Sr. Program Officer, Health Workforce & MNCH Systems

About this role

The Senior Program Officer – Health Workforce & MNCH Systems Strengthening is a full-time embedded technical advisory role with the Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation, based in Zanzibar with travel to project sites as required. The post holder will serve as a technical advisor to the Ministry of Health in Zanzibar, supporting health workforce interventions designed to improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes. The officer will provide technical leadership in workforce planning, recruitment, deployment, retention, leadership development, and performance improvement, with a particular emphasis on strengthening primary healthcare services.

Working within Ministry structures, the post holder will support health workforce systems strengthening and evidence-based implementation of workforce solutions, while also leading day-to-day coordination of the Foundation's project in Zanzibar, ensuring effective linkages with the Ministry of Health, the consortium lead agency, implementing partners, and other stakeholders to deliver project results. The role involves serving as the primary liaison with the Ministry, coordinating HRH and MNCH interventions, monitoring workforce indicators, documenting lessons learned, and contributing to resource mobilization and proposal development efforts. Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Public Health, Health Systems Management, Health Policy, Human Resources for Health, Medicine, Nursing, Public Administration, or a related field, and possess a minimum of seven years of progressive experience in health workforce strengthening, health systems strengthening, MNCH, or related health programmes.

Demonstrated experience supporting government-led health sector initiatives and managing donor-funded projects with multiple stakeholders is required, and knowledge of the Tanzania and/or Zanzibar health sector and HRH landscape is highly desirable. The position reports to the Director of Programs & Strategic Information. Applications close on 21 July 2026.