Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone
Under the supervision of the U.S.-based Project Management Director, the Chief of Party (COP) manages and supervises the successful implementation of the Abt Global Central Mechanism in Sierra Leone and acts as the primary liaison between the project and the local U.S. Department of State, the National Malaria Program (NMP), Ministry of Health, other government agencies, and various other malaria stakeholders in-country. The COP provides overall strategic direction, operations management, technical leadership, and financial and administrative compliance for all project activities to assure milestones are completed on time and within budget.
The Abt Global Central Mechanism supports malaria vector control and HIV/AIDS service delivery in 14 partner countries, with the goal of improving health outcomes for target populations while strengthening the planning, data management, and implementation capacity of host-country governments and local institutions. The project sustains uninterrupted malaria vector control interventions, including insecticide-treated net (ITN) distribution, indoor residual spraying (IRS), and spatial emanators, as well as HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services. Across partner countries, the project aligns and transitions vector control data collection to national HMIS/DHIS2 platforms, strengthens HIV laboratory referral and quality management systems, and supports entomological and insecticide-resistance surveillance, including monitoring for Anopheles stephensi. This activity runs for 9 months from January 1, 2027 through September 30, 2027.
Core Responsibilities:
- Represent Abt Global and the project to the Ministry of Health, the NMP, the U.S. Embassy, and other key stakeholders; carry full authority and accountability for activity decisions as delegated.
- Set and pursue a results-oriented program strategy in coordination with the project team and stakeholders.
- Lead day-to-day execution of the firm fixed award, performance-based program, ensuring all activities, contractual milestones, acceptance criteria, and payment triggers are achieved on schedule.
- Establish country team milestone-progress reviews; escalate potential milestone failures, scope growth, and funding pressures promptly; control scope through formal authorization of changes.
- Lead development and production of all milestones, including country work plans, vector control summary reports, forecasting and procurement plans, start-up activities, trainings, and vector control tool deployment.
- Develop and lead a country-specific transition discussion with NMP/government partners and develop a transition plan.
- Ensure safeguarding best practices are incorporated in all project activities and that staff are held accountable at every level.
- Supervise and mentor Senior Managers such as the Integrated Vector Control Manager and the Finance and Administration Manager.
- Ensure budget projections, expenditure, tracking and reporting comply with project milestones, Department of State and Abt policies.
What We Value:
- Bachelor's degree + 12 years, or master's degree + 10 years, or PhD + 8 years. Master's degree (minimum) or Doctorate (desirable) in Public Health/Health Administration (or other relevant health specialization) or Business Administration.
- 8 years of relevant international health experience; significant experience in malaria prevention and control desired.
- At least 3+ years of senior project management experience in large international health programs.
- Demonstrated experience delivering contractual milestones tied to client acceptance; strong understanding of cost, schedule, scope, risk and quality management; experience managing fixed-award or milestone-based engagements desired.
- Demonstrated leadership in managing multidisciplinary, multicultural teams of 10 to 25 employees in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Strong ability to establish relationships with U.S. Department of State personnel, ministry officials and development partners.
- English professional fluency and strong report-writing skills required.
Abt Global is a mission-driven global leader in research and program implementation in health, social and environmental policy, and international development, with program offices in more than 40 countries. Job Schedule: Full time, Regular. Number of openings: 1.
Closing date: 13/09/2026
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply online through the Abt Global careers portal at the job link before 13/09/2026. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process may email accessibility@abtglobal.com with their full name, email address, the job applied to, and the nature of the accessibility issue. Abt Global will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.
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