The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.
CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus. Today, along with HIV, we work in conjunction with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, reduce maternal and child mortality, combat chronic malnutrition, and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health, digital health, and health financing. With each new and innovative program, our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions, that programs are designed to scale nationally, and learnings are shared globally.
In India, CHAI works in partnership with its affiliate the William J Clinton Foundation (WJCF), an independent not-for-profit entity, registered under Section 8 of the Indian Companies Act 2013. WJCFโs mission is to save lives and improve health outcomes by enabling the government and private sector to strengthen and sustain quality health systems. To that end, the organisation has been working in India, since 2007, under the guidance of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) at the Central and states' levels on an array of high priority initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes. These, inter alia, include infectious diseases (COVID-19, hepatitis, HIV, TB, vector-borne diseases), non-communicable diseases (cervical cancer, diabetes, sickle cell disease), maternal and child health (anaemia, immunisation, diarrhoea, pneumonia), sexual and reproductive health, health insurance and digital health (AB PM-JAY, ABDM), oxygen and hypoxemia management, safe drinking water, and climate and health.
Our people are our greatest asset, and none of this work would be possible without their talent, time, dedication and passion for our mission and values. We are a highly diverse team of enthusiastic individuals across 15 states of India with a broad range of skillsets and life experiences.
Learn more about our exciting work: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org
Program Overview:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the World Health Organization-led National Polio Surveillance Project (NPSP) began in 1997 to support Indiaโs polio eradication efforts. After achieving that goal in 2014, the network broadened its focus to include active and passive, population-based and case-based surveillance of other vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) such as diphtheria, measles, rubella, pertussis, and neonatal tetanus. Today, it remains the most reliable source of VPD case incidence data in the country.
NPSPโs complete transition to the Government of India is underway in a phased manner and is expected to conclude by 2027. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), under the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has been designated to take over the functions currently managed by NPSP. Established in 2004, IDSP tracks more than 33 infectious diseases and conditions through near real-time, case-based reporting on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP).
The planned integration of the National Polio Surveillance Network into the existing IDSP will be carried out comprehensively and responsibly to maintain the high standards of data quality, investigation, and sample collection that NPSP is known for. The initiative will ensure continued effectiveness in monitoring VPDs, especially for measles and rubella elimination and polio eradication, with a strong focus on capacity building and strategic oversight at both national and sub-national levels. Through this transition, the programme will support Indiaโs long-term health security goals, leveraging government partnerships, community engagement, and cutting-edge innovations.
Project Background:
WJCF is privileged to support IDSP, NCDCโs vision for a sustainable transition of the existing VPD surveillance network through an embedded program management unit (PMU) model at the Central Surveillance Unit (CSU). The PMU will work under the direct supervision of NCDC, MoHFW leadership to facilitate the achievement of key strategic goals:
Smooth transition of all functions related to VPD surveillance from WHOโs VPD surveillance network to IDSP in a time-bound manner. Enhance sustainable leadership, management and technical capacity of IDSP-NCDC and consequently the state IDSP units for maintaining the appropriate standards for VPD surveillance by evidence-informed programmatic, financial and policy decision-making.Trigger development and comprehensive implementation of newer strategies, implementation frameworks and approaches for further building on the gains achieved thus far. Increase and sustain multisectoral responses, advocacy, and political momentum towards elimination goals.Position Summary:
We are seeking for a highly motivated, enterprising individual with outstanding public health credentials and demonstrated management abilities to provide overall strategic leadership to the PMU, serving as the primary liaison with MoHFW, IDSP-NCDC, the Immunization Division, donors and development partners. They will therefore need exceptional people skills and ability to align multitude of stakeholders. The Lead will oversee adherence to the transition roadmap, guide decision-making, and ensure accountability for outcomes. This role is essential to anchor the PMU within NCDC and to prevent disruptions in surveillance quality during the handover. They will have demonstrated analytical skills and problem solving in complex environments to effectively shape policy and implementation decisions. The PMU lead will report to the leadership at IDSP, NCDC for functioning of the PMU and to Program Director, Immunization at WJCF for project delivery.
