Project Management Specialist (HIV-AIDS)/ FSN-11 Equivalent

Description

• The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) represents the US government response to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and is the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in history. Thanks to American leadership and generosity, alongside the work of many partners, PEPFAR has saved millions of lives, averted millions of infections, and changed the course of the epidemic. As countries progress towards HIV/AIDS epidemic control, the point at which new HIV infections have decreased and fall below the total number of deaths among HIV-infected individuals, PEPFAR is now undertaking the challenge of controlling the pandemic
• The Project Management Specialist (HIV/AIDS) (the “Specialist”) will support planning, implementation, program and activity design, budgeting and monitoring of HIV/AIDS projects
• S/He will provide programmatic and technical guidance and assist in the development and management of HIV-related programs
• The jobholder will work collaboratively with other staff in the Health Office, other offices in the Mission, the Ministry of Health, and other development partners to support a coordinated, strategic approach to various HIV/AIDS-related programming
• S/he will serve as a Contract Officer’s Representative/Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR) or Activity Manager
• The jobholder will support the implementation of the planning of new activities design; help Project Design Teams in drafting acquisition and assistance-related documents; develop project financial documents, revisions, and/or amendments; and generate reports on the status of project activities and finances including projection of expenditures, quarterly accrual of expenditures, and status reports. S/He will also Review project expense vouchers for completeness and accuracy
• The Specialist will serve as an in-house subject matter expert on HIV/AIDS and the Mission’s representative in policy, strategic and technical engagements with the host country government, international and bilateral organizations, and donor agencies to address technical issues and coordinate efforts in implementation of HIV/AIDS activities
• The position is located in the USAID Office of Health
• The jobholder reports to the HIV Prevention Team Lead and has no supervisory responsibility
• Subject: Solicitation for a Cooperating Country National Personal Service Contractor (CCNPSC- Local Compensation Plan) – USAID Project Management Specialist (HIV-AIDS)/ FSN-11 Equivalent
• Dear Prospective Offerors: The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation
• Offers must be in accordance with this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records
• USAID will evaluate all offerors based on the stated evaluation criteria. USAID encourages all individuals, including those from disadvantaged and under-represented groups, to respond to the solicitation.
• This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offers
• Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in solicitation (Sincerely, David Hallengren, Acting Executive Officer/ Contracting Officer)
• Solicitation no.: 72065624R10013 opened to all Mission current employees and external candidates who meet the stated qualifications.
• Point of contact: Human Resources Section, email at Mission-Maputo-HR@usaid.gov
• Position title: USAID Project Management Specialist (HIV-AIDS)
• Market value: USD 60,316 – USD 84,450 per annum, equivalent to FSN-11 (Step1-12). In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Mozambique. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value
• Period of performance: The base period will be one year, estimated to start on or about December 2024. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise an option period for the dates estimated as follows:
• Base Period: December 2024 – December 2025
• Option Period 1: December 2025 – December 2029
• Place of performance: Maputo, Mozambique, with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.
• Eligible offerors: To meet basic eligibility requirements, the applicant must be a cooperating country citizen, or a non-cooperating country citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the cooperating country. Applicants must submit a complete application as outlined in Section IV
• Security level required: Employment Certification (RSO Certification)

