Senior Associate, Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health

Program Management

• Support the design, planning, and implementation of emergency referral system strengthening interventions, ensuring alignment with SRMNH program goals and Ministry of Health strategic guidance.
• Develop and maintain program work plans, activity trackers, and performance monitoring tools for the emergency referral systems workstream.
• Ensure that program documentation, tools, and resources are up-to-date, accessible, and effectively shared with relevant stakeholders.
• Draft subcontracts for communication system specialists and technical consultants to facilitate the design and set-up of the call and dispatch system and oversee their execution.
• Oversee performance management approaches including KPI tracking, progress reviews, and reporting to the Program Manager.

Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with Ministry of Health Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) department and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) department leads, district health teams, health facility managers, and community structures engaged in emergency referral.
• Provide technical assistance to government counterparts in the development and implementation of national and district-level emergency referral guidelines and protocols.
• Coordinate with other SRMNH workstream teams (monitoring, evaluation and learning, supply chain, and service delivery) to ensure integrated approaches to emergency referral system strengthening.
• Engage with partner organizations and donors to share learnings, coordinate activities, and ensure alignment with national referral system priorities.
• Represent CHAI in relevant technical working groups and stakeholder forums related to emergency obstetric and neonatal care.

Strategic Communication

• Synthesize complex data and field findings into clear, actionable insights and recommendations for diverse audiences including government officials, donors, and internal teams.
• Prepare high-quality program reports, presentations, case studies, and other knowledge products on emergency referral systems interventions and outcomes.
• Contribute to the development of abstracts, success stories, and lessons learned documents for external dissemination.
• Develop concept notes and funding proposals to support the expansion and sustainability of emergency referral systems interventions, in collaboration with the Program Manager and relevant stakeholders.

Financial Management

• Collaborate with the Program Manager to track expenditures related to emergency referral systems activities and ensure appropriate grant reporting.
• Lead the development of activity budgets and ensure that program activities are implemented in line with approved workplans and financial plans.
• Ensure compliance of program activities with CHAI Uganda finance and operational policies and procedures.
• Provide support in the preparation of financial and donor reports on budget execution for the emergency referral systems workstream.

Problem-Solving

• Conduct landscape assessments and situational analyses to identify gaps in emergency referral pathways for mothers and newborns across community, facility, and district levels.
• Analyse program data and referral performance metrics to identify challenges, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement in emergency referral systems.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations and practical solutions to address identified gaps in communication, transport, triage, and inter-facility referral processes.
• Support the adaptation and contextualisation of global best practices in emergency obstetric and neonatal referral to the Uganda setting.
• Conduct data quality assessments and support improvements to referral data capture and reporting systems.

Technical

• Provide technical input to the design and rollout of emergency referral protocols, triage tools, referral forms, and communication systems (e.g., community-to-facility and facility-to-facility referral).
• Support the assessment and strengthening of transport and communication mechanisms for obstetric and neonatal emergencies, including community ambulance schemes, motorcycle ambulances, and facility communication tools.
• Contribute to the mapping of emergency referral networks, including identification of EmONC-capable facilities, referral routes, and community linkage structures.
• Lead the development of training materials and facilitate capacity building sessions for health workers (including community health workers), and district health teams on emergency referral protocols and communication systems.
• Provide technical support to health facilities to implement and sustain standardized referral and counter-referral documentation systems.
• Assist in the integration of emergency referral data into existing health information systems and support the use of digital tools for real-time referral tracking.
• Perform any other tasks as requested by the supervisor.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, nursing, medicine, health sciences, or a related field.
• Advanced degree in a similar discipline is a plus.

 Experience

• 3–5 years’ experience in a demanding, results-driven environment with increasing responsibility in health systems strengthening, maternal and newborn health, or a related field.
• Proven track record of managing or supporting complex projects involving multiple stakeholders at national and subnational levels.
• Experience working with government agencies and/or international organizations in a technical assistance capacity is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in health facility assessments, referral system strengthening, or emergency obstetric and neonatal care programs is an advantage.

 Skills

• Strong analytical skills with demonstrated proficiency in both quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Ability to design and implement program monitoring frameworks and performance tracking tools.
• Proficiency in data visualisation and reporting.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively in diverse teams.
• High emotional intelligence, patience, and adaptability in high-pressure situations.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple activities under tight deadlines.
• High levels of proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

 Advantages

• Experience working in fast-paced environments (e.g., management consulting, international development).
• Familiarity with Uganda’s health system, district health structures, and HMIS/DHIS2 platforms.
• Knowledge of emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) standards, referral protocols, or community-based maternal and newborn health programs.
• Experience with digital health tools for referral tracking or health information management.
• Experience in Maternal and Newborn Health.