- Wed Dec 10, 2025 1:31 am#10543
Preparation Guide for the Position – Manager, Health Service Innovation (BRAC Health Programme)
1. Understand the Role and Its Context
- Focus: Design, test and scale innovative health solutions within the Primary Health Care (PHC) portfolio.
- Key outcomes: Successful pilots, integration into national programmes, measurable improvements in patient outcomes and cost‑effectiveness.
- Core environment: BRAC’s large‑scale development work in Bangladesh, emphasis on underserved communities, strong partnership model with startups, universities, NGOs and donors.
2. Match Your Profile to the Required Qualifications
- Academic background: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Public Health (or related). An MBBS degree is a strong plus.
- Project‑management credential: PRINCE2 or PMP certification – if you do not have one, consider enrolling in a fast‑track online course and aim to obtain the certificate before the interview.
- Experience: Minimum 3 years in health project implementation, digital health, or health‑technology innovation. Highlight any work that involved pilot testing, scaling, or integration of new solutions.
- Language: Fluent English and Bangla – be ready to demonstrate both in written and spoken form.
3. Identify Skill Gaps and Address Them
- Data‑driven decision making: Strengthen proficiency in Excel, PowerBI, Tableau or open‑source tools (R, Python). Prepare a short portfolio (screenshots or PDFs) showing dashboards or analyses you have built for health programmes.
- Health‑technology platforms: Familiarise yourself with common digital health tools used in Bangladesh (e.g., mHealth apps, tele‑consult platforms, electronic medical records). If possible, take a short MOOC on digital health implementation.
- Budget & financial tracking: Review BRAC’s financial guidelines (available on their website or via colleagues) and rehearse building a simple project budget with variance analysis.
- Safeguarding: Read BRAC’s safeguarding policy (publicly available) and understand reporting procedures for SEA. Be prepared to discuss how you have ensured safe environments in past projects.
4. Prepare Your Application Documents
a. Curriculum Vitae
- Length: 2–3 pages, clear headings, bullet points.
- Tailoring:
• Under “Professional Experience,” reorder roles so the most relevant (innovation, PHC, digital health) appear first.
• For each position, use the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and quantify outcomes (e.g., “piloted a tele‑consultation service that increased patient follow‑up rates by 22 % within 6 months”).
- Certifications: List PRINCE2/PMP, any health‑technology or data‑analysis courses, and relevant trainings (e.g., safeguarding, ethical research).
b. Cover Letter (max 1 page)
- Opening paragraph: State the position, where you found it, and a concise “value proposition” (e.g., “I bring 4 years of experience leading digital‑health pilots in rural Bangladesh, complemented by PMP certification”).
- Body (2‑3 paragraphs):
1. Align your experience with the key responsibilities – give concrete examples of pilot design, stakeholder coordination, scale‑up planning, and reporting to senior management.
2. Highlight your network with innovation hubs, startups, universities and donors – mention any MoUs or joint proposals you have managed.
3. Demonstrate your commitment to safeguarding and to serving underserved populations.
- Closing: Express enthusiasm for contributing to BRAC’s mission, indicate availability for interview, and thank the reader.
c. Supporting Documents
- Copies of relevant certifications (PRINCE2/PMP, any health‑technology courses).
- A brief portfolio (2–3 pages) showcasing pilot designs, monitoring frameworks, SOPs, or evaluation reports (redact any confidential information).
- If you have published any case studies or articles on health innovation, include citation list.
5. Research and Network
- BRAC’s Health Programme: Review the latest annual reports, strategic plans, and press releases focusing on PHC and digital health. Note the current priority areas (maternal health, non‑communicable diseases, community health workers).
- Innovation Landscape in Bangladesh: Identify top health‑tech startups, university labs, and government digital health initiatives. Prepare a 5‑minute “knowledge brief” you could discuss in an interview to show you can map the ecosystem.
- Donor Landscape: Familiarise yourself with key donors supporting health innovation in Bangladesh (e.g., USAID, GIZ, European Commission). Understand their funding cycles and typical business‑case expectations.
6. Interview Preparation
a. Typical Questions to Anticipate
- Describe a health‑technology pilot you designed from scratch. What were the key steps and how did you measure success?
- How do you decide which innovations to move from pilot to scale? Walk us through your evaluation framework.
- Give an example of a time you had to manage conflicting stakeholder expectations (e.g., a donor, government, and community). How did you resolve it?
- Explain how you ensure safeguarding is integrated into project design and day‑to‑day operations.
- What emerging health technologies do you think will have the biggest impact on primary care in Bangladesh over the next 5 years?
b. Case‑Study/Presentation
- Prepare a 10‑minute mock presentation titled “Scaling a Tele‑medicine Pilot for Rural PHC.” Include: problem statement, proposed solution, implementation plan, budget outline, risk mitigation, and expected health outcomes.
