Project Management Specialist (Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health), FSN-11 Equivalent (m/f)

USAID is recruiting a Project Management Specialist (Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health), FSN-11 Equivalent (m/f), to be based in Maputo, Mozambique.

Description

• The USAID Project Management Specialist (MNCH) is the senior and lead responsible for programs/projects/activities that support the Ministry of Health (MoH) to scale up high-impact interventions to improve maternal, neonatal and child health, including immunization. Those interventions include expansion and strengthening of the Emergency Obstetric Care, the Model Maternity Initiative, the Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP), the Integrated Management of Neonatal and childhood illness (IMNCI), the integrated community case management (iCCM), the Expanded Program in Immunization and introduction of new vaccines
• The Specialist coordinates with UNICEF, WHO, GAVI and other partners to support the expansion and improvements of the cold chain for vaccines. At the Ministerial level, the Specialist manages USAID and USG support to the MoH to increase management capacity for supply chain modernization and improvement; and, at provincial levels, to support continued training for health workers and reinforce models for supportive supervision at the district and local levels)
• Subject: Solicitation for a Cooperating Country National Personal Service Contractor (CCNPSC- Local Compensation Plan) – Project Management Specialist (Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health), FSN-11 Equivalent
• Dear Prospective Offerors:
• The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Mozambique is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation
• Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1. Incomplete offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records
• 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
• Solicitation No.: 72065622R10012 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
• Market Value: USD59,111 – USD80,611 per annum, equivalent to FSN-11 (Step1-11). 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 October 2022
• Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise an additional option period for the dates estimated as follows:
• Base Period: October 2022 - October 2023
• Option Period 1: October 2023 - October 2026
• 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
• Security Level Required: Employment Certification (RSO Certification)
• 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
• Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors - Please be advised that, upon award, the contractor will be required to follow the Mission policies and/or directives from the U.S. Department of State regarding COVID-19 requirements
• 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/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf https://www.acquisition.gov/aidar/aidar-appendix-j-direct-usaid-contracts- cooperating-country-national-and-third-country-national-personal-services-abroad and revised AIDAR Appendix J, General Provision contract clauses (GPs) titled “Leave and Holidays” (AAPD 20-08)
• 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: 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:1 LOT $_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/OGE%20Regulations
• 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

Duties

Program/Project Management: 40%

• The USAID Project Management Specialist (MNCH) serves as COR/AOR and Activity Manager, and is responsible for management, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring of substantive portions of the IHO, MNCH/FP Subdivision portfolio related to maternal, neonatal and child health, immunization, community health and other activities related to the sub-sector, personally and through IPs. The Specialist fosters and strengthens linkages between programs, and works to leverage support for improving all aspects of child survival at the GoRM, MoH, provincial, district, and local levels. The Specialist plans, designs, and advocates effective strategies by building human and infrastructure capacity, optimizing local human resources, etc. The Specialist advises the MCH/FP Team Lead, the PCMD Division Chief, the Integrated Health Office IHO Chief, Mission Director, and others on matters of importance to child survival programing and on the monitoring of activities, and on providing effective management oversight of IPs implementing managed programs. The Specialist is instrumental in the achievement of overall IHO, USAID, and USG Development Objectives; and, remains current on economic, political, and social trends in the GoRM and MoH, analyzing trends in relation to their impact on child survival programs

Provides Technical Assistance in Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health- Related Activities 40%

• The Specialist coordinates with other USG agencies to ensure the delivery of systematic and consistent technical assistance to the GoRM and to NGO partners and IPs in the areas of maternal, neonatal and child health including immunization. In addition, the Specialist provides technical leadership to the PCMD Division and Health Office on all programs with maternal, neonatal and child health components; serves as a key liaison for strategic maternal, neonatal and child health issues; identifies short, mid, and long-range achievable and sustainable strategies for improving maternal, neonatal and child health within the host-country health sector, with a focus on decentralized areas; and, represents USAID, the USG at high-level meetings, and at seminars and conferences on maternal and child health. The Specialist remains well-informed on the last technical updates, research, and global guidelines related to MNCH and high-impact interventions, in order to inform and develop implementation plans, guide in-country investments and collaborates with other donors on maternal and child health activities; works with the GoRM to develop policies that result in improved health for mothers and their children; works to harmonize USAID, USG, and PEPFAR maternal and child health activities to ensure consistency with GoRM policy and with the GHI; and, ensures that programs/projects/activities are consistent with internationally accepted best practices and that they are relevant in the Mozambican context

