Program Overview

 

Leveraging deep expertise in strengthening healthcare systems, CHAI has launched an ambitious Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiative to support Ministries of Health to systematically capture and scale the benefits of AI. The CHAI AI program seeks to support Ministries to reimagine what is possible with technology, building towards a vision of “AI Native Health Systems” that makes health care delivery accessible, high-quality, and efficient. There are four pillars of the strategy: (1) bringing the capabilities of world-class clinical intelligence or “AI Doctors” to every clinician and patient, (2) developing and deploying new “AI Diagnostics” that decentralize and improve quality of diagnoses, and (3) health systems AI applications, or the creation of “National Health Intelligence Centers” that improve systems capacity in disease surveillance, financial and workforce management, supply chain, and beyond. Finally, (4) to fully realize the potential of these uses of AI, CHAI is also supporting Ministries of Health to strengthen “AI Foundations”, including physical and digital infrastructure, governance, and workforce strategy.

 

A central pillar of this overall initiative is the establishment of National Health Intelligence Centers: government-owned functions that bring together data and AI-enabled analytics to improve the day-to-day management of the health system. These Centers aim to support decision-making across health financing, supply chain, disease surveillance, health workforce planning and training, and other core management functions. CHAI works at the invitation of Ministries of Health as a trusted partner, helping governments define what they need, navigate the vendor and tooling landscape, and build the institutional capacity to sustain these tools over time. We will support partner countries to design these Centers, identify high-value use cases, and put in place the people, processes, and tools needed for them to deliver lasting value.

 

Position Overview

 

The Associate Director, Health Systems AI will lead the strategy and launch of CHAI's National Health Intelligence Center work in partnership with CHAI program countries. The individual will define the vision for how AI can improve health systems management, translate that vision into a concrete portfolio of country engagements, and build the team and partnerships needed to deliver it. This is a senior role that combines strategic leadership, government engagement, and deep practical fluency with modern AI tools.

 

The individual will work closely with senior government officials in Ministries of Health to identify priority use cases, co-design the operating model for National Health Intelligence Centers, and guide their implementation. They will be responsible for setting the technical and strategic direction of the work, ensuring that CHAI's support reflects both what is possible with current AI tooling and what is sustainable within government systems. The individual will also help country teams and government counterparts build their own capacity to use AI tools effectively in their work.

 

We are seeking a leader who is equally comfortable engaging a deputy minister of health on national health strategy and working hands-on with modern AI development and automation tools to prototype solutions and systematize workflows. The individual will manage a growing team, contribute to fundraising and partnership development, and represent CHAI's Health Systems AI work with donors, governments, and external partners.

 

This role reports to the Senior Director and Head of AI. This position requires regular travel to CHAI program countries, including occasional multi-week periods.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the strategy for CHAI's Health Systems AI work, including the vision for how AI can strengthen health systems management across financing, supply chain, disease surveillance, and workforce functions
• Partner with Ministries of Health and senior government officials to identify priority use cases and co-design the operating model, governance, and roadmap for National Health Intelligence Centers
• Build, manage, and mentor a growing team, setting direction and standards for high-quality delivery across multiple country engagements
• Lead the identification, evaluation, and responsible adoption of AI tools and approaches, ensuring solutions are practical, sustainable, and appropriate to government contexts
• Prototype and systematize AI-enabled workflows using modern development and automation tools, and translate what is technically possible into concrete offerings for partner countries
• Build the capacity of government counterparts to use AI tools effectively in their day-to-day work
• Develop and steward relationships with governments, donors, technology partners, and other stakeholders to advance and sustain the portfolio
• Contribute to fundraising, proposal development, and budget management to support the growth of the Health Systems AI portfolio
• Represent CHAI's Health Systems AI work in external forums with donors, governments, and partners
• Work across CHAI program teams to align the Health Systems AI portfolio with broader organizational strategy and identify opportunities for collaboration
• Undertake other responsibilities as needed to advance the portfolio

Qualifications

• Passion for AI and its potential to improve health systems in low- and middle-income countries
• 8 to 12+ years of relevant professional experience, including experience working with LMIC governments on digital or technology initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to build strategic vision and lead teams to deliver against it
• Deep, hands-on fluency with modern AI tools and the use of AI to augment, automate, and systematize work
• Strong background or demonstrated interest in public health or global health
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to engage senior government and external stakeholders
• Ability to think strategically, handle ambiguity, and problem solve in a fast-paced, limited-structure, multicultural environment
• Willingness to undertake regular travel to CHAI program countries, including occasional multi-week periods

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing or implementing digital health, data, or health information systems in LMIC settings
• Experience engaging Ministries of Health or other senior government counterparts
• Experience with fundraising, proposal development, or donor management
• Advanced degree in a relevant field

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