- Use simple visuals (tables, flowcharts) – you can create them in PowerPoint or Google Slides and be ready to share your screen if the interview is virtual.
c. Behavioural Fit
- Emphasise proactive leadership, initiative, flexibility, and collaboration. Quote specific anecdotes demonstrating each trait.
d. Logistics
- Confirm the interview format (online or in‑person at BRAC Centre, Dhaka). Dress in business‑professional attire.
- Plan travel to Dhaka if required – allow extra time for traffic, and have a backup transport plan.
7. Timeline and Action Checklist (by Dec 18, 2025)
- Today – Week 1: Gather all existing CV, certificates, and pilot documents. List skill gaps.
- Week 2: Enroll in a fast‑track PRINCE2 or PMP course (if not already certified). Begin a short data‑analysis refresher (e.g., Coursera’s Excel for Health Data).
- Week 3: Draft CV and cover letter. Send to a trusted mentor or professional editor for feedback.
- Week 4: Compile portfolio and sanitize any confidential data.
- Week 5: Conduct deep dive on BRAC Health Programme and Bangladesh health‑tech ecosystem; draft the 5‑minute knowledge brief.
- Week 6: Prepare the scaling pilot presentation; practice with a peer.
- Week 7: Finalise all documents, ensure PDFs are correctly named (e.g., “FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf”).
- Week 8 (by Dec 10): Submit application via the BRAC careers link: https://careers.brac.net/jobs/manager-h ... bulk=false
- Week 9–10: Anticipate contact for interview; conduct mock interviews covering technical, behavioural and case‑study components.
8. Additional Tips
- Professional Online Presence: Update your LinkedIn profile to reflect the same language and achievements as your CV. Join groups related to digital health in Bangladesh and engage with posts to increase visibility.
- Reference Letters: Identify two professional referees who can attest to your project‑management abilities and your work in health innovation. Obtain their consent and share their contact details in the application (if the portal requests).
- Health & Safety Awareness: Since travel to field sites is expected, be familiar with basic field‑work safety protocols (e.g., vaccination requirements, travel insurance).
- Cultural Fit: BRAC values community‑centric, impact‑driven approaches. Highlight any experience working with marginalized groups or community health workers.
By following this structured preparation plan you will present a compelling, well‑aligned candidature that demonstrates both the technical expertise and the collaborative mindset BRAC seeks for its Manager, Health Service Innovation role. Good luck!
1. Understand the Role and Its Context
- Focus: Design, test and scale innovative health solutions within the Primary Health Care (PHC) portfolio.
- Key outcomes: Successful pilots, integration into national programmes, measurable improvements in patient outcomes and cost‑effectiveness.
- Core environment: BRAC’s large‑scale development work in Bangladesh, emphasis on underserved communities, strong partnership model with startups, universities, NGOs and donors.
2. Match Your Profile to the Required Qualifications
- Academic background: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Public Health (or related). An MBBS degree is a strong plus.
- Project‑management credential: PRINCE2 or PMP certification – if you do not have one, consider enrolling in a fast‑track online course and aim to obtain the certificate before the interview.
- Experience: Minimum 3 years in health project implementation, digital health, or health‑technology innovation. Highlight any work that involved pilot testing, scaling, or integration of new solutions.
- Language: Fluent English and Bangla – be ready to demonstrate both in written and spoken form.
3. Identify Skill Gaps and Address Them
- Data‑driven decision making: Strengthen proficiency in Excel, PowerBI, Tableau or open‑source tools (R, Python). Prepare a short portfolio (screenshots or PDFs) showing dashboards or analyses you have built for health programmes.
- Health‑technology platforms: Familiarise yourself with common digital health tools used in Bangladesh (e.g., mHealth apps, tele‑consult platforms, electronic medical records). If possible, take a short MOOC on digital health implementation.
- Budget & financial tracking: Review BRAC’s financial guidelines (available on their website or via colleagues) and rehearse building a simple project budget with variance analysis.
- Safeguarding: Read BRAC’s safeguarding policy (publicly available) and understand reporting procedures for SEA. Be prepared to discuss how you have ensured safe environments in past projects.
4. Prepare Your Application Documents
a. Curriculum Vitae
- Length: 2–3 pages, clear headings, bullet points.
- Tailoring:
• Under “Professional Experience,” reorder roles so the most relevant (innovation, PHC, digital health) appear first.
• For each position, use the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and quantify outcomes (e.g., “piloted a tele‑consultation service that increased patient follow‑up rates by 22 % within 6 months”).
- Certifications: List PRINCE2/PMP, any health‑technology or data‑analysis courses, and relevant trainings (e.g., safeguarding, ethical research).
b. Cover Letter (max 1 page)
- Opening paragraph: State the position, where you found it, and a concise “value proposition” (e.g., “I bring 4 years of experience leading digital‑health pilots in rural Bangladesh, complemented by PMP certification”).
