The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a global public/private partnership dedicated to raising and disbursing large amounts of finance to prevent and treat the three pandemics.  The Global Fund has so far committed more than US$10 billion to over 524 programs in 136 countries.

The vacancy is in the Secretariat of the Global Fund. The Secretariat manages the grant portfolio, including executing Board policies, disbursing money to grant recipients and implementing performance-based funding of grants. The Secretariat is also tasked with resource mobilization; providing strategic, policy, financial, legal and administrative support and overseeing monitoring and evaluation. It is based in Geneva and has no staff located outside its headquarters. 

Building upon the success achieved so far, the Global Fund is adapting its structure and creating new management positions to meet the challenges of growth and expansion in the period 2008-2010.

The Global Fund is looking for staff with a strong
commitment to health and development, an open mind-set, an entrepreneurial and flexible attitude as well as strong interpersonal skills. 

Job Purpose Summary
& Reporting Relationships

The Information Technology Unit Director is one of 3 Unit Directors who report to the Director, Corporate Services Cluster.  The other Unit Directors lead the Human Resources and Administration and the Legal Services Units.

The Corporate Services Cluster works in partnership with and provides services to other Clusters and Units across the organization in order to deliver on the Global Fund’s goals and objectives.

The Unit Director is required to lead the Global Fund’s information technology (IT) services and to implement a progressive strategy to serve the current and future IT needs of the Global Fund, including the development and implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform. 

The holder of this challenging position will be responsible for the implementation of the Global Fund’s new IT strategy, which will involve significant changes to the IT operations of the organization.  The strategy recognises that the Global Fund operates in a very dynamic and challenging business environment, with a rapidly evolving business model, and should provide proactive, high-quality, client-oriented services, and foster horizontal collaboration within an efficient and cost effective framework.   The Unit Director will also be responsible for addressing the implications for the Global Fund of changes to the IT system of the World Health Organization, which the Global Fund presently shares, but is scheduled to leave at the end of 2008.

This role requires a person who is able to drive change and solve challenges through the effective use of technology, knowledge and strategy.

The Unit Director is responsible for leading and managing all the Unit’s activities, advising senior management on IT issues and managing the Unit’s human resources and budget.

The Unit Director will provide technical expertise, leadership and management of the Global Fund’s work in areas of responsibility and will:

Drive the future technical direction of this dynamic organization in line with its business and IT strategies;

Direct all major IT systems projects within the organization;

Keep abreast of developments in the field and advise senior management accordingly;

Ensure the highest level of customer service to all IT Unit clients across the organization;

Anticipate future needs and identify proactive solutions to satisfy organizational requirements;

Communicate effectively with internal clients to identify needs and evaluate organizational solutions and strategies;

Continually define ways to increase internal client satisfaction and deepen client relationships, ensuring practice delivers superior solutions to these clients;

Lend expertise to internal teams and task forces;

Provide leadership on issues relating to business-IT alignment and the effective and efficient use of information services, identifying their short and long-range implications on the programs and budget;

In consultation across Clusters in the Global Fund, implement new systems and services and effective re-engineering of the Global Fund’s processes, ensuring the harmonization of the Global Fund’s information resources to avoid duplication of effort;

Manage the related resources of the Unit, including staff, equipment and software solutions ensuring that all aspects of information services meet the Global Fund’s requirements for user satisfaction, operational reliability and performance; and

Ensure the security of the information systems, communication lines and equipment.

As a senior manager of the organization, the Unit Director will:

Contribute to organization-wide development through active participation in cross Cluster/Unit working groups and projects;

Participate as a key member in the Cluster’s management team and take on Cluster-wide initiatives; actively promoting cross-Unit collaboration and team working; and

Represent the Director, Corporate Services Cluster as appropriate, in high-level meetings.

In providing strategic management and leadership to the Information Technology Unit , the Unit Director will:

Translate the Cluster’s strategic vision into an operational plan for the Unit that is aligned with Cluster objectives and Global Fund goals that include well defined activities, milestones, performance indicators, including risk and security plans;

Provide technical and managerial leadership in the implementation of the Unit’s operational plan to achieve the targeted outcomes;

Provide technical and strategic leadership to Unit staff, ensuring the attainment of expected outcomes as well as the continued development of the Unit’s staff members;

Manage the Unit’s budgetary resources based on agreed Cluster needs and priorities; and

Oversee, co-ordinate and monitor the work of the Unit teams to ensure cost effectiveness and performance against results.

Academic Qualifications
(essential/desirable)

Essential

• Advanced university degree in information systems management, computer science, engineering, science, business administration or in a related field.

Desirable

• Post graduate training in management.

Experience
(essential/desirable)

Essential

• Extensive experience in the planning and provision of information systems and services;
• Extensive information technology management experience at a senior level, some of which should be at the international level; and
• Experience in managing staff from diverse backgrounds.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the IT policies/practices in private and public sectors;
• IT change management;
• Knowledge or experience at management level in health or international development; and
• Knowledge of the three pandemics: AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria

• Leadership and management capabilities leading diverse teams in relevant area;
• Excellent knowledge of modern information services (technology, systems and standards) concepts, modelling techniques and tools including best practices in IT service management;
• Ability to understand the strategic and operational requirements of an international organization and the implications of information systems for the practical organization of working methods to meet such requirements;
• Ability to advise senior management on information services strategies, policies and priorities and to formulate strategic and operational plans;
• Conceptual and analytical skills, willingness to understand the perspective of users, ability to clearly and effectively communicate ideas, and negotiating skills; and
• Ability to plan and manage information services and projects at all levels of complexity with timely and cost-conscious achievement of results.

Core Competencies

• Sound decision making:  Ability to identify alternatives or options in planning and decision making whilst weighing up the risks for the organization;
• Communicating effectively:  Use appropriate communication techniques effectively both verbally and in writing to communicate at all levels up to Board level;
• Developing own and staff capability and encouraging diversity;
• Promoting team work by building a climate of cooperation, confidence and encouragement;
• Results-oriented:  Ability to structure and prioritise  individuals’ and the Unit’s objectives against organizational goals;  and
• Managing and improving performance with commitment to continuous improvement

Languages
(essential/desirable)

An excellent knowledge of English and preferably a good working knowledge of French or one of the following: Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish.  Knowledge of other languages an asset.

A covering letter not exceeding one and one half pages must accompany all applications. The letter should describe your ability to meet the essential requirements set out in the vacancy notice.

THE GLOBAL FUND HAS RETAINED RUSSELL REYNOLDS ASSOCIATES TO ASSIST WITH THIS APPOINTMENT. FOR MORE DETAILS ON QUALIFICATIONS, REQUIREMENTS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND HOW TO APPLY, PLEASE VISIT: WWW.RRAPUBLICSECTOR.COM

The position will have an attractive, internationally competitive compensation package equivalent to a director level position in accordance with the WHO/UN salary scales; the final remuneration level to be determined in accordance with the selected candidate’s qualifications and relevant experience.

The current arrangement under which Global Fund Secretariat employees have the status of WHO staff will terminate on 31 December 2008.  After that date, all staff of the Global Fund will be covered under a new contractual arrangement directly with the Global Fund.