Technical Director, Act to End NTDs | East at RTI Research Triangle Institute in Washington, Washington DC

Job Description:

RTI International is an international, independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. With a worldwide staff of more than 4,000 people, RTI offers innovative research and development and a full spectrum of multidisciplinary services that meet the highest standards of professional performance.

RTI is very interested in receiving applications from a diverse pool of applicants, for more information about our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity, please visit: https://www.rti.org/statement-diversity-and-inclusion

RTI is seeking a Technical Director for USAID's Act to End Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) | East Program (Act | East). The Technical Director is responsible for providing senior technical leadership to the Act | East consortium and contributing to the successful implementation of Act | East. As a member of the Act | East Leadership Team, the Technical Director focuses on cross-consortium and cross-portfolio collaboration and partnerships, and ensures a positive relationship with donors and key NTD stakeholders. Through this role, the Technical Director will ensure Act | East's technical excellence and innovation in contributing to the goal of supporting disease-endemic countries to elimination and/or control NTDs with proven, cost-effective public health interventions.

This key personnel position will be based in Washington D.C. Or the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (RTI headquarters). US-based telecommuters or international telecommuters will be considered on case-by-case basis. It will report to the Program Director and will require business-necessary, as-needed international travel when COVID restrictions are lifted.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Has primary responsibility for ensuring technical excellence, solutions and innovation for the Act | East consortium, across diseases, functions, results areas, and geographies.


• Serves as a member of program leadership team, setting a positive and professional tone for Act | East, working closely with the other functional leaders to promote cross-functional team collaboration, and contributing to overall program management.


• Works in harmony with project leadership to develop and maintain effective strategic relationships with host government entities donors, implementers, Act | East consortium members, and other stakeholders, utilizing effective communication skills to foster coordination and collaboration, and to deliver high-impact results within agreed timelines.


• Collaborates with leadership team to provide quality oversight to the development, review, and submission of program deliverables (e.g., work plans, reports, etc.) and to dissemination of results and global thought leadership (e.g., peer reviewed and grey literature, conference submissions, policy briefs, webinars, etc.).


• In coordination with the Learning & KM Facilitator, facilitates cross-sector learning, by drawing lessons and best practices from other health and development programs (e.g., malaria, EPI, polio, Vitamin A) to strengthen NTD programming, as well as identifying opportunities to coordinate and share learning with other sectors and RTI-led programs.


• Provides guidance and support for professional development of staff through performance planning, development, and evaluation processes, including staff performance feedback, and facilitating on-the-job mentorship.


• Promotes a culture of technical innovation, solutioning and learning for Act | East, ensuring that staff stay up to date on latest technical advances through dissemination of peer-reviewed publications, organization of technical briefings, and contribution to technical trainings; convene internal and external teams to examine and address technical challenges.


• Fosters culture of technical capacity development across the consortium, including development of skills and standing of in-country staff.


• Working with the Senior Research and Evaluation Advisor and other stakeholders, provides guidance across the consortium on operational research needs, and provides technical oversight to NTD OR protocols and to the interpretation and use of results.


• Represents RTI in key regional and global meetings and working groups, consultative sessions and conferences, providing expert contributions for the development of global NTD standards, guidance, partnerships, networks and alliances.


• Develops opportunistic partnerships with academic and research institutions.


• Serve as the Act | East technical focal point for RTI's NTD strategic investment fund (SIF), providing technical advice (through a role on the advisory board) and acting as liaison with USAID.


• Provides senior strategic and technical leadership to RTI's NTD portfolio, the Global Health Division, and the International Development Group.


• Identifies opportunities for new business development for RTI as needed.


• Performs other duties as required.

The anticipated pay range for this role is between $150,000 - 200,000.

RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for mothers and fathers, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.

Required Education and Experience:

• A degree in medicine or PhD, preferably with a specialization in NTDs


• At least 15 years' experience working on international projects related to NTDs, preferably with one or more of the following: LF, trachoma, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and/or soil-transmitted helminths


• At least five years of senior level experience providing technical support to developing countries on NTDs


• A least five years in management of public health programming involved in the introduction and scale up of technical interventions


• Demonstrated experience working in global or regional consensus building or normative guidance setting initiatives or working groups on one or more NTD


• Experience in client relationship management, reporting, program planning, budgeting, implementation and personnel management


• Experience in leading a team and managing staff

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proven skill in working with senior-level representatives of developing country governments, international organizations, other bilateral donor and civil society organizations, and private sector organizations.


• Demonstrated management, leadership, decision-making, and interpersonal skills


• Full professional proficiency in English, with excellent oral and written communications and presentation skills.


• Proven track record in building successful, collaborative relationships and partnerships with government partners and stakeholders in global infectious diseases.


• Reputation as a thought-leader and motivator of large, diverse teams.


• Demonstrated strength and experience writing technical documents, excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.


• Ability to produce thorough, high-quality work within a tight timeframe.


• Flexibility and ability to handle multiple tasks and work collaboratively within a matrix-oriented environment.


• Willingness and ability to travel internationally and domestically, as required

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