Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Program Officer, Primary Health Care, SAFEStart+ Project

at Path

🏢 About Path

PATH is a global health nonprofit that pioneers innovative solutions to health equity challenges, particularly in low-resource settings. What makes PATH unique is its collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that combines deep technical expertise with practical implementation experience across 70+ countries. Someone might want to work there to be part of an organization that translates cutting-edge research into scalable health interventions that save lives.

About This Role

As Senior Program Officer for the SAFEStart+ Project, you'll lead primary health care implementation in remote settings, managing partnerships with local health authorities and ensuring maternal/child health interventions are delivered effectively. This role is impactful because you'll directly shape how life-saving primary care reaches vulnerable populations in challenging environments, with a focus on sustainable health system strengthening.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning check-ins with country teams in different time zones to troubleshoot implementation challenges, followed by reviewing monitoring data from health facilities. Afternoons could include coordinating with technical advisors on adapting training materials, and drafting progress reports for donors while ensuring alignment with local Ministry of Health priorities.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Path Is Looking For

  • Has 7+ years of hands-on experience implementing primary health care programs in low-resource or humanitarian settings, with specific expertise in maternal/child health or immunization
  • Demonstrates proven ability to manage complex donor-funded projects (especially USAID or similar) with budgets over $5M, including financial reporting and compliance requirements
  • Possesses strong technical knowledge of health system strengthening frameworks and can design context-appropriate primary care delivery models
  • Is fluent in French or Portuguese with experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in francophone or lusophone regions where SAFEStart+ operates

📝 Tips for Applying to Path

1

Quantify your primary health care implementation experience: specify the number of health facilities supported, health workers trained, or populations reached in previous roles

2

Highlight any direct experience with USAID projects, especially those involving health system strengthening or integrated service delivery

3

Demonstrate your remote project management skills by describing how you've successfully coordinated teams across multiple time zones or locations

4

Mention specific technical expertise relevant to SAFEStart+'s focus areas: maternal health, child immunization, or community health worker programs

5

Include examples of how you've adapted primary care interventions to local contexts, showing cultural sensitivity and practical problem-solving

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your direct experience implementing primary health care programs in resource-limited settings, with specific examples from Sub-Saharan Africa if possible', "How you've successfully managed donor relationships and reporting requirements for large-scale health projects", 'Your approach to building sustainable local capacity rather than just delivering services', "Why PATH's collaborative, innovation-driven culture specifically appeals to you for this primary health care leadership role"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → PATH's Primary Health Care technical approach and their published frameworks for health system strengthening
  • → The specific countries and regions where SAFEStart+ operates and their current health system challenges
  • → PATH's partnerships with local governments and organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa
  • → Recent PATH publications or presentations on integrated service delivery or community health systems

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you had to adapt a primary health care intervention due to local cultural or logistical challenges
2 How would you approach strengthening referral systems between community health workers and primary care facilities in a remote setting?
3 What metrics would you prioritize to measure the success of SAFEStart+'s primary health care components?
4 How have you managed conflicting priorities between donor requirements and local health system needs in previous roles?
5 Describe your experience with digital health tools or data systems for primary care monitoring in low-resource settings
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on clinical expertise without demonstrating program management or health system experience
  • Using generic global health language without specific examples from primary care implementation
  • Failing to show understanding of how remote work requires different communication and management strategies than in-person roles

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Path!

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