Program Officer

Overview

Jhpiego is an international, non-profit health organization and an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, dedicated to improving the health of women and families in developing countries. For over 50 years, it has focused on providing high-quality, low-cost health care solutions, training health workers, and strengthening health systems. hpiego has been working in India since the 1980s in close partnership with national and state governments. With deep technical expertise and strong on-the-ground execution, Jhpiego helpsdesign, test, and scale practical solutions and innovations that fit real-world systems across 11 thematic domains (Maternal and Newborn Health, Reproductive Health, Nutrition, Immunization, Comprehensive Primary Health Care, Human Resources for Health, TB and Infectious Diseases, Global Health Security, Women's Cancers, Non-Communicable Diseases, Digital Health).About the ProgramThe Midwifery Initiative is a flagship program of the Government of India (GoI), launched in 2018 to strengthen maternal and newborn health through the establishment of a professional midwifery workforce aligned with global standards. The initiative aims to promote respectful, woman-centered, and evidence-based care while contributing to improved maternal and newborn health outcomes. A key pillar of the initiative is the development of a skilled and competent midwifery workforcethrough a cascade training model. Under this approach, experienced nurses are trained as Nurse Practitioner Midwifery Educators (NPMEs) at National Midwifery Training Institutes, who subsequently support the training of Nurse Practitioner Midwives (NPMs) at State Midwifery Training Institutes.To operationalize the midwifery model of care, the initiative also supports the establishment of Midwifery-Led Care Units (MLCUs) within identified healthcare facilities. These dedicated units enable trained NPMEs and NPMs to provide comprehensive, respectful, and woman-centered care for women with no/low-risk pregnancies. MLCUs promote normal physiological childbirth, continuity of care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period, annd create an enabling environmentfor midwives to practice to the full scope of their competencies.

 

Together, the Midwifery Initiative and MLCUs are strengthening the foundation for professional midwifery in India, improving the quality of maternity care, and advancing the Government of India's vision for safer, more respectful, and evidence-based care for women and newborns. As a key technical partner to GoI, Jhpiego under Gates foundation supported grant works closely with national and state governments, regulatory bodies, professional associations, donors, and development partners to support the implementation and scale-up of the Midwifery Initiative. Our support spans education, service delivery, policy and systems strengthening, capacity building, andadvocacy, helping create an enabling environment for the acceptance, integration, and sustainability of professional midwifery within India's healthcare system.

 

About the PositionThe Program Officer will support the implementation of Jhpiego’s Midwifery Program under supervision of Program Advisor-Midwifery and in close coordination with other technical and field teams. The position is responsible for assisting in the planning, coordination, monitoring, and documentation of program activities. The role involves working with government counterparts and key stakeholders, providing technical and operational support to midwifery intervention sites, and ensuring timely reporting against projectindicators, targets, and deliverables. The Program Officer will also contribute to the development of program documents, reports, concept notes, and other technical materials, while supporting effective execution of the annual work plan within the agreed timelines.The position requires strong coordination, communication, and documentation skills, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment. The incumbent will be expected to travel as needed to support field implementation and program quality.

Responsibilities

• Work under the guidance of the Program Advisor to support the development of a strong and competent midwifery cadre nationwide.• Liaise with government officials and other stakeholders to achieve program goals and respond promptly to their requests.• Provide technical support and build capacity of the staff at Midwifery intervention sites to achieve project goals.• Report on project-related indicators, baselines, and targets to meet state and donor requirements.• Develop and produce documents such as reports, success stories, procurement plans, and concept notes based on program needs.• Ensure smooth implementation of the annual work plan as per agreed deliverables and timelines.• Perform other activities assigned by the supervisor to support organizational goals.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s in nursing desirable master’s in nursing• 2-3 years of relevant experience in maternal health programs, ideally within the development or NGO sector.• Good knowledge of MNH programs and policies in India.• Technical knowledge and field experience of implementing large scale public health programs.• Effective communication skills are essential for this position.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong advocacy skills.• Ability to develop productive working relationships with government officials, and other stakeholders.• Proficiency in writing technical documents such as concept notes, training materials and reports.• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook).• Ability to work with diverse technical team.• Strong multitasking, organizational, and communication skills (English and Hindi).• Demonstrated ability to work under tight deadlines and manage competing priorities.• Flexibility to handle a wide range of tasks and travel up to 30% of the time

Jhpiego is an equal opportunity employer and offers highly dynamic and enabling work environment. Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package. Women candidates will be preferred.Due to high volume of applications, only shortlisted applicants will receive a response from Jhpiego HR