- Body (2‑3 paragraphs):
1. Align your experience with the key responsibilities – give concrete examples of pilot design, stakeholder coordination, scale‑up planning, and reporting to senior management.
2. Highlight your network with innovation hubs, startups, universities and donors – mention any MoUs or joint proposals you have managed.
3. Demonstrate your commitment to safeguarding and to serving underserved populations.
- Closing: Express enthusiasm for contributing to BRAC’s mission, indicate availability for interview, and thank the reader.
c. Supporting Documents
- Copies of relevant certifications (PRINCE2/PMP, any health‑technology courses).
- A brief portfolio (2–3 pages) showcasing pilot designs, monitoring frameworks, SOPs, or evaluation reports (redact any confidential information).
- If you have published any case studies or articles on health innovation, include citation list.
5. Research and Network
- BRAC’s Health Programme: Review the latest annual reports, strategic plans, and press releases focusing on PHC and digital health. Note the current priority areas (maternal health, non‑communicable diseases, community health workers).
- Innovation Landscape in Bangladesh: Identify top health‑tech startups, university labs, and government digital health initiatives. Prepare a 5‑minute “knowledge brief” you could discuss in an interview to show you can map the ecosystem.
- Donor Landscape: Familiarise yourself with key donors supporting health innovation in Bangladesh (e.g., USAID, GIZ, European Commission). Understand their funding cycles and typical business‑case expectations.
6. Interview Preparation
a. Typical Questions to Anticipate
- Describe a health‑technology pilot you designed from scratch. What were the key steps and how did you measure success?
- How do you decide which innovations to move from pilot to scale? Walk us through your evaluation framework.
- Give an example of a time you had to manage conflicting stakeholder expectations (e.g., a donor, government, and community). How did you resolve it?
- Explain how you ensure safeguarding is integrated into project design and day‑to‑day operations.
- What emerging health technologies do you think will have the biggest impact on primary care in Bangladesh over the next 5 years?
b. Case‑Study/Presentation
- Prepare a 10‑minute mock presentation titled “Scaling a Tele‑medicine Pilot for Rural PHC.” Include: problem statement, proposed solution, implementation plan, budget outline, risk mitigation, and expected health outcomes.
- Use simple visuals (tables, flowcharts) – you can create them in PowerPoint or Google Slides and be ready to share your screen if the interview is virtual.
c. Behavioural Fit
- Emphasise proactive leadership, initiative, flexibility, and collaboration. Quote specific anecdotes demonstrating each trait.
d. Logistics
- Confirm the interview format (online or in‑person at BRAC Centre, Dhaka). Dress in business‑professional attire.
- Plan travel to Dhaka if required – allow extra time for traffic, and have a backup transport plan.
7. Timeline and Action Checklist (by Dec 18, 2025)
- Today – Week 1: Gather all existing CV, certificates, and pilot documents. List skill gaps.
- Week 2: Enroll in a fast‑track PRINCE2 or PMP course (if not already certified). Begin a short data‑analysis refresher (e.g., Coursera’s Excel for Health Data).
- Week 3: Draft CV and cover letter. Send to a trusted mentor or professional editor for feedback.
- Week 4: Compile portfolio and sanitize any confidential data.
- Week 5: Conduct deep dive on BRAC Health Programme and Bangladesh health‑tech ecosystem; draft the 5‑minute knowledge brief.
- Week 6: Prepare the scaling pilot presentation; practice with a peer.
- Week 7: Finalise all documents, ensure PDFs are correctly named (e.g., “FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf”).
- Week 8 (by Dec 10): Submit application via the BRAC careers link: https://careers.brac.net/jobs/manager-h ... bulk=false
- Week 9–10: Anticipate contact for interview; conduct mock interviews covering technical, behavioural and case‑study components.
8. Additional Tips
- Professional Online Presence: Update your LinkedIn profile to reflect the same language and achievements as your CV. Join groups related to digital health in Bangladesh and engage with posts to increase visibility.
- Reference Letters: Identify two professional referees who can attest to your project‑management abilities and your work in health innovation. Obtain their consent and share their contact details in the application (if the portal requests).
- Health & Safety Awareness: Since travel to field sites is expected, be familiar with basic field‑work safety protocols (e.g., vaccination requirements, travel insurance).
- Cultural Fit: BRAC values community‑centric, impact‑driven approaches. Highlight any experience working with marginalized groups or community health workers.
By following this structured preparation plan you will present a compelling, well‑aligned candidature that demonstrates both the technical expertise and the collaborative mindset BRAC seeks for its Manager, Health Service Innovation role. Good luck!
