Senior Technical Director

FHI 360; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

FHI 360 seeks a Senior Technical Director to lead technical direction across global health portfolios, setting strategy and final technical sign-off for deliverables. You will steer investments, ensure quality, and collaborate with donors and partners to maximize impact.

The role requires extensive NGO leadership experience, strong program management skills, and a track record of innovative solutions that improve outcomes in diverse settings.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Public Health or international equivalent.
• 12+ years of project management experience; or 9+ years with a PhD.
• 8+ years in leadership and line management.
• Experience leading complex, strategic portfolios internationally.
• NGO experience in global health.
• PM certifications (e.g., PMP) or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Set the technical strategy for pillars and allocate staff time and resources.
• Holds final sign-off on workplans, technical deliverables, and normative products before donor submission.
• Arbitrate cross-technical-area questions and define data architecture and service package composition.
• Ensure approaches align with current normative guidance and update positions as guidance changes.
• Lead portfolio-wide technical direction across disease areas and health systems.
• Respond to outbreaks or surge needs and coordinate donor-required actions as needed.
• Build the technical evidence base through portfolio implementation and publications.
• Provide senior technical leadership on new business, including strategy, design, and proposal reviews.

Skills

Project management

Strategic planning

Leadership

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Innovation

Education

Master’s Degree in Public Health

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Technical Director holds overall technical direction and technical quality accountability for a program or project(s) across various global health pillars. They set the technical strategy and decides how technical resources are invested against that strategy; and holds final technical sign-off on what leaves FHI 360 under the project(s). The Senior Technical Director serves as a strategic global health leader within FHI 360, responsible for overseeing the implementation of multiple technical portfolios and initiatives. This role provides technical oversight to a division comprised of technical teams, fosters innovation, and ensures the delivery of high-quality outcomes aligned with organizational objectives. The Senior Technical Director collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to gather and share evidence, lessons learned, and best practices to drive continuous improvement and organizational impact. The Sr. Technical Director provides leadership, guidance, and technical quality, innovation, and knowledge management.

RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES

Technical Leadership & Direction

• Sets the technical strategy for the technical pillars and decides how technical resources, staff time and technical investment are allocated against it.
• Holds final technical sign-off on workplans, technical deliverables and normative products before they reach the donor.
• Arbitrates technical questions that cross technical areas or awards — indicator and case definitions, service package composition, data architecture.
• Ensures technical approaches are grounded in current normative guidance, and that FHI 360 technical positions are revised as that guidance changes.
• Sets the technical standard for integration across disease areas and health systems functions and holds that standard in implementation rather than in proposal narrative.
• Serves as FHI 360’s senior technical interlocutor with the U.S. Department of State, ministries of health, and other normative bodies, and technical counterparts among implementing partners.
• Directs the technical response when the portfolio is called on at short notice — outbreak response, donor-requested surge, or a country program in difficulty.
• Builds the technical evidence base from portfolio implementation, including peer-reviewed publication, conference presentation and contribution to normative guidance.
• Provides senior technical leadership on new business in these technical areas, including technical strategy, technical design and technical review of proposals and country buy-ins.

Complexity & Problem Solving

• Navigates complex challenges inherent in project implementation.
• Offers strategic direction and innovative solutions for portfolio-specific challenges.
• Analyzes project performance and identifies areas for improvement.
• Recommends actionable solutions to enhance effectiveness and efficiency.
• Fosters innovation and shares best practices to drive organizational impact.
• Contributes to achieving sustainable development goals.

Discretion & Impact

• Exercises discretion over project-related matters with direct impact on project outcomes and organizational success.
• Makes decisions on resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Influences portfolio performance and reputation.
• Decisions contribute to achieving organizational objectives and driving positive change.
• Impacts both short- and long-term public health outcomes.