Data Collection and Analysis 10%

• The Specialist monitors and reports on developments in the sector, especially those that impact the ability to successfully implement effective maternal, neonatal and child health activities; monitors, analyzes, and reports on relevant aspects of GoRM policy, law, and regulation, and on health-related and maternal, neonatal and child health-related development issues; prepares technical and policy analyses, evaluates sector-wide issues, and provides input to Mission activities outside of the health portfolio, but particularly with respect to the assigned sector based on an in-depth understanding of USAID policy, program objectives, and priorities; and, summarizes information and conclusions in written and oral form for presentation to senior USAID, USG, and other, decision makers, and for incorporation into other USAID program and activity documents, as appropriate
• The Specialist organizes field trips, conferences, and seminars to ensure maximum exposure to emerging trends and various points of view, and for monitoring maternal, neonatal and child health activities, providing translation as needed. The Specialist prepares written reports that reflect a sound understanding of assigned areas of responsibility, and that clearly document that a wide variety of sources and points of view have been consulted in undertaking analyses and in drawing conclusions

Performance Monitoring 10%

• The Specialist ensures that performance-monitoring systems are in place, and that periodic, reliable measures and indicators of portfolio impact are established; collects and monitors performance data on an ongoing basis, and prepares reports of program/project/activity progress for use within the Division, Mission, and for USAID/Washington; and, collects and regularly reports data on wrap-around services that support overall IHO and USAID implementation and on leveraging cash and in-kind contributions. The Specialist assesses progress in achieving outputs and results for managed programs/projects/activities, and prepares evaluations and assessments as needed; and, continually strives to enhance the achievement of results by periodically reviewing the development context, results indicators, and activity implementation progress, identifying problem areas and suggesting solutions
• Travel: The job holder will be expected to perform work-related travel

Position Elements:

• Supervision Received: The USAID Project Management Specialist (MNCH) works under the general supervision of the MNCH/FP 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 PCMD, IHO 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: Continuing supervision of other Mission staff is not contemplated
• Available Guidelines: Available guidelines include USG program/project/activity guidance, rules, and requirements; USAID Mission Orders, Mission strategy, and other relevant reports; the Automated Directives System (ADS); USAID Mandatory and Standard Provisions, and the FAR and AIDAR; and, Emergency Plan guidelines, Country Operational Plans, the Mozambique Five-Year Strategic Plan, and other published and unpublished guidelines. Guidelines are often general in nature and not specific to the situation at hand, requiring considerable interpretation
• Exercise of Judgment: Substantial judgment (discretion) is used daily in providing technical opinion and guidance to USG, USAID, and GoRM 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 Specialist exercises the authority given to activity managers and CORs/AORs, and may make administrative arrangements consistent with ADS guidance and Mission and IHO policy. The Specialist takes action and establishes priorities based on available guidelines and professional judgment. Guidance is sought when needed, and superiors informed of activity and project status. Within the scope of the authority delegated, the Specialist may indicate to ranking counterpart and IP officials that they will make a recommendation to USAID on a specific activity, issue, or problem. The Specialist has no independent authority to commit the USG to the expenditure of funds, but may negotiate ad referendum for the 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 GoRM, and with the private sector, are for the purpose of explaining and defending USAID policies, objectives, and procedures, and to transmit and interpret GoRM and private-sector attitudes and concerns to senior USAID officials. In addition, the Specialist provides technical assistance and guidance on maternal, neonatal and child health best practices to USG staff, and GoRM 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
• Post Entry Training: On-the-job familiarization training in USAID and PEPFAR-specific procedures, regulations, and methods, and orientation to working from a donor-Agency perspective, etc., will be provided. Formal COR/AOR certification is required for successful performance and will be provided. Other courses, training to maintain professional capability in the field, and courses offered for professional USAID staff as appropriate; and, courses, seminars, conferences, and other activities in fields related to the function and needed to maintain and update professional qualifications as appropriate, as they become available, and subject to availability of funds