Responsibilities
Program Management and Leadership: Lead the design, development and execution of coherent programmatic multiyear strategies aimed at streamlining IDSPโs approach towards VPD surveillance programmingDevelop cross-program collaborations and conceptual linkages in a resource constrained and rapidly evolving contextLead structured program performance reviews and develop an accountability culture within teams.Oversee program tracking of progress, analysing data, and making recommendations for improvements based on evidence.Lead structured program monitoring processes across teams including Gant chart management and productive team meetings.Drive development and review of key program reports for internal and external stakeholder consumption including donors, government and WJCF leadership.Build project implementation capacity and skills within program team ensuring timely execution of activities, compliance to WJCF policies and protocols, and responsiveness to government needs.Ensuring adherence to existing standards of VPD surveillance and complying with international benchmarks for cardinal monitoring indicators Identify VPD Surveillance training needs and plan training and capacity building activities at relevant levels.Facilitate fundraising and business development efforts through grant writing, proof reading and desk reviews of key documentation. Relationship Management Lead development of key relationships between governmental, donor entities, nongovernmental organizations and health service delivery points in collaboration with country leadership.Facilitate engagement with key government Program Managers/ division heads to gather input and ensure alignment and buy in across all programmatic activities.Establish and build strong relationships with key global team program counterparts ensuring effective representation of WJCF and showcasing lessons.Develop and maintain a comprehensive stakeholder matrix for the portfolio of programs supported ensuring stakeholder needs are identified, negotiation avenues and mapped and healthy relationships are maintained.Guide program team in navigating complex stakeholder relationships and favourably influence decision making in a professional and collaborative manner.Build a productive cadence of engagement with internal and external stakeholders and guide programs in replicating this across activities and implementation processes. Strategic communication Regularly update key stakeholders on program progress, challenges, and successes through detailed reports and presentations.Lead effective internal and external communication approaches aligned with WJCFโs communication policies and tailored to audiences to achieve transformational impact and influence decision making. People Management Build team resilience, creativity, adaptability, and teamwork in project execution.Foster a collaborative and innovative team environment, ensuring that each team member understands their roles and responsibilities within the context of the broader organizational goals.Provide hands-on guidance and expertise in technical matters, sharing your deep knowledge to assist the team in overcoming technical challenges and making informed decisions.Actively engage with each direct report to understand their individual career aspirations and professional development objectives.Continuously monitor progress of direct reportees, provide constructive feedback, and identify opportunities for skill enhancement and career growth.Be a role model and team player who demonstrates exceptionally high performance and harnesses the same from a diverse, talented and dynamic team.Proactively identify and address programmatic, team management and performance management matters that arise.Develop and maintain feedback mechanisms to ensure effective staff and team performance. Financial Management Oversee effective execution of program plans in accordance with donor and WJCF reporting requirements.Lead collaborative resource allocation decisions and ensure evidence informed prioritization of team activities with a lens of transformational impact.Manage program budget planning, tracking, and reporting, oversee budgets and resources for various projects, ensuring that they are used effectively and efficiently to achieve desired outcomes.Lead the development and review of financial and donor reports on project budget execution.Build collaborative working environment between activity leads, operational teams and finance liaisons.6. Problem Solving
Direct teams in proactively managing program related risk and identifying sensitive issues and escalate as needed.Ensure compliance to WJCFโs approach to problem solving, promoting effective consultation, use of data and scenario reviews before developing insights and recommendations.Lead, demonstrate and drive critical thinking skills, building the teamโs capacity to handle difficult or unexpected situations in the workplace.Lead risk assessment exercises and build teams to exercise emotional intelligence and self-awareness. 7. Technical ExpertiseLead subject matter development among program leadership ensuring thorough grasp of key program principles.Develop a reading culture and challenge program teams to spotlight their work during internal and external WJCF engagements.Lead knowledge management and sharing of best practices at national and global convenings.Qualifications
MBBS and MD or post-graduate degree in public health, public policy, management or developmentMinimum 15 years of professional experience in demanding, results-oriented environments in public health with senior managerial or leadership positionsDemonstrated experience in VPD or infectious disease surveillance at national or state level will be an assetProven record of developing and maintaining strong and effective partnerships and shaping policy and project decisions with senior government and donor officialsExperience in leading teams in similar assignments i.e. providing high end technical support in public health directly to department will be a plusExperience in concept note/proposal developmentStrong written and oral communication skills including development of analyses/ presentations for varied project audience/stakeholdersProven track record of working in challenging multi-stakeholder environments & ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders and drive immediate resultsEntrepreneurial mind-set, including ability to work independently, self-motivated, and propose and implement new initiativesLast Date to apply: 30th Nov 2025