Job Description

This position is contingent on funding.

Job Summary:
CRS seeks a Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Technical Advisor II (TA) for the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) Reaching Every At-risk Community and Household with malaria services (REACH Malaria) global project. The purpose of PMI REACH Malaria is to provide implementation support services and technical assistance to countries to accelerate progress in comprehensive delivery of facility and community-based malaria services, including malaria case management, prevention of malaria in pregnancy (MiP), seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) and other malaria prevention. The PMI REACH Malaria project scope includes integrated maternal newborn and child health services (MNCH) and nutrition services.

The MNCH TA II will support the development and execution of technical assistance strategies for Zimbabwe that advance the integration of malaria prevention and treatment services into MNCH interventions. This may include improving quality of services during antenatal care, labour and delivery, postnatal care, and newborn care, as well as clinical and community case management of childhood illnesses including malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea, and nutrition. The advisor will contribute to activities to strengthen referral systems, community case management, and pre- and in-service capacity building in malaria case management, MiP, and MNCH.

CRS is seeking a highly motivated individual with strong public health skills with a focus on MNCH technical skills and public health implementation experience, significant experience in directly supporting the ministries of health, MNCH divisions, and country-level stakeholders, robust analytical and writing skills, and strong communication skills, including high-level proficiency in English.

Duties and Responsibilities

Roles and Key Responsibilities:
• Provide overall MNCH technical backstopping for the project in Zimbabwe.
• Lead technical, management, and monitoring aspects of project activity implementation, and ensure adherence to PMI technical guidance and global best practices.
• Provide technical guidance to national and subnational levels in development of policies, guidelines, training materials in MNCH and participate in relevant MNCH technical working groups.
• Provide technical support for the implementation of PMI REACH Malaria activities in Zimbabwe, with a focus on improving the quality of clinical and community management of MNCH programs, immunization including malaria vaccine, and linkage to malaria prevention and case management and malaria in pregnancy, strengthening referral systems, and pre- and in-service capacity building.
• Maintain current technical knowledge on malaria, MNCH, nutrition, and other related public health topics, and manage introduction and scale-up of best practices and technical interventions
• Assist the Chief of Party in developing annual work plans, budgets and performance reports.
• Manage and supervise technical teams in implementation of program activities
• Work with the MoH to actively use data for decision-making and to identify how malaria control activities and the impact can be sustained over time.
• Take on duties as may be assigned by the Chief of Party.

Qualifications and Experience

Basic Qualifications
• Clinical degree qualification (MD, clinical officer, nursing, midwife) preferred.
• Advanced degree in Public Health, paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology, epidemiology, medical or related field.
• Six+ years of experience providing technical assistance and/or direct implementation experience of public health programs in Zimbabwe.
• Experience designing and/or implementing integrated health programs with a focus on MNCH.
• Excellent technical skills in the areas of maternal and child health, immunization, public health programs including malaria, with experience in surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation with the ability to deliver quality, high impact projects while providing value to donors.
• Expertise in working with Ministries of Health and other stakeholders, donors, and partners to develop and build consensus on implementation plans and manage them to success.
• Experience working with USG funding mechanisms.
• Demonstrated experience working in coordination with international, regional, and national NGOs.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact in a culturally sensitive manner with diverse internal and external individuals.
• Critical thinker, creative problem-solver, and innovator.
• Fluency in English proficiency preferred. Strong writing skills are an advantage.
• Ability to travel for an estimated 20-30% of the time
Preferred Qualifications:
• Master’s degree in health sciences, public health, epidemiology, biostatistics or in the field of malaria programming required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Required Languages - Strong written and oral communication skills in English required

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: CRS Zimbabwe Country and Regional Leadership and Operations, PMI REACH Malaria Team Lead, Senior Program Manager, and other PMI REACH Malaria staff, Senior Technical Advisor, Malaria, and other global technical advisors.

External: PMI REACH Malaria Consortium Partners, Department of State, PMI, Government of Zimbabwe (Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Program), other malaria and health partners in Zimbabwe.
Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
· Personal Accountability – consistently takes responsibilities for one’s own actions.
· Acts with Integrity - consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
· Builds and Maintains Trust - shows consistency between words and actions.
· Collaborates with Others – works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
· Open to Learn – seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:
· Lead Change – continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
· Develops and Recognizes Others – builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
· Strategic Mindset – understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team principles.

How to Apply

About Us

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.
CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Applicant Instructions: Please email a cover letter, and curriculum vitae which should include three references to: [email protected]. Please include the position you are applying for in the subject line.

The closing date for applications is Monday, 17th November 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

CRS does not charge application fees or processing fees to potential applicants or any fee throughout the recruitment process.

Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

By applying for this job, the candidate understands and acknowledges that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect. Further, s/he understands that if successful, s/he will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate the candidate’s behaviors related to safeguarding-related topics.