Duties

Technical Guidance and Program Planning

• Provide up to date technical guidance on a broad range of HIV/AIDS-related interventions, including providing guidance in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluations of HIV/AIDS programs
• Provide technical guidance in quality and performance improvement, working with key stakeholders to improve the quality of HIV/AIDS-related interventions, by applying evidence-based guidelines, approaches, and tools
• Provide guidance to the Mission and the Ministry of Health, serving as advisor for all strategic and policy issues related to HIV/AIDS programming
• Through literature review, research and regular communication with local and international stakeholders, stay abreast of emerging developments in the national and global HIV/AIDS landscape, and advise accordingly on how policies, strategies, and technical guidelines can most effectively be incorporated to enable the Mission to maintain fidelity and relevance in its HIV/AIDS programs
• Provide technical guidance to other PEPFAR agencies, technical counterparts in Ministry of Health, and to other national stakeholders to advance USAID, USG and PEPFAR strategic objectives related to key HIV/AIDS interventions
• Provide on-going technical assistance to USAID local partners to ensure that activities are evidence-based and that services are transparent, equitable, of high quality and responsive to client needs; that partners practice sound management and robust accounting; and that local partners are prepared to assume and sustain leadership. Work closely with other staff in the Health Office and across the Mission to optimize opportunities for cross-sectoral integration and leverage resources across the different program components
• Effectively communicate and demonstrate technical leadership in interagency PEPFAR technical working groups to ensure USAID strategic priorities are represented, including participation in routine interagency technical discussions, presenting relevant sections of the quarterly PEPFAR country performance reviews, and annual PEPFAR COP strategic planning meetings
• Ensure that the required audits, reports and evaluations and close-out actions are completed
• Participate in technical evaluation committees, analyzing applications and evaluating offeror’s proposals to develop recommendations on the selection of applicants or institutions based on their suitability and responsiveness of their proposed technical intervention, and their ability to successfully implement a particular project. S/he will facilitate site visits, public meetings, and discussions with officials as needed and will track overall team budget progress and funding priorities
• Support in drafting technical documentation such as performance reports, scopes of work, briefing papers, concept papers and conduct analyses to develop strategies, monitor ongoing programs, and report on project achievements and interventions

Project Management

• Serve as an AOR/COR or Activity Manager on designated HIV/AIDS programs
• Work with IPs to develop strategic work plans with realistic and measurable targets to support effective implementation of the Mission’s and PEPFAR HIV/AIDS programs
• Review and approve annual work plans, monitoring and evaluation plans, quarterly reports and other key documents of assigned projects. Monitor program resources allocated for HIV/AIDS activities to ensure that they are being used rationally and that there are no cost overruns
• Ensure quality of HIV/AIDS programs by monitoring compliance to national and international guidelines, approaches and tools and provision of supportive supervisions to IPs
• Support country-level PEPFAR annual budget preparation process, providing technical assistance to USG financial teams and technical working groups in completing the PEPFAR budgeting tools
• Provide oversight to the annual HIV/AIDS budget and ensure costs remain within budget planning levels and that efficiency is maximized
• Provide technical and organizational development guidance to local organizations entailing transfer of knowledge and skills in HIV/AIDS programming, implementation, monitoring and reporting, and quality improvement
• Lead routine meetings with implementing partners to discuss technical and programmatic direction of the HIV/AIDS program
• Technically advise and makes recommendations on the need for short-term technical assistance (STTA) from USAID/Washington central projects and write the technical components of the scope of work for the consultants
• Participate in each stage of project design for new activities, including drafting and obtaining approval for concept papers, writing scopes of work, evaluating applications/proposals, and starting up new projects

Project Monitoring and Evaluation

• In collaboration with Strategic Information staff, regularly analyze and interpret HIV/AIDS data to generate key results and trends to assist the Mission maintain a highly nimble program with proven achievement across PEPFAR indicators
• Contribute to data quality assessments to ensure the quality and reliability of program data
• Participate in site visits to USAID supported programs to assess the quality of services, provide guidance to implementing partners on newly emerging and highly efficacious approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment interventions
• Monitor project activities and make recommendations to resolve implementation obstacles to ensure judicious use of USG funds and effective implementation of HIV/AIDS interventions
• Contribute to and participate in HIV/AIDS-related program evaluations to document and scale up proven best practices
• Participate in and ensure the effectiveness of Site Improvement Monitoring System (SIMS) and other field visits to improve quality of service delivery