Collaboration & Interaction

• Engages with internal and external stakeholders to gather and share evidence, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Fosters partnerships with project teams, donors, and implementing partners.
• Facilitates communication and knowledge exchange to enhance project outcomes.
• Communication style is characterized by transparency, collaboration, and teamwork.
• Works cross-functionally to achieve common goals and drive organizational impact.
• Establishes and maintains relationships across FHI 360, including with all Groups and Enterprise Support colleagues.
• Works with the Project Director and department senior leadership to hold the division of responsibility between technical direction, which sits with this post, and award management, delivery and compliance, which sit with the Project Director.
• Maintains the technical relationship with the donor’s technical staff directly, in coordination with the Project Director rather than through them.

Management & Supervision

• Oversees project implementation within their division.
• Provides leadership and guidance to project teams.
• Sets strategic direction, manages budgets, and ensures programmatic quality.
• Focuses on fostering a culture of excellence and accountability.
• Manages project staff and shapes the portfolio structure for optimal efficiency and effectiveness.
• Leads a team of seasoned technical experts, handling supervision, performance management, and professional development.
• Line manages the technical area leads and is accountable for their performance, development, and deployment across mechanisms.
• Embraces other duties as assigned, contributing to the team’s multifaceted and evolving responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge & Skills: Comprehensive knowledge of project management principles. Expertise in program implementation methodologies. Proficient in organizational leadership practices. Demonstrates expertise in strategic planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. Proven track record of driving innovation and achieving impactful outcomes within their division. Aims to meet or exceed revenue targets across all segments (USG, foundations/corporations, and other donors).

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree or its international equivalent in Public Health, Medicine, Epidemiology, Health Systems.
• Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in project management, overseeing complex projects and initiatives; or 9 years and a PhD.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in leadership and line management.
• Proven experience leading and managing complex, strategic portfolios of programs/projects on a national or international scale.
• Experience leading teams in complex settings, managing financial and human resources.
• Significant experience working in non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least eight years of the required experience in senior technical leadership of infectious disease or health systems programming in low- and middle-income countries.
• Demonstrated experience holding technical quality and technical direction across multiple concurrent awards or mechanisms, not within a single project.
• Experience as the senior technical counterpart to a U.S. Government donor, including technical negotiation of scope and workplans.
• Doctoral degree (DrPH, PhD, or MD with public health training) in a relevant field.
• Clinical or epidemiological training.
• Experience with U.S. Department of State-funded global health mechanisms.
• French in addition to English given the country portfolio; Portuguese an asset.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification or other recognized project management certification.
• Certifications relevant to research management or organizational leadership.
• We welcome candidates with other relevant certifications or their international equivalents.

TRAVEL

Approximately 25% travel may be required for this role, primarily to engage with stakeholders, oversee project implementation, and attend meetings and events related to portfolio activities.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Typical office environment. Constantly uses a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer. Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.

TECHNOLOGY

Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

DISCLAIMER

Note the compensation band on the job description is associated with those jobs assigned to the US salary structure and employees paid from US payroll. The compensation band for all national local employees aligns to the compensation structure based on the country location of the job. This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time. The expected US Based hiring salary range for this role is listed below. Candidates FHI 360 pay ranges represent national averages that vary by geographic location. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, business sector, and budget. For internal candidates, salary placement will also follow FHI 360’s current promotional increase guidelines. Final compensation will be determined in accordance with applicable law and FHI 360 policy. Base salary is only one component of our offer. FHI 360 contributes 7% of monthly base pay to a money purchase pension plan account. Additionally, all US based staff working full-time, which is calculated at 40 hours/week, receive 18 days of paid vacation per year, 12 sick days per year, and 11 holidays per year. Paid time off is reduced pro rata for employees working less than a full-time schedule. US Based Hiring Salary Range: USD 160,000 - 190,000 International hiring ranges will differ based on location.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks. FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. FHI 360 will never ask you for your career site username or password, and we will never request money, goods or services during the application, recruitment or employment process. If you have questions or concerns about correspondence from us, please email [e-mail].

FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself. FHI 360 is a global organization that mobilizes research, resources and relationships so people everywhere have access to the opportunities they need to lead full and healthy lives. To learn more, visit fhi360.org. FHI 360 is an equal opportunity employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. FHI 360 will never ask you for your career site username or password, and we will never request money, goods or services during the application, recruitment or employment process. If you have questions or concerns about correspondence from us, please email [e-mail]. FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.