Chief of Party, USAID/India, Health Systems Strengthening and Building Resilience to Future Pandemics and Climate Change Activity in India

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.  

This Proposal Opportunity:

The Health Systems Strengthening and Building Resilience to Future Pandemics and Climate Change Activity in India is a proposed 5-year project, funded by USAID that will aim to enhance India’s healthcare system by strengthening its ability to handle challenges. These challenges may likely include climate change, emerging diseases, and changes in disease patterns. The strategy will likely involve implementing an integrated primary healthcare approach, improving care coordination across levels of the health system, expanding disease surveillance efforts, effectively allocating public health resources, and encouraging private sector involvement to improve overall health outcomes.

The Chief of Party (COP) is responsible for providing visionary leadership and strategic direction to ensure the successful implementation of the project. This position requires a dedicated and dynamic leader who will excel in managing all aspects of the project, meeting USAID's goals, and addressing the specific challenges faced in India. The COP will foster strong partnerships with government agencies, local partners, donors, and other key stakeholders, while ensuring that the project is delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with USAID regulations. The COP will recruit, mentor, and manage a diverse team of experts and professionals, drive responsible financial management, identify, and mitigate risks, establish robust M&E systems, and represent the project to external audiences.

The COP will serve as the primary point of contact with USAID and have the overall responsibility for meeting program objectives, oversight of operations, direction, and delivery of technical assistance. This position will collaborate with relevant Ministries and key government agencies at the central and state levels, as well as with other critical partners to provide high-level support for effective capacity strengthening at the community, sub-national, and national levels, and sustainability of the project interventions. The COP will oversee a team of experts and support staff, prepare reports and annual operating plans, align project initiatives with in-country priorities and ensure the program is compliant with USAID, Government of India, and Palladium regulations.

This is an anticipated project, and all positions are contingent upon award from USAID.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide overall programmatic, financial, and administrative leadership for the implementation of the Project, ensuring full alignment with USAID and Palladium policies and procedures, as well as national and international standards.
Serve as the main interface between the project, Palladium senior management, and other relevant stakeholders.
Foster a robust and productive partnership with USAID, ensuring effective communication and high client satisfaction levels.
Collaborate with Palladium’s senior leadership both in India and at the headquarters (Washington, DC) to devise, refine, and execute a comprehensive workplan of activities that can directly support program objectives.
Exercise rigorous oversight over the project's budget and financial matters, including budget projections, project spending, and the delivery of financial performance reports in adherence to USAID's financial requirements.
Ensure quality control and overall responsiveness of technical assistance provided.
Proactively identify and address issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner, suggesting appropriate adjustments to ensure program success.
Manage and mentor project staff and key stakeholders, with a focus on building local staff capacities, and cultivate effective partnerships with development stakeholders, including government institutions, private sector entities, civil society organizations, media outlets, etc.
Comply with USAID and Palladium reporting requirements on program impact and implementation.
Enable identification, sharing, and application of international best practices and lessons learned.
Prepare, contribute to, and provide oversight of analyses, recommendations, briefing notes, white papers, assessments, workplans, and reporting materials for internal and client use.
Represent the project at relevant professional meetings, working groups, and seminars.
Implement the project’s sustainable business plan, including components for safeguarding and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Key Competencies Required:

Advanced degree in public health, healthcare administration, or a related field.
At least 12 years of progressively senior leadership positions managing USAID-funded projects of similar size - previous Chief of Party experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated expertise managing teams, strategic planning, meeting donor-funded requirements and budgets, and achieving results.
Demonstrated expertise in health systems strengthening, pandemic preparedness, and climate change resilience. India-specific experience strongly preferred.
Proven ability in coordination of and collaboration with stakeholders including government agencies, host country governments, NGOs, civil society, and international donor agencies.
Proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision with diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams.
Evidence of strong communication skills, both interpersonal and written, to fulfil the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the contract.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Hindi.

Professional Expertise/Competencies Preferred:

Previous Chief of Party/Team Leader experience on a USAID-funded project in India strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience in the design, management, and implementation of complex projects related to health system strengthening, primary health care, infectious disease prevention, and public health surveillance.
Track record of effectively collaborating with government officials at both national and sub-national levels, as well as health providers and other relevant stakeholders in the public health sector.
Strong ability to oversee projects comprising multiple components, managed by multifunctional teams, and involving international consultants.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success, and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.  

Should you require any adjustments or accommodation to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss. 

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.