Requisites

• Education: Completion of a Master’s Degree, or the local equivalent, in Medicine, in Nursing, or in a closely related field involving maternal and child health, is required
• Prior Work Experience: The work requires the minimum of five to seven years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in maternal, neonatal and child health, with a clinical or clinical oversight component, which provided the opportunity for project design, program planning, and/or implementation in maternal, neonatal and child health or closely related health field is required. At least two years of experience working from a development perspective, or related perspective, other donor agencies, host-country organizations, or private-sector institutions which included project design, performance monitoring, and/or the analysis and interpretation of large amounts of data, is also required
• Language Proficiency: Level IV English and Portuguese (fluent proficiency), in both written and spoken English, is required. (Language proficiency will be tested)
• Job Knowledge: The Specialist must have in-depth professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate to managing maternal, neonatal and child health activities in Mozambique, and the problems and policies in Mozambique from the business, political, civil society, and social perspectives. The Specialist must have knowledge and understanding of the economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics of Mozambique; development problems in maternal, neonatal and child health sector in Mozambique and the region; an understanding of the resources, resource constraints, and overall development prospects and priorities of Mozambique and the region; and the potential to quickly acquire knowledge of, USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to child survival and child health assistance and services, of USAID programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation, and of the objectives, methodology, and status of assigned activities. The Specialist must have knowledge and understanding of the organization and respective roles of the different levels of the GoRM, in order to enhance effective communication, and to develop consensus on program/project/activity strategy and implementation
• Skills and Abilities: The Specialist must have a good knowledge and demonstrated experience in the programming of maternal, neonatal and child health programs/projects/activities; and, the role of maternal and child health with other health areas such as health systems strengthening, malaria, etc. The Specialist should be able to facilitate and link culturally appropriate assessments, counseling, treatment deficits, and related issues and facilitation of linkages to food security programs, including water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion; and, be able to use this data for decision making. The Specialist must be able to provide technical leadership in maternal and child health planning; and apply this knowledge to advanced programming in Mozambique and the region
• The Specialist must have the ability to present information, analyses, and recommendations in clear written and oral formats; work effectively in team and interagency environments, and to train, mentor, and coordinate well with others; the ability to interpret regulatory directives and related guidance; excellent computer skills, strong management skills, including financial management, administrative, and monitoring skills used to track the performance of IPs; and, the ability to travel to provinces and within districts

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 following evaluation factors are established

• Job Knowledge: 30 points
• Skills and Abilities: 30 points
• Prior Work Experience: 25 points
• Language Proficiency: 5 points
• Education: 10 points
• Maximum Points: 100 points

Notes

• A cover letter in English with CV/Applicant Resume as well as academic transcripts/diplomas
• Names, contact numbers, and e-mail addresses of three professional references from individuals who are not family members or relatives. Reference checks will be conducted for the final selected candidate for the Contracting Officer to make a responsibility determination. USAID/Mozambique reserves the right to solicit references from other sources as deemed appropriate
• Any application received in Portuguese will not be considered. Only English applications will be considered
• 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/OGE%20Regulations
• Per this scoring Skills and Abilities and Job Knowledge are the most important factors, followed by Prior Work Experience, Language Proficiency and Education. 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
• Please note that USAID and the U.S. Government NEVER require payment of any money in connection with a job application
• Physical Demands: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands
• Point of Contact: Mission-Maputo-HR@usaid.gov