Project Management Specialist (Laboratory Systems) FSN-12

Description

• The Project Management Specialist (Laboratory Systems) leads the agency’s planning, coordination, management, and implementation of laboratory supply chain services and advises on all aspects of laboratory supply chain management for the Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Division to the broader Integrated Health Office (IHO), and the Mission as a whole, supporting IHO’s commodity security and laboratory services which are essential to achieving USAID’s health goals in Mozambique. Reporting to the Senior Health Commodities Advisor, the Specialist is a member of IHO’s HSS Division and serves as a program manager and subject matter expert for laboratory services and laboratory supply chain serving all areas of health supported by the United States Government (USG) including HIV/AIDS, malaria, maternal and child health, family planning, and Tuberculosis
• The Specialist’s primary responsibilities focus on laboratory network optimization and strategy, laboratory supply planning and coordination related to maintenance/repairs of laboratory equipment, specimen transport, data analysis, and project management. The Specialist will lead USAID’s commodity portfolio as it relates to building, strengthening and ensuring a strong national laboratory network. The Specialist will work closely with USAID clinical colleagues, particularly in the HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and Health Security Division (HTHS) Division, and other USG agencies, including CDC. The Specialist will also work with Government of Mozambique (GRM) counterparts and USG implementing partners and actively participate in internal planning groups and Ministry of Health (MOH) technical working groups supporting laboratory activities
• The Specialist will support laboratory systems strengthening and supply chain management for HIV viral load and early infant diagnostic testing, to ensure commodities are available within the laboratories, and instruments are functioning, when and where needed. S/he will provide IHO and the Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Team with expertise for laboratory supply chain strategy development, management, leadership, and technical direction. The Specialist is responsible for ensuring that USG HIV laboratory supply chain activities are implemented in accordance with WHO, GRM, USAID, and PEPFAR guidelines. The Specialist will serve as A/COR and provide highly specialized advice to strengthen the technical capacity of the GRM and USAID implementing partners in overall laboratory supply chain management
• S/he is expected to lead agency technical preparations and in-depth analysis for the Mission to plan, implement, monitor, track and coordinate laboratory supply chain activities and ensure monitoring and evaluation feeds into continuous learning. This includes a prominent role, along with key USG, Global Fund and MOH stakeholders in the development of the annual laboratory commodities and procurement plan. The Specialist will also represent USAID in direct engagements with implementing partners and identify areas for laboratory supply systems improvement and for scale-up of best practices
• The job holder is required to perform work-related travel
• Subject: Solicitation for a Cooperating Country National Personal Service Contractor (CCNPSC- Local Compensation Plan) – USAID Project Management Specialist (Laboratory Systems)/ Strategic Information, FSN-12 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.: 72065624R10012 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 (Laboratory Systems)
• Market value: USD 79,217 – USD 110,886 per annum, equivalent to FSN-12 (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)
• Physical demands: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands

Duties

Laboratory Supply Chain System Strengthening, Network Optimization and Strategy Development 40%

• Provides technical expertise and leadership in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of laboratory strengthening, quality assurance, and control activities
• Leads USAID/Mozambique’s efforts to optimize the laboratory network and improve laboratory efficiency and management, coordinating with USAID clinical and interagency stakeholders in Mozambique and the United States
• Conducts analyses of Mozambique’s laboratory capacity including documentation of results and recommendations for improvements to strengthen laboratory management
• Aligns, refines and updates programmatic optimization efforts with the needs of stakeholders from relevant technical areas, continuously incorporating state of art Laboratory Quality Improvement Program such as Strengthening Laboratory Management Towards Accreditation (SLMTA), and a broader systems perspective approach
• Utilizes optimization results to define, develop and manage USAID/Mozambique’s strategy for laboratory support services, including the laboratory supply chain, in close coordination with clinical and health systems colleagues
• Coordinates and negotiates with other health partners and USG agencies, including the Global Fund and CDC, on technical aspects of USAID laboratory supply chain systems activities to ensure consolidated efforts across the wider stakeholder team
• Determines the scope, supports/leads gathering of data and information, manages, and utilizes available data to track and improve performance of laboratory support services, and to guide decision-making about the distribution and/or re-distribution of laboratory instruments and equipment
• Serves as an interagency focal point for laboratory support systems data, establishes routine monitoring and evaluation for laboratory support services, and shares results with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including the Government of Mozambique
• Provides technical inputs, advice and guidance for GRM-led initiatives to improve the quality of laboratory supply chain systems in Mozambique, including the expansion of evidence based best practices in laboratory systems management
• Advises IHO technical staff on specifics of laboratory supply chain projects/activities design, implementation and performance monitoring as it relates to USAID funded laboratory supply chain programming
• Advises and guides USAID’s technical leads, implementing partners and technical working groups formed within PEPFAR Mozambique, GRM, the National HIV Program, and the Health Partners Group on all matters related to laboratory supply chain systems management to build capacity of GRM to manage this new outsourced system, and reports on status of laboratory performance
• Ensures high-quality laboratory supply system interventions are successfully implemented in all USAID-funded geographic areas, maintaining up to date knowledge on global and regional laboratory supply chain systems. Serves as Mission lead in coordination within the interagency, CDC, USAID/W on all laboratory supply chain systems and equipment matters.
• Leads the preparation of analyses and documentation of laboratory supply chain systems, commodities and equipment as required for USAID and PEPFAR annual reporting process

