Health Initiatives Lead

Position Summary 

The Director of Health Initiatives will lead FOHSEN’s healthcare strategy and implementation in rural Senegal. This leadership role is central to FOHSEN’s mission of expanding access to high-quality, community-based care—particularly for mothers and children during the first 1,000 days of life. The Director will oversee a portfolio that includes digital health, community health worker (CHW) programs, primary care delivery, and chronic disease interventions. Working closely with FOHSEN’s clinical, data, and operations teams, the Director will be responsible for ensuring measurable improvements in health outcomes while scaling innovative, cost-effective models across Senegal. 

Key Responsibilities 

Program Leadership and Strategy 

• Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of FOHSEN’s core health programs, including maternal and child health, SmartTrack, community health worker initiatives, and non-communicable disease interventions. 
• Develop and drive strategic plans to reduce health inequities in rural Senegalese villages, in alignment with FOHSEN’s organizational goals. 
• Identify gaps and propose new initiatives or models of care based on emerging data, research, and stakeholder input. 
• Promote integration of digital health innovations and evidence-based practices in FOHSEN's programs. 

Community Health System Strengthening 

• Oversee the training, supervision, and professional development of community health workers (CHWs) in collaboration with FOHSEN’s training team.
• Ensure the effective deployment and usage of FOHSEN’s SmartTrack platform to support CHW case tracking, patient follow-up, and real-time decision-making. 
• Strengthen feedback loops between CHWs, health facilities, and FOHSEN leadership to improve patient-centered care delivery. 

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning 

• Oversee real-time data collection and analysis to monitor program performance and inform adaptive strategies. Ensure robust evaluation of program impact on key health indicators, especially maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) outcomes. 
• Collaborate with the data and M&E teams to ensure results-based reporting for donors, government, and partners. 

Stakeholder Engagement and Representation 

• Serve as FOHSEN’s representative in health sector working groups, national taskforces, and with donors and global health institutions. 
• Cultivate and manage partnerships with the Ministry of Health, district health officials, academic institutions, and technical experts. 
• Provide technical input for funding proposals, donor reports, and public health communications. 

Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Global Health, Medicine, Health Policy, or related field; Doctorate or clinical background strongly preferred. 
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in health program management, community health systems, or digital health, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex health initiatives and manage multi-stakeholder collaborations. 
• Proven track record in strengthening community health programs and improving MNCH outcomes.
• Experience working with or in Ministries of Health, NGOs, and donor-funded programs. 
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and cross-cultural communication skills. 
• Fluency in French and proficiency in English; knowledge of Wolof or other Senegalese languages is a plus. 
• Willingness to travel to rural and hard-to-reach areas of Senegal. 

Application Instructions : 

Interested candidates should submit the following: 

• A cover letter detailing their interest and relevant experience 
• A current CV (maximum 3 pages) Contact details for 3 professional references
   

Submit applications to : administrator@fohsen.org 

Subject line : Application – Director of Health Initiatives