Guyana Country Director

Guyana Country Director

Job Description

Who We Are

Mount Sinai’s Arnhold Institute for Global Health (AIGH) is an academic institute that develops global health solutions and generates evidence that these solutions can be replicated at scale. We specialize in global health systems and implementation research. Our global research programs generate evidence about how to build and sustain better healthcare systems.

AIGH seeks to build deeper, more effective, and innovative global academic partnerships. Through stronger partnerships we can build stronger, resilient health systems that provide quality care to our world’s most vulnerable people. We do this by unlocking the diverse pool of knowledge, expertise, and resources found in our academic and health system partners to strengthen healthcare delivery systems that are able to understand, adapt, and grow to meet the health needs of the communities and populations our partners serve. We work across our tripartite mission to deliver high quality care, to educate healthcare providers, and improve care through research.

Our focus is on improving the health of the world’s most vulnerable people. Each of our partnerships include a primary health system and academic partner committed to providing care to communities that are the most in need in Ghana, Kenya, Nepal, and New York.

The Department of Global Health and Health System Design at Mount Sinai conducts rigorous research on global health solutions, with a focus on how to build and sustain better health care systems in collaboration with the AIGH global partners. Our faculty investigators are clinician-scientists and multidisciplinary researchers whose portfolios include research such as strategies to enable community health networks in Nepal to keep newborns alive, investigating models of care to support lifelong HIV treatment programs for children and adolescents in Kenya, managing multiple chronic conditions for adults in rural Ghana, and evaluating the best strategies for long-term follow-up of COVID-19 survivors in Queens, New York. The department seeks to develop robust, well-funded, collaborative research teams who generate global health evidence as part of a department that embodies and advances diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Mount Sinai International, LLC (MSI) is the organization within the Mount Sinai Health System dedicated to advancing the institution’s mission of delivering innovative, high-quality health care around the globe. MSI develops international collaborations to support the improvement of local health care delivery through long-term, strategic partnerships.

To develop a successful partnership, MSI and our partner organizations draw up a comprehensive project plan, including objectives, resource commitments, and mutual expectations. As required, MSI experts may assess the partner organization’s strategy, structure, resources, and baseline performance and advise throughout the process. MSI may grant certain partner organizations the license to use the Mount Sinai brand in a certain manner, but such licensing will be contingent upon the partner organization meeting certain requirements, such as accreditation by an established international agency and implementation, maintenance, and regular assessment of quality and safety programs.

The Mount Sinai Health System is focused on advancing the health care delivery, quality, and safety for all. We are uniquely positioned to leverage our experience in operating a large, quality-oriented, integrated health system for each of our international relationships. We recognize that providing guidance and recommendations is dependent on practical knowledge and having the ability to share tangible, real-world, insights with our partners will help set them apart too.

Guyana Project Overview

Since 2022, Mount Sinai has been engaged in a collaborative partnership to support the Government of Guyana’s efforts to improve access to high-quality healthcare for the people of Guyana. During this time, Mount Sinai has provided expert advice and support to Guyana’s Ministry of Health focusing on expanding and strengthening diagnosis and care services provided by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), assisting in the development of a national strategy for health information systems, health workforce analysis and training, service delivery and systems strengthening from regional primary care centers to national referral hospitals, and school-based child and youth health screenings in all regions of Guyana. Funded with support from the Government of Guyana and the Hess Corporation, this work has accelerated national efforts to improve the care people receive at every level of the health system.

As a key partner in these efforts, the Arnhold Institute for Global Health (AIGH) at the Icahn School of Medicine and Mount Sinai International (MSI) serve as the lead advisors for Guyana’s Ministry of Health on the development and implementation of a National Health Strategy. Specifically, AIGH assisted the Ministry in developing a strategy for health information management including the selection of a national electronic healthcare records system. Our efforts have assisted the Government of Guyana in identifying and beginning to address national health workforce needs and helping establish regional training facilities to support continued workforce development. Our teams have also helped demonstrate regional and community based models for primary care and youth health and assisted the Government in developing a health finance strategy to support greater access to more care options through more public and private partnerships. Additionally, MSI helped develop the most state of the art pathology laboratory in the CARICOM region at GPHC. Our teams have partnered with GPHC leadership to develop over 18 different workstreams to collaborate with the department heads with the common goal of improving operations, overall quality, and service delivery at Guyana’s flagship hospital.

To support these efforts, AIGH and MSI are seeking well qualified professionals for a number of program development, management, and administrative roles both in Guyana and New York. Please see the following open positions or contact us, arnholdinstitute@mssm.edu, to learn more about opportunities to work with our global health team.

Job Summary

The Arnhold Institute for Global Health at the Icahn School of Medicine and Mount Sinai International seek qualified development professionals to serve as the Country Director for Mount Sinai’s programs in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. The Country Director will lead the in-country implementation of the ongoing program advising Guyana’s Ministry of Health on the development and implementation of a National Health Strategy and other programs to support and strengthen Guyana’s National Health System. The initial three-year program supported the development of strategy and programs focused on strengthening governance, operational management, health information systems, health workforce, health care service delivery and systems, child and youth health, public health financing, and public health and primary care from the community to tertiary care centers in Guyana. This new five-year extension will further develop the ongoing programs, but will have an expanded scope to include the development of cancer treatment initiatives; the launch of a national program to improve the quality, safety, and delivery of health services; and capacity building of human resources for health, health financing, and health facilities to power Guyana’s next generation health system. The position will be located in Georgetown, Guyana and may require regional and international travel.