Representation and Reporting

• Provide strategic and technical leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents including the Country Operational Plan, Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justifications, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports, among others
• Prepare reports and responses to a wide range of requirements including responding to requests for information from USAID/Washington, Congress and OGAC
• Ensure that USAID successes, best practices and approaches are shared widely with partner country officials, private sector, civil society and other donors
• Represent USAID and PEPFAR at designated national, regional and international meetings that relate to HIV/AIDS
• As requested by the Mission Director, Health Office Director or Deputy Director, represent USAID at meetings outside of the HIV/AIDS field when needed
• Organize site visits and prepare orientation materials for delegations from Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), USAID Headquarters, State Department, and other agencies
• As a member of the PEPFAR Team, respond flexibly and capably to a wide range of work-related requirements including responding to requests for information from USAID/Washington, Congress and OGAC
• Establish working relationships with government officials at the national and district level, donor agencies, civil society organizations, private sector health counterparts and medical associations to enhance regular and timely sharing of information on HIV interventions in the country, including changes in key policies, and legal and regulatory environments that could affect the implementation of USAID programs

Position elements

• Supervision Received: Works under the general supervision of the HIV Prevention Team Lead. The supervisor makes assignments in terms of overall objectives and resources available. Completed work is reviewed in terms of achievement of program/project/activity goals, effectiveness in meeting host-country and USAID objectives, and integration with other initiatives in the Health Office and Mission portfolio. Some technical direction may come from other professionals in the Office; in general, however, the Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable autonomy and best judgment in discharging the duties of the assignment
• Supervision Exercised: Supervision of other Health Office and/or Mission staff is not contemplated
• Available Guidelines: The Specialist follows USAID operating policies, Mission Orders, guidance provided by the Automated Directive System (ADS), USAID Mandatory and Standard Provisions, the FAR and AIDAR, and other published and unpublished guidelines. Guidance is also available from the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, which directs the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); the Interagency Technical Working Groups; and, relevant MOH documents relating to HIV/AIDS
• Exercise of Judgment: Substantial judgment (discretion) is used daily in providing technical opinion and guidance to USG, USAID, and host-government colleagues, to IPs, and in representing USAID in stakeholder forums. Management decisions over certain IPs are at the discretion of the Specialist. Independent judgment is required for developing, implementing, and managing assigned programs/projects/activities, for reporting, and for other assignments. Substantial judgment is required in analyzing and determining whether or not to recommend approval of proposed programs/projects/activities, in choosing among alternative proposals, and in evaluating data for reliability
• Authority to Make Commitments: The jobholder exercises the authority given to COR/AORs and may make administrative arrangements consistent with USAID Automated Directive System (ADS) guidance and Mission Policy. The jobholder takes action and establishes priorities based on available guidelines and professional judgment. The jobholder may negotiate ad referendum for the immediate supervisor
• Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The Specialist has a full range of contacts within the Mission, at all levels, and maintains contact with IPs implementing USAID-funded programs/projects/activities in the sector. Within the Embassy, contacts are with counterpart staffs, and with senior staff as needed. Host-government, local, and other, contacts vary widely with the type of activity being implemented, and may be at any level – including Ministerial, Deputy Minister, etc. Frequent and substantive personal contacts with senior-level officials of the host government, and with the private sector, are for the purpose of explaining and defending PEPFAR and USAID policies, objectives, and procedures, and to transmit and interpret host-government and private-sector attitudes and concerns to senior USAID officials. In addition, the Specialist provides technical assistance and guidance on HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment best practices to USG staff, and host government and NGO partners
• Time Expected to Reach Full Performance Level: One year
• Support Items: The incumbent will be provided with office space, equipment, and supplies
• Physical demands: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands

Requisites

• Education: Master’s Degree in Medicine, Public Health, Health, Social Work, International Development, Social or Behavioral Sciences, Epidemiology, Biology, Infectious Disease, Organizational Development, Political Science or Business Administration is required
• Prior Work Experience: At least five (5) years of progressively responsible, professional experience in international development or global health programming in developing or middle-income countries, with a focus on HIV/AIDS, is required. Of that experience, at least one (1) year with the USG, other multi-lateral or bi-lateral organizations, and/or NGOs is required. Increasingly responsible experience in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health-related initiatives in developing countries. Experience in analyzing epidemiological data and translating data into practice
• Language Proficiency: Level IV fluency in English and in the appropriate host-country business language, both written and spoken, is required. Language competence may be tested

