Technical Advisor At miraclefeet

Job Description: Technical Advisor

MiracleFeet is a global nonprofit working to eliminate a leading cause of physical disability worldwide. Over two million children live with the severe consequences of a treatable birth defect known as clubfoot, and 175,000 more babies are born with it every year. Thanks to a non-surgical solution called the Ponseti Method, 95% of cases can be fully treated for less than USD$500. MiracleFeet has scaled this proven, low-cost treatment to 29 countries (and growing) where children previously had limited or no access to care. The MiracleFeet model emphasizes integration of clubfoot services in the primary health care system with a focus on workforce development, service delivery and implementation of best practices for quality clubfoot treatment and programming, including the use of digital tools and other innovative solutions.

Since its founding, MiracleFeet has grown its supporter base and been making significant inroads into the global public health sector. In 2020 it achieved an important milestone – its first USAID award, through the Learning, Acting and Building for Rehabilitation in Health Systems (ReLAB-HS) consortium led by Johns Hopkins University International Injury Research Unit (JHU-IIRU). This opportunity, aligned to MiracleFeet’s core mission, is an important funding mechanism that supports MiracleFeet’s long-standing training and technical ambitions and requires significant coordination (programmatic, administrative, internal, among the six partners, with USAID and other stakeholders) and technical guidance to ensure proper implementation.

Summary

As MiracleFeet becomes a more a visible and active player in the global health sector, it has created the position of Technical Advisor (TA) to provide guidance on the core clinical, medical, and service delivery elements of program activities and serve as the technical lead on the five-year USAID ReLAB-HS project. This position will take an active role in safeguarding the quality, relevance, and impact of clinical activities in support of children with clubfoot and their families. The TA will ensure that as MiracleFeet promotes clubfoot treatment in increasingly visible and specialized forums (WHO, NGO coalitions, USAID health specialists, etc.) and advocates for treatment inclusion into national health systems, it remains a leader in clubfoot treatment innovations, current on the latest sector research, and networked among key global health players.

The TA role will provide strategic guidance to the organization in three core components: 1) clinical training; 2) treatment excellence; and 3) applied research (clinical/programmatic). Specifically, the TA will focus primarily on strategic initiatives in workforce development, including pre-service, in-service training and mentoring; the sharing and implementation of best practices in clubfoot treatment to improve service delivery for all MiracleFeet programs; and the prioritization and oversight of any medical or clinical research projects or case studies. The role will also provide technical leadership and oversight for the implementation of MiracleFeet’s ReLAB-HS subaward which encompasses all these three areas.

The TA will ensure the technical and methodological soundness of organizational strategic plans and country activity plans and will champion adoption of more effective and efficient practices to achieve service delivery outcomes with respect to intensified early detection and referral, treatment quality, and treatment adherence. The role will support the advancement and routine application of data to improve program quality and impact, and end-user satisfaction. They will work closely with the programs team to support quality assurance of clinical and non-clinical training with respect to clubfoot treatment. The Technical Advisor will serve as a key thought leader across the organization and will support the implementation of organizational-wide (annual and strategic) plans.

This position reports to MiracleFeet’s President and will supervise the Technical Program Officer. This is a full-time, exempt position based out of MiracleFeet’s Chapel Hill, NC office. Remote-based applicants will be considered. Applicants outside of the United States will also be considered under consultancy conditions which differ from the terms of employment outlined in this job description.