The Country Director will oversee program implementation in Guyana ensuring program quality, alignment, and collaboration with key program stakeholders. They will facilitate, coordinate, and oversee advisory teams from Mount Sinai as they support the Ministry of Health and government of Guyana develop and implement a National Health Strategy and other programs to strengthen Guyana’s national health system. The Country Director will serve on the program’s executive leadership team reporting to Mount Sinai’s program director.

The Country Director will also serve as the program’s primary liaison with key stakeholders including senior government officials of the health, finance, education and other ministries, administrators and faculty at select academic partner institutions, representatives from major public and private sector partners, clinical and health system leaders, regional government authorities, and diplomatic missions including the US Embassy, development agency representatives, PAHO/WHO, and other program stakeholders. The Country Director will manage a small program team in Guyana to support program implementation. They will model effective management, mentoring and guiding program team members, and ensuring adherence to good business practices and stewardship of program resources and funds in Guyana.

They will help lead refinement and implementation of approved program work plans and be responsible for the timely completion of key program goals and deliverables. They will play a critical role in the maintenance of operations and programs in Guyana, establishing and maintaining key counterpart relationships needed for successful program implementation, facilitating advisory team work, and ensuring in-country operations are successfully implemented, appropriately supported, and consistent with approved contract terms as well as government partner expectations and needs.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Plans, directs, and coordinates program activities in Guyana to ensure program goals and objectives are achieved on time and within budget.
• Serves as the primary program liaison and representative in Guyana for all aspects of the consultancy to the Ministry of Health.
• Participates in executive leadership meetings with key stakeholders and program leadership.
• Collaborates with the executive leadership in the formation of program teams, refinement and development of program work plans and implementation strategies, and standard operating procedures to ensure program goals are achieved.
• Reviews program implementation tools (cooperative agreement, work plan, budget, performance monitoring plan, program audits, and assessments, etc.) and advises executive program leadership on funding and budget allocations, procedures, staffing, technical assistance, and allotment of other resources needed for successful implementation of priority activities.
• Identifies, and as applicable provides, appropriate guidance and training to advisory teams including faculty, staff, and consultants to achieve program goals.
• Establishes, develops, and maintains partnerships with internal and external program stakeholders to support and facilitate the successful implementation of program objectives.
• Ensures program alignment and coordination with regional programs and strategies for health improvement and health systems strengthening.
• Provides leadership to the Guyana program team guiding program implementation and providing clarity on program priorities, deliverables, and timelines.
• Oversees the management and implementation of program budgets in Guyana including compliance and reporting.
• Presents program overviews, progress reports, and proposals to key stakeholders and senior government officials in Guyana and the US.
• Maintains effective and constructive communications with program leadership and other key stakeholders.
• Ensures all program personnel understand their responsibility to operate in accordance with the Department and Institute’s vision, mission, and values, standards for equity, and policies and procedures, and ensures all program personnel fulfill their individual responsibilities for upholding these values, standards, and policies.
• Advises and supports the implementation of communications strategies for the program including the development of program reports, marketing materials, and materials used for outreach and program implementation.
• Manages direct reports ensuring individual performance goals and responsibilities are met.
• Advises executive leadership on in-country strategy, operations, security, and other strategic considerations critical to achieving program objectives.
• Other activities as assigned by the program director.

General Skills & Competencies

Highly competitive candidates will have:

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in managing and implementing health systems strengthening, health worker development, community-based health, or other global health programs in developing countries.
• A demonstrated track record of building and leading diverse, gender-equitable teams in global health settings through leadership, recruitment, training, mentorship, and other activities to support and promote a diverse and equitable environment for faculty, staff, and students.
• Significant and recent experience in a leadership role on a sponsored program related to global health.
• Excellent management and communications skills, strong interpersonal skills, cross-cultural understanding, diplomacy, and outreach skills to establish and maintain positive working relationships with host governments, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Strong previous experience living and working on donor-funded health and development initiatives in Guyana and/or the Caribbean and South American region strongly preferred.
• Strong language skills (preferably bilingual in English and Spanish) preferred.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field from an accredited university. Highly competitive candidates will have a graduate degree (MD, JD and/or PhD) in the biomedical sciences, public health, social sciences or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of health system and care delivery structures, academic medicine and research, program development, monitoring and evaluation, and systems strengthening and improvement is highly desired.

Application Process

• Review of applications will start immediately and continue until the position is filled. A selection committee will oversee this process. Applicants are required to submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae to arnholdinstitute@mssm.edu.
• Advancing diversity, equity, and anti-racism are important parts of this position, so we request that you include a paragraph in your cover letter telling us how diversity and equity figure into your past, present, and future teaching, research, mentorship and/or community engagement.

The Department of Global Health and Arnhold Institute for Global Health (AIGH) recognizes the long-standing prevalence and impact of systemic racism and discrimination in society as a global health emergency. As global health leaders, we are committed to confronting and dismantling discrimination in the workplace. Our Department and Institute is actively working towards becoming a more just, inclusive, and anti-racist department, institution and global partner.

We are especially committed to strengthening opportunities for underrepresented groups in the sciences and global health and encourages all well qualified candidates to apply, particularly women, transgender individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and other underrepresented groups.

We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race and ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, age, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to any protected status or personal characteristic. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.