Laboratory Supply Chain Specimen & Equipment Transport Systems and Coordination 30%

• Leads USAID Mozambique’s support for laboratory specimen transport systems including the design and implementation of the agency’s support
• Coordinates with clinical colleagues, CDC, Global Fund, Ministry of Health and implementing partners to contribute to financial planning and analysis, technical management, and provides strategic recommendations to improve efficiency and effectiveness of laboratory supply chain specimen transport systems
• Advises on other health specimen laboratory transport systems across all health areas beyond HIV, analyses and based on analysis identifies opportunities to leverage existing systems for greater impact
• Coordinates with clinical colleagues, CDC, implementing partners, and the procurement agent to ensure that laboratory reagents and consumables are available in the molecular biology laboratories in the right quantity, at the right time, and in good quality
• Develops high-level tracking of molecular biology laboratory stock management capacity and needs to lead planning and financial forecasting for laboratory commodity supply
• Tracks breakdowns of molecular biology instruments by monitoring key performance indicators and analyses the impact on laboratory services, recommends improvements and oversees initiatives to reduce breakdowns, and to increase maintenance of instruments by staff
• Recommends and leads efforts to strengthen the laboratory commodity supply systems through incentive alignment to leverage the capacity, experience, and perspective of the private sector maximized engagement to ensure an effective and efficient supply chain of lab supplies and instruments
• Coordinates with relevant MoH and donor colleagues to understand the footprint and status of other key laboratory networks such as GeneXpert, CD4, and other relevant systems

Program and Project Management 30%

• Serves as the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)/Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) for designated programs
• Serves as the Activity Manager for designated programs
• Establishes appropriate monitoring and reporting systems; reviews, approves and monitors Implementing Partner (IP) annual work plans and budget to ensure compliance and achievement of results
• Conducts site visits to monitor activities and verify asset use; guides adherence to USAID and USG policies and procedures; reviews all written reports submitted by implementing partners and furnishes feedback; maintains program files; and other duties and responsibilities as outlined in USAID and relevant USG, PEPFAR, PMI, and Global Health Security, rules, regulations, policies and other forms of appropriate guidance
• Generates technical inputs for Performance Monitoring Plans (PMPs) and leads in reporting to USAID/W IP laboratory performance, implementation bottlenecks and recommends solutions
• Advises USAID/Mozambique technical leads on HIV laboratory supply chain systems including planning, technical direction and analysis, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on PEPFAR funded laboratory activities
• Actively contributes to the development of laboratory components activity budgets during annual planning processes, in coordination with the Supply Chain Team Lead and Operations Division Chief
• The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the United States, or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the "Foreign Service National" Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy

Position elements

• Supervision Received: The work will be performed under the general direction of the Senior Health Commodities Advisor with engagement across the Integrated Health Office (IHO) and general oversight by the Health Systems Strengthening Division Chief. Substantial interaction and/or direction from USAID/CDC Front Offices, the IHO Director, and HTHS Division Chief, and the PEPFAR Coordinator’s Office are anticipated. The Specialist defines his/her own work plan to accomplish specific upon agreed objectives and is expected to work with a high degree of independence, professionalism, judgment, responsibility and resourcefulness. His/her conclusions and recommendations carry significant weight in the team
• Supervision Exercised: No supervisory role anticipated. However, in the absence of the Senior Health Commodities Team Lead the incumbent may be asked to manage staff
• Available Guidelines: Available guidelines include USG, PEPFAR, and PMI guidance, rules, and requirements; USAID Mission Orders, Mission strategy, and other relevant reports; the Automated Directives System (ADS); and USAID Mandatory and Standard Provisions, the FAR and AIDAR, directives, WHO’s International Health Regulations, and other published and unpublished guidelines
• Exercise of Judgment: Available guidelines establish a broad pattern of operations that requires frequent need to exercise judgment and interpretation and provides an opportunity for initiative and innovation. A high degree of judgment will be required to provide guidance and assistance to a wide variety of professionals in PEPFAR/Mozambique and the USAID Mission. As a highly qualified professional, substantial reliance will be placed on the incumbent to independently plan, prioritize and carry out specific activities to fulfill major duties and responsibilities. The incumbent will be expected to resolve problems that arise by determining the approaches to be taken and methodologies to be used, making independent judgments that can be defended, as necessary. Independent judgment is required for developing, implementing, and managing work, for reporting, and for other assignments. Judgment is required to make decisions, based on careful analysis of facts and variables, possible alternatives, and potential political and development implications and impact; exercises good judgment, and completes work independently; and monitors implementation of activities and maintains accountability for results achieved
• Authority to Make Commitments: As a personal services contractor, the incumbent cannot make financial commitments on behalf of the U.S. Government
• Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The incumbent has a full range of contacts within the Mission, at all levels, and maintains contact with contractors and grantees implementing USAID-funded activities or projects in the sector. Other contacts are with counterpart staff in CDC, 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 Health National Institute, Directorate of Medical Assistance, and Public Health, HIV Program Head, etc Frequent and substantive personal contacts with senior-level officials of the Host Government, Development Partners and with the private sector, are for the purpose of explaining, defending and persuading others related to PEPFAR and USAID policies, objectives, and procedures, and to transmit and interpret Host-Government and private-sector attitudes and concerns to senior USAID officials, to effectively ensure that USAID’s activities are collaborative, complementary and inclusive. The incumbent will also advise and collaborate with a wide range of senior-level management and technical counterparts within the GRM, implementing partners, and other development partners; facilitate meetings and make oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior officials and partners in a multi-cultural context. The Advisor will ensure effective USG interagency coordination and work closely with USAID colleagues and other USG partners, particularly CDC, Department of Defense (DOD), Peace Corps, the PEPFAR Coordination Office and Department of State colleagues who also provide support for PEPFAR implementation. The Advisor will be expected to liaise with external stakeholders, including other donors and the Government of the Republic of Mozambique (GRM) to ensure an alignment of priorities and maximal impact of U.S. Government resources
• Time Expected to Reach Full Performance Level: One year
• Support Items: The incumbent will be provided with office space, equipment, and supplies