Job Knowledge

• Demonstrated in-depth professional understanding of HIV/AIDS interventions, PEPFAR initiatives, and the current priorities at national and global level
• Demonstrated thorough knowledge of country’s development and HIV/AIDS program dynamics, particularly the social, economic and cultural determinants and implications of the HIV epidemic in the country
• Demonstrated knowledge of PEPFAR processes through which HIV/AIDS programs are planned, reviewed, approved, implemented and evaluated

Skills

• Ability to present information, analyses, and recommendations in clear written and oral formats
• Outstanding ability to independently conceive, plan, organize, manage, and evaluate important, diverse and complex work projects, to drive high-level performance and outcomes of USAID HIV programs
• Demonstrated ability to apply policy directives to activity design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation
• Excellent analytical, technical and project management skills to review and provide substantive feedback on concept papers, proposals, program descriptions/scopes of work, performance reports, and other technical and programmatic documents
• Ability to respond professionally and adjust in fluid situations in order to meet deadlines in the face of competing priorities and time pressures
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including diplomacy and tact, to work effectively with people at all levels, from senior officials to support staff, in a culturally diverse environment, accepting divergent points of view and help find consensus to achieve team goals
• Excellent computer skills including in Microsoft Office, web-based databases, and electronic filing, including the ability to help others and to learn new programs quickly
• Ability to travel to regions and districts within the host country, up to 20% of the time, and regionally or internationally up to 10%

Evaluation and selection factors

• The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at  https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far
• The technical evaluation committee may conduct reference checks, including references from individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror, and may do so before or after a candidate is interviewed
• The following evaluation factors are established:
• Education: 10 points
• Prior Work Experience: 25 points
• Job Knowledge 30 points
• Skills and Abilities: 30 points
• Language Proficiency: 5 points
• Maximum Points: 100 points
• Per this scoring Job Knowledge and Skills and Abilities are the most important factors, followed by Prior Work Experience, Education and Language Proficiency

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• Eligible Offerors are required to submit a cover letter in English with CV/Applicant Resume in English as well as academic transcripts/diplomas
• Offerors are required to provide names, contact numbers, and e-mail addresses of three professional references from individuals who are not family members or relatives
• Applications will initially be screened for conformity with minimum requirements
• Only applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position will be considered
• Candidates will be evaluated based on relevant education, prior work experience, knowledge, language proficiency, skills and abilities demonstrated in their application packages
• A Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) will be convened to review applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria
• Applications from candidates who do not meet the required selection criteria will not be scored
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and will be invited for a language test. Candidates successfully passing the language exam will be invited for an oral interview and may also be required to pass a written test
• No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants
• Professional references will be conducted for the top ranked candidate and will be utilized to supplement the TEC’s recommendation to the Contracting Officer to offer the position to the top ranked candidate
• USAID/Mozambique reserves the right to solicit references from other sources as deemed appropriate
• Final selection will be based on the application package, language abilities, oral interview and reference checks
• This is a local position and compensation will be in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan
• List of required forms prior to award: Once the Contracting Officer (CO) informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the required forms
• Benefits and allowances: This is a local position and compensation will be in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan
• USAID regulations and policies governing CCN/TCN PSC awards are available at these sources: USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar
• Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below: Line items Item No (A) Services (description) (B) Quantity (C)Unit (D)Unit price (E) Amount
• (F)0001Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)- Award Type: PSC- Product Service Code: R497- Accounting Info:1 LOT$ _TBD__$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_1001 Option Period 1 – Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)- Award Type: PSC- Product Service Code: R497- Accounting Info: 1LOT $ _TBD__$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_
• Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs .
• Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/resources_standards-of-conduct
• PSC Ombudsman. The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the Agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman
• The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov
• Please note that USAID and the U.S. Government NEVER require payment of any money in connection with a job application
• Eeo/aa: the u.S. Mission is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of hiv/aids status