Essential Functions

Support high quality implementation of service delivery and workforce development

• Provide technical leadership in design, development, implementation, and technical support in areas of workforce development, service delivery, and best practices in clubfoot treatment
• In coordination with the Director of Programs, support the formulation of innovative approaches for scale up of technical/clinical services in existing programs and in new priority countries
• Ensure that program activities reflect best practices in clubfoot treatment and management, and identify areas for improved efficiency or effectiveness in service delivery and workforce development
• Coordinate and organize relevant technical assistance projects, which may include identifying and nominating consultants and negotiating terms of engagement
• Develop, maintain and/or update an inventory of evidence-based training materials, standards, and curricula needed for implementation and to meet the technical/clinical needs of programs
• Assure that the program is aligned with global standards that are informed by international and scientific best practices, and promote these standards among major stakeholders (Ministries of Health, partners, donors, Board of Advisors, Medical Advisory Board, Global Clubfoot Initiative members)

Lead ReLAB-HS consortium activities and partner/stakeholder relationships

· Provide technical leadership to the development the ReLAB-HS/MiracleFeet work plans and country work plans, in close collaboration with the Director of Programs, programs team and other stakeholders, to ensure timely implementation and compliance to the requirements and regulations of the award

· Maintain excellent relationships with USAID, ReLAB-HS consortium members, and in-country stakeholders and partner collaborators, and develop rapid responses to ReLAB-HS communications and needs

· Actively participate in and represent MiracleFeet at relevant ReLAB-HS technical advisory/working groups and professional forums

· Ensure that MiracleFeet meets technical deliverables and targets under the ReLAB-HS contract

· Oversee technical contributions of sub-grantees and contractors, including defining scopes of work and terms of reference

Use learning, data, and evidence to drive action and implementation of best practices

· Provide technical guidance to programs team and partners based on data collected (through CAST, quarterly reports and other tools) and through routine check-ins with regional managers/Director of Programs

· Spot trends and drive quality improvements of the five global KPIs with targeted partners; alternatively, lead efforts to disseminate the best practices of partners who are achieving excellence in some/all of the global KPIs

· Document successes, lessons learned and challenges in implementation of workforce development and service delivery and provide inputs in these areas for program for both internal and external audiences, including donors, the government and other implementing partners

· Oversee any medical or clinical research projects or case studies that MiracleFeet might undertake alone or as part of GCI, ReLAB-HS or other networks

· Raise any quality concerns with Director of Programs and/or President

Contribute to thought leadership for raising clubfoot awareness and promote integration

· Contribute actively to overall organizational strategy, including the development of organization-wide goals.

· Develop strong relationships with the international clubfoot and wider international health communities, including the leaders of other NGOs working in the field, members of the Global Clubfoot Initiative and public health experts, especially in the field of disability rehabilitation and child health

· Liaise with and take advantage of the expertise of MiracleFeet’s Medical Advisory Board to consider clinical changes, decisions or strategies that affect treatment

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a rehabilitation profession (physical therapy or related field); Advanced degree preferred
• Minimum of ten years demonstrated experience implementing physical rehabilitation programs/projects and providing technical assistance at the regional and global level; experience in clubfoot treatment and programming strongly preferred
• Skilled in strengthening service delivery activities and workforce development initiatives at a regional or global level
• Expertise in identifying and adapting rehabilitation best practices to specific program contexts
• Relevant experience using data and applied research to inform technical assistance in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC)
• Demonstrated in-depth understanding of healthcare systems in LMIC

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

· Excellent project management skills

· Experience with US Government, specifically USAID, contracts or grants a plus

· Competency in the use of word processing programs, spreadsheets, and database applications is required

· Previous living, working, or long-term volunteer experience in a low-resource setting outside the United States

· Excellent verbal, written interpersonal and presentation skills in English and working knowledge of at least one language spoken in MiracleFeet programs

· Strong analytical skills and commitment to data-driven decision making

· Excels at operating in a fast paced, collaborative environment

· Politically-savvy and culturally competent: skilled in diplomacy and relationship-building, sensitive to cultural norms and expectations

· Flexible to the needs of the organization and the challenges often faced when working in low- and middle-income countries

• Ability to travel internationally to project sites, conferences and meetings as needed

· Able to organize one’s time and work autonomously

· Proactive, creative, and takes initiative

· Attention to detail

Salary/Benefits

· Salary commensurate with experience

· Health insurance provided

· Three weeks of vacation per year

United States of America· Optional dental and vision insurance

· 401K plan available; employer match offered

· Life insurance and disability insurance provided