Requisites

• Education: A minimum of a master’s degree in medical laboratory science, biology, public health, operations management, or a related field
• Prior Work Experience: A minimum of 7 (seven) years of professional-level experience in management/coordination/providing laboratory support services in African context or supply chain required. At least 5 years international experience with laboratory supply chain required, with experience in a developing country context with specific experience working in Mozambique. Direct work experience with an international organization and/or donor agency is essential. Extensive experience required for planning, design, programming, and/or implementation; and involved in capacity-building, public health programming or management of logistics programs is required
• Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) English and Portuguese language proficiency, speaking, reading and writing

Job Knowledge

• Comprehensive professional knowledge of health support systems, including supply chain and network management, with a preference for laboratory specific supply chain and support systems
• Strong practical knowledge of working with the private sector, contract management, and logistics demonstrated through relevant work experience
• Familiarity and understanding of developing country context with specific knowledge of the Africa context, and Mozambique in particular
• A thorough knowledge of the latest laboratory supply chain systems, equipment, and management as well as knowledge related to broader health systems issues
• A demonstrated understanding of operationalizing HIV laboratory supply systems, including frequently encountered field challenges and barriers in developing settings, is required
• Must have technical expertise in infectious diseases with knowledge and understanding of laboratory diagnostic networks and familiarity with disease surveillance
• The Job Holder must have highly developed/advance knowledge and understanding of PEPFAR, and WHO’s International Health Regulations, USG portfolio across the board, as well as current country environment, legislation and government structure, to be able to perform the job

Skills

• The incumbent must possess strong technical skills, complemented by outstanding cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills to be successful to work in a larger complex, multicultural, highly demanding, and frequently changing environment inter-agency PEPFAR team
• S/he must possess the ability to work with high level host country government officials as well as technical GoM counterparts, the private sector and implementing partners. S/he must have the ability to diplomatically and effectively represent the agency in regular inter-agency and ministerial level meetings on laboratory supply planning, design, programming and implementation
• The incumbent will also need to work closely with other areas within the HIV technical and program management team to ensure proper coordination among activities on all laboratory supply chain components and frequently communicate with interagency lab colleagues
• Proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely in both speech and writing is also required
• In addition, the incumbent must have the ability to facilitate meetings and make oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior officials and partners in a multi-cultural context
• Highly developed diplomatic negotiation and communication skills to work within the interagency to develop, justify, and present often controversial issues related to USAID laboratory supply chain program and priorities is a requirement. Ability to convincingly and accurately explain USAID/Mozambique program and budget to internal and external audiences is required
• Exceptionally strong skills in spreadsheets, PDF conversion, Google software and platforms, data processing and analysis, tracking and management are required
• The incumbent will also serve in a capacity building role within the IHO team, particularly in laboratory supply data analysis and use
• S/he must demonstrate significant data analysis skills, including use of Excel, as well as other data analysis and logistics software, such as Power BI, Basic Laboratory Information System (BLIS)

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

• 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
• Only interviewed candidates will be informed in writing of the Selection Committee’s final decision
• 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)0001
• Base Period - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)- Award Type: PSC - Product Service Code: R497- Accounting Info: 1OT$ _TBD__ $_TBDat Award after negotiations with Contractor_1001Option Period 1 – Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)- Award Type: PSC- Product Service Code: R497- Accounting Info: 1LOT$ _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
• Prohibition on a bytedance covered application
• 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