we work for and who work for us. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. We will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, child abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation in any form, and expect everyone to be treated with respect and dignity.