Technical Advisor, Philippines (Health Financing)

ThinkWell has a growing project portfolio in the Philippines and is currently seeking a Technical Advisor for a new United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-funded initiative. The goal of this project is to improve the financing and accessibility of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services by integrating them into the comprehensive outpatient benefits package. This fixed-term position is specific to the UNFPA program but may potentially extend to other projects in the future.

The Technical Advisor (TA) provides health financing expertise as part of technical program implementation for our Philippines project portfolio. The TA is responsible for technical advising and strategic guidance to project staff and external partners (government ministries, local entities, etc.) and reports to the Country Director. 

The Advisor helps ensure that through strategic purchasing within the context of the Philippine UHC Law, the desired improvement in health outcomes for Filipino citizens will come closer to fruition. This is a national role, working with key stakeholders in PhilHealth as well as the Department of Health (DOH) and other members of the Philippines team to help develop PhilHealth Benefits and Policies that will guide and ensure rational, sustainable implementation of the various facets of the Philippine UHC Act.  Particular attention will be given to developing the Comprehensive Outpatient Benefit Package.

What you’ll do

Technical Assistance

• Provide direct technical assistance to ensure high-quality program results and execution across projects in the area of specialization 
• Contribute to work planning, coordinate across external partners, and lead their engagement in collaborative projects
• Develop monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning tools, indicators, and plans with the guidance of the Country Director and Senior Technical Advisor
• Create graphics and visualizations of quantitative and qualitative data.
• Ensure production of high-quality learning outputs. Provide written inputs into technical documents, project reports, concepts, blogs, articles and other strategic documents for publication and dissemination on ThinkWell’s website, external sites, and at conferences.
• Communicate with other ThinkWell technical advisors globally to build, share, exchange, and disseminate technical knowledge
• Support and mentor outstanding team members in the area of technical speciality; dotted line management responsibility for technical team members

PhilHealth TA-related responsibilities

• Coordinate closely with critical offices in PhilHealth and DOH on all technical products, especially the development of the Comprehensive Outpatient Benefit Package;
• Collect, identify and analyze data and present findings to facilitate discussion and policy development of PhilHealth Benefits
• Suggest and facilitate the crafting of other health policies as appropriate to further a strategic and aligned approach to purchasing health services and delivery within a social health insurance scheme;
• Assist in organizing and conducting consultations with various stakeholders related to the implementation of the PhilHealth benefits;
• Ensure that all processes, learning, and observations related to the process of PhilHealth benefit and policy development and UHC Law implementation are documented and disseminated to all concerned stakeholders;
• Participate in Team Meetings and contribute pertinent information, ideas, and suggestions related to project commitments;
• Provide regular progress updates related to the benefit development and other technical assistance support provided to PhilHealth.

Organizational Leadership and Development

• Represent ThinkWell in work location, actively engage key project stakeholders, cultivate new business partnerships and concepts
• Build a project portfolio in a technical specialty area in collaboration with the Design Lab, program managers, and other firm and country leaders.
• Under the guidance of the Country Director and Senior Technical Advisor, collaborate with Design Lab to collect and pursue new business information and contacts
• Publish papers, articles and blogs.  Present at conferences/participate in technical working groups on ThinkWell project-related technical innovations, priorities, and results.  Build ThinkWell reputation as a thought leader in the field. 

we are:

ThinkWell core values are our fundamental organizational guiding principles.  They define our corporate culture, influence our behavior at work and help us achieve our mission.  Our values are:

Think big

Influence the conversation

Empower others

Be exceptional

Always question

Relate authentically

Evolve by learning

You are:

ThinkWell core competencies are foundational skills and behaviors that align with our values and are expected of all employees.

An entrepreneurial, results-oriented ‘do-er’ with a willingness to take risk, think big and challenge conventional wisdom.

A change maker who reaches independent judgement with an open mind, influences the conversation, and seeks innovation.

Able to help create an empowering environment in which everyone feels free to take initiative, be accountable and fail intelligently (learn from mistakes).

A collaborative colleague who engages constructively with people from different cultures, orientations, and perspectives and maintains positive relations in a virtual world.

Principally motivated by a growth mindset, meaning the pursuit of knowledge, experience, and self-improvement.  You always question and continuously learn.

Authentic, honest, direct, self-aware and open to giving and receiving feedback. 

Principally motivated by a growth mindset, meaning the pursuit of knowledge, experience, and self-improvement.  You always question, evolve by learning and embrace change.

Authentic, honest, direct, self-aware and open to giving and receiving feedback.

Requirements

1.    BA/BS and 7+ years experience or graduate degree and 5+ years of experience;

2.    Substantive, relevant work experience in health policy and health financing.  Adept at communicating technical information to non-technical audiences.

3.    Extensive experience with project monitoring and evaluation in the area of technical specialization;   

4.    Demonstrated ability to be a respected team player for political engagement and citizen participation in complex local government-based health planning and participatory budgeting for health;

5.    Demonstrated interest and ability in growing staff, mentoring, and coaching junior professionals;

6.    A thoughtful systems thinker with a grounded, pragmatic understanding of the complexities of our work;

7.    Recognized as a leader in the area of technical specialty; strong international, professional network in the field; 

8. Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with external strategic partners, donors, and stakeholders;

9. New business development, proposal writing, and fundraising experience;

10. Full English and Filipino fluency;

11. Outstanding cross-cultural communication skills, including the ability to relate respectfully with staff at all levels, ages, genders, nationalities and orientations as well as across work areas;

12. Ability and willingness to travel up to 25%.