Technical Specialist
1. Background and Project Context
Swasti Health Catalyst in partnership with the GoAP, is implementing an MNH Interventions project in Andhra Pradesh, India. The project aims to significantly reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality through a combination of digital health innovations, high-risk pregnancy tracking, and targeted clinical interventions.Building on existing platforms including the RCH portal and facility-based records, the project will create an integrated digital continuum of care — tracking individual pregnancies longitudinally from conception through delivery and into the postpartum period. This will be complemented by real-time dashboards, analytics, and evidence-based clinical innovations.
2. Purpose of the Role
The Technical Lead will be the primary technical anchor for this project. They will provide overall technical leadership across the three project objectives — digital pregnancy continuum tracking, HRP dashboard development, and innovation testing — and will ensure high-quality, timely implementation in close coordination with the Funder, state and district health authorities, technology partners, and implementation teams.
3. Objectives of the Assignment
The Technical Lead will support the achievement of the following three project objectives:
Objective 1 – Digitisation and Continuous Pregnancy Tracking
•Ensure that all pregnancy data points across existing systems are integrated and that each pregnancy can be longitudinally tracked.
•Oversee baseline mapping of data systems and generation of a pregnancy data line list.
•Lead the design and development of the digital pregnancy continuum tracking framework.
Objective 2 – HRP Dashboard and Data Use
•Oversee the design of the HRP dashboard architecture, including identification of HRP conditions, data sources, and validation mechanisms.
•Enable cohort-level analytics to track service coverage, gaps, and outcomes.
•Support district-level data use for decision-making and programme course correction.
Objective 3 – Innovation Introduction and Testing
•Lead the identification, introduction, and monitoring of innovation interventions in pilot districts.
•Coordinate with technology, clinical, and implementation partners for pilots including FCM, objective blood loss measurement, labour room devices, MMS, and digital tools.
•Support development of working models and document evidence for scale-up.
4. Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities
4.1 Technical Leadership and Strategy
•Provide overall technical direction for the MNH interventions project, aligned with the Funder's strategic priorities.
•Develop and refine the project's technical approach, frameworks, and implementation models in consultation with Swasti leadership and the Funder.
•Ensure technical coherence across all workstreams — digital health, clinical innovations, and data/analytics.
•Participate in technical review meetings with the Funder and represent Swasti in key stakeholder engagements.
4.2 Digital Health and Data Systems
•Lead the baseline mapping and data landscape assessment — compiling pregnancy data from the RCH portal, EkaCare, and facility records.
•Develop the architecture for an integrated digital pregnancy tracking system.
•Design and oversee implementation of HRP dashboards and cohort-level analytics.
•Work with technology partners and the data scientist to build and validate the prototype tracking system and dashboard.
•Oversee data quality assurance, validation mechanisms, and discrepancy resolution.
4.3 Innovations and Intervention Design
•Lead the identification and prioritisation of 5–6 HRP conditions for focused tracking and intervention.
•Support the introduction of clinical innovations such as FCM, MMS, low-dose aspirin, labour monitoring devices, and objective PPH measurement.
•Coordinate with partners including EMOTIVE, Gestosis, and AI partners (to be identified) for intervention co-design and evaluation.
•Ensure alignment of innovations with national protocols and state health system norms.
4.4 Implementation and Field Coordination
•Oversee implementation in Anantapur and Bapatla districts — ensuring a common architecture while allowing for district-specific adaptations.
•Coordinate with UNICEF state MH advisors, district health authorities, and medical colleges.
•Support Swasti's coordination and facilitation of district and state buy-in.
•Provide technical oversight to district-level technical staff and data specialist.
4.5 Research, Documentation, and Knowledge Management
•Support design and implementation of implementation research in collaboration with medical colleges (planned by March 2027).
•Lead documentation of lessons learned, innovations, and working models.
•Contribute to technical reports, briefs, and knowledge products for the Funder and public dissemination.
•Prepare inputs for AI model development based on accumulated pregnancy data.
4.6 Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
•Monitor project milestones against the agreed timeline (May 2026 – March 2027).
•Prepare monthly progress updates, quarterly technical reports, and a project-end synthesis.
•Support the Funder in periodic reviews and field visits.
5. Qualifications and Experience
5.1 Essential Qualifications
•Advanced degree (Master's or above) in Public Health, Health Systems, Epidemiology, Medicine, or a closely related field.
•Minimum 8–10 years of experience in maternal and/or newborn health programmes in India.
•Demonstrated experience in digital health systems, data management, or health informatics.
•Strong familiarity with India's maternal health data systems including the RCH portal and national MH protocols.
•Proven ability to lead technical teams and engage with government health systems at state/district level.
•Experience working with development partners (UNICEF, WHO, or similar) in a technical capacity.
5.2 Desirable Qualifications
•Experience in health dashboard design, cohort analytics, or HRP management programmes.
•Familiarity with clinical innovations in MNH (FCM, aspirin prophylaxis, PPH management, antenatal corticosteroids).
•Understanding of AI or predictive analytics applications in public health.
•Prior exposure to implementation research.
•Experience working in Andhra Pradesh or similar southern Indian state health contexts.
•Ability to communicate in Telugu (mandatory).
6. Key Competencies
Technical Expertise
Deep knowledge of MNH clinical pathways, HRP management, and health data systems
Strategic Thinking
Ability to translate complex health challenges into actionable programme strategies
Systems Thinking
Ability to understand and navigate complex health system dynamics at state and district level
Stakeholder Engagement
Strong skills in engaging governments, funders, clinical partners, and technology providers
Data Orientation
Proficiency in interpreting health data, designing dashboards, and driving data use
Leadership
Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage complex projects
Communication
Strong written and verbal communication for technical and non-technical audiences
Adaptability
Ability to work in dynamic, field-based environments with evolving project demands
7. Reporting Structure and Coordination
•The Technical Lead will report directly to the Project Director / Programme Head at Swasti.
•They will liaise closely with the Funder's technical team.
•They will provide technical oversight to the Data Scientist and District-level Technical Staff recruited under the project.
•Coordination with medical colleges, and innovation partners will be a core part of the role.
•Regular coordination calls with the Funder and periodic field visits to Anantapur and Bapatla districts are expected.
8. Working Conditions
•Based in Andhra Pradesh (preferably Vijayawada/Anantapur with regular travel to the districts.
•Field visits to health facilities including PHCs, CHCs, and District Hospitals are an integral part of the assignment.
•The role may require occasional travel to New Delhi for donor meetings and national-level engagements.