E4H Punjab - Provincial Coordinator

Job Description

Programme Overview 

Evidence for Health (E4H) is a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)-funded programme aimed at strengthening Pakistan's healthcare system, thereby decreasing the burden of illness and saving lives. E4H (2023-2027) provides technical assistance (TA) to Punjab and also to the Federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) governments. The Punjab component is being implemented by Palladium along with Oxford Policy Management (OPM).

Through its flexible, embedded, and demand-driven model, E4H Punjab will support the government to achieve a resilient health system that is prepared for health emergencies, responsive to the latest evidence, and delivers equitable, quality, and efficient healthcare services. Specifically, E4H will deliver TA across three outputs:

Output 1: Strengthened integrated health security, with a focus on preparing and responding to health emergencies, including pandemics.

Output 2: Strengthened evidence-based decision-making to drive health sector performance and accountability.

Output 3: Improved implementation of Universal Health Coverage, with a focus on ending preventable deaths.

Position Summary

The Provincial Coordinator will play a vital role in supporting the Team Leader in delivering the E4H programme’s vision across Punjab, strongly emphasizing strengthening implementation at the district level. This role is central to ensuring that Technical Assistance (TA) is well-planned and meaningfully delivered where it matters most—on the ground. The coordinator will ensure that TA interventions are responsive to district-level realities, implemented on time, within budget, and to a high-quality standard.

Working with the Team Leader, the Provincial Coordinator will build and maintain close working relationships with the Health & Population Department (H&PD).), district health leadership, local administrators, agency focal points, and development partners. They will help identify emerging needs at the district level, translate them into actionable support, and serve as a key manager throughout the TA lifecycle. This includes contributing to developing or refining Terms of Reference, guiding and supporting consultant teams during implementation, reviewing deliverables, and ensuring that the work leads to tangible outcomes aligned with the programme’s goals and FCDO’s expectations.

With a strong presence in the field, the Provincial Coordinator will ensure that TA delivery is both technically sound and locally relevant. He/She will help bridge the gap between policy and practice, facilitating smooth coordination across stakeholders and ensuring that support provided through E4H is practical and genuinely impactful at the district level. The role reports directly to the E4H-Punjab Team Leader.

Responsibilities

• Willing and able to work extensively at the district level, with the flexibility to travel at short notice without delays; maintains a strong presence in the field to ensure smooth coordination and implementation.
• Has the ability to work effectively with the district administration and health management to curate technical assistance focusing on primary healthcare and can be available to lead and deliver the work.
• Ensures that the technical assistance at the district level is within the remit of the TA packages that E4H is geared to deliver.
• Oversees the technical dimensions of TA delivery across multiple teams, ensuring alignment with the Punjab Health Sector Strategy, H&PD priorities, and the E4H business case—particularly in the areas of health security, evidence-based decision-making, and UHC implementation, along with emerging public health priorities.
• Validates the technical quality and relevance of all TAs by evaluating the strategies, methodologies, and deliverables submitted by TA teams.
• Provides leadership and hands-on management to teams implementing technical assistance, offering clear guidance, mentorship, and quality oversight.
• Proactively identifies technical assistance needs across the province by analysing health trends, service delivery gaps, and emerging public health challenges and discussing them with the Team lead.
• Builds strong relationships with key stakeholders, including government counterparts and development partners, to promote coordination, synergy, and shared ownership.
• Represents the programme in technical meetings, working groups, and strategic forums, ensuring that E4H's contributions are visible, relevant, and integrated into broader health sector efforts.
• Drafts and refines technical Terms of Reference for short-term assignments, ensuring they are evidence-based, context-specific, and complementary to existing efforts.
• Works closely with the E4H provincial technical team to define and track metrics and indicators that assess the performance and impact of technical assistance.
• Review the progress of ongoing TA activities, identify bottlenecks, facilitate solutions, and ensure timely results delivery.
• Oversees the preparation of high-quality technical documents, including policy briefs, reports, and knowledge products.
• Effectively communicates technical findings, insights, and recommendations to diverse audiences, including government, donors, and programme stakeholders.
• Supports the Team Leader in preparing for and conducting E4H Steering Committee meetings and other strategic engagements.
• Coordinates and facilitates internal project meetings, consistently meeting deadlines and deliverables.
• Applies the Gap Analysis Framework to guide the design and implementation of all technical assistance.
• Uses the TA Identification Matrix to prioritise and score technical assistance workstreams, ensuring relevance and impact.
• Manages and provides technical oversight for all district-level TA interventions, focusing on implementation feasibility and local relevance.
• Champions equity-focused programming by curating TA workstreams that address health's social and structural determinants, aiming to reduce health disparities and promote fairness in health outcomes across the province.
• Works closely with government partners to ensure effective and timely delivery of TA interventions at the district level.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Team Leader to support the overall success of the programme.

Reporting line(s):

• Straight line to Punjab TL
• Dotted line to Technical Backstopper & Technical Director
• Dotted line to Programme Manager

Key Competencies Required

• Master’s degree in either public health, social sciences, development studies, or a related discipline relevant to health systems strengthening and technical assistance delivery.
• Demonstrated experience working across both provincial and district levels within Pakistan’s health or governance systems, including direct engagement with District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) or the District Administration and local implementation structures.
• Demonstrated experience working in either of the Departments of Health, the Planning and Development Department, the Healthcare Commission, the Policy & Strategic Planning Unit, Directorate General Health Services, or other relevant government entities with a strong understanding of their respective roles, functions, and operational dynamics.
• Firm grasp of Pakistan’s political, institutional, and health governance landscape, with the ability to navigate complex public sector environments and support evidence-based policy implementation.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with senior government officials, development partners, and technical stakeholders, leveraging extensive networks across Punjab’s health and allied departments to drive coordination and shared ownership.
• Experience leading and managing multi-disciplinary technical teams, with the ability to provide strategic guidance, hands-on support, and quality assurance in the design and delivery of TA.
• A track record of delivering results under tight timelines, focusing on measurable impact, accountability, and adaptive management in response to emerging needs.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English, Punjabi, and Urdu, with the ability to translate complex technical content into accessible formats for diverse audiences, including policymakers, donors, and community stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, including applying strategic frameworks such as the Gap Analysis Framework and TA Identification Matrix to design relevant, high-impact interventions.
• First-hand understanding of district-level operational realities, including service delivery gaps, health system bottlenecks, and practical program roll-out and governance challenges.
• A solid grounding in public sector reform, change management, and health systems strengthening approaches, committed to promoting equity, sustainability, and improved health outcomes.