Performance-based Financing (PBF) Advisor

POSITION:                Performance based financing (PBF) advisor[1]

REPORTS TO:           Global Technical Lead, Health Delivery Systems Strengthening

BAND:                                    7

LOCATION:              Cambridge, MA or Arlington, VA

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The PBF advisor will serve as a full time, senior technical resource on performance based financing for MSH, working across all projects and programs in the Center for Health Services as well as acting as advisor to other MSH Centers in PBF strategies, approaches and operational methods.  This includes working with CHS staff worldwide in conceptualizing, designing, planning and assistance in execution of PBF-related projects and programs. 

Working closely with MSH’s corporate Impact Evaluation Advisor, the incumbent will provide hands-on technical assistance in the conceptualization, planning and implementation of PBF programs.  He/she will work with Center and project teams to conceptualize and design program impact evaluations and expand organization-wide capacity in PBF.

The PBF specialist will also contribute PBF-related input for new proposals and will represent MSH’s PBF program externally as appropriate.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Performance based financing

• Lead the conceptualization, design and implementation of PBF projects and programs and support work related to PBF within MSH’s corporate initiatives;  currently these are the Health Systems Strengthening, MSH AIDS Initiative, and Results Management System and provide input into impact evaluation and operations research efforts under the Center for Health Services’ performance based financing initiative.
• Design and manage an MSH-wide analysis of current PBF projects and programs to document the link between PBF activities and improved health outputs, outcomes and health impact.
• Create and routinely update the evidence of MSH PBF program effectiveness and impact.
• Develop and maintain an MSH-wide network of PBF practitioners to support MSH’s efforts on impact evaluation more broadly.

Capacity Building

• Define the core competencies required to successfully conceptualize, design and implement PBF-related projects and programs.
• Map out MSH staff competencies and skill deficits and develop approaches to expanding competencies and filling skills gaps or weaknesses in MSH staff globally.
• Working with the staff identified, including the network of PBF practitioners noted above, create a group of PBF specialists across MSH to assist with capacity building and represent the PBF activities throughout the organization.
• Working in collaboration with key stakeholders (management at home office and projects), develop content and lead trainings to fill gaps in understanding and practice of PBF.
• Serve as a central technical resource on PBF for project teams at all stages of the project life cycle.
• Participate in, as required, all PBF-related impact evaluation efforts for MSH projects.

Business and Resource Development

• Serve as a resource for proposal teams on the development of PBF activities and projects as well as providing input to project M&E plans.
• Review draft proposals to ensure that PBF-related content is appropriate and that impact evaluation designs are appropriate.

Representation Functions

• Share results of PBF activities both inside and external to MSH, throughout MSH via regular presentations and other communications.
• Serve as MSH’s representative at conferences and in other forums and external networks engaged in PBF to explore and exchange approaches and tools used for PBF.
• Prepare and present MSH’s PBF-related impact evaluation findings to appropriate external audiences, including via peer-reviewed publications and public health conferences.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. High level of skill in economics, financing or business as well as operations and evaluation research, experimental and quasi-experimental design and methods for measuring project and organizational performance against identified goals.
2. Proven programmatic, technical, and managerial skills to lead and collaborate effectively with MSH and external colleagues across a wide range of settings.
3. Relevant and extensive experience in international public health and in leading and managing PBF-related programs and projects.
4. Extensive practical field experience.
5. Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to interact professionally and build capacity among colleagues from culturally diverse backgrounds and in different project settings.
6. Graduate degree (PhD preferred) or equivalent in economics, management, finance or related area.
7. Ability to travel international and domestically as needed.