USAID Project Management Specialist (OVC) (m/f)

Description

• The USAID Project Management Specialist, Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) (hereafter referred to as “the Specialist”) is a key member of the HIV Prevention Team of the AIDS-Free Generation Division within the IHO. The Specialist provides technical and professional leadership to plan, implement, monitor, and oversee Division programs and activities related to OVC. The Specialist is responsible for ensuring coordination of OVC programs funded by the USG within the interagency space, as well as other key governmental and non-governmental stakeholders at the national, provincial, district, and community levels
• The role of the Specialist includes planning, designing, organizing, directing, and coordinating OVC programs and activities implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), United Nations Agencies, and other partner organizations through grants, cooperative agreements, and/or contracts. The Specialist is responsible for programs, projects, and activities that aim to serve and support infants, children, and adolescents and their families living with HIV through the three core models of the OVC program: OVC Preventive, DREAMS Preventive, and OVC Comprehensive, while ensuring alignment with the HIV pediatric treatment program. The Specialist will apply community-based services, knowledge, and experience to achieve higher levels of service availability for communities and to achieve a higher quality of life for children affected by HIV/AIDS in Mozambique
• Subject: Solicitation for a Cooperating Country National Personal Service Contractor (CCNPSC) – USAID Project Management Specialist (OVC), FSN-11 Equivalent
• The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Mozambique is seeking applications from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this 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
• Solicitation No. 72065621R10008 opened to all Mission current employees and external candidates who meet the stated qualifications
• Market Value: USD 56,795 – USD 79,521 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 market value
• Period of Performance: The base period will be one year, estimated to start on or about August 2021
• Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise additional option periods for the dates estimated as follows:
• Base Period: August 2021 - August 2022
• Option Period 1: +August 2022-November 15, 2022
• 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)
• 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, Policies and Contract Clauses pertaining to PSCs:
• 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
• 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:
• 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:656-MOD- 656-20- 0002-08 1 LOT $_TBD $_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor_1001 Option Period 1 – 1 LOT $ $_TBD at Compensation, Fringe Benefits _TBD Award after and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) negotiations
• Award Type: PSC with
• Product Service Code: R497 Contractor_ Accounting Info: 656-MOD-656-20-0002-08
• 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

Duties

Program Management – 60%

• The Specialist provides program, project and activity management, assuring the continuity of current programs and guidance on initiating new activities, including project papers, scopes of work (SOWs), etc.; participates in Mission reviews of unsolicited and other technical proposals in the area of OVC, pediatric and adolescent HIV care and treatment, and related fields (including preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT) and sexual- and gender-based violence (SGBV)) by potential grantees, in order to ensure that proposals are technically sound, realistic, and meet the requirements and needs of USAID, the USG, and serviced communities; prepares authorization documents for signature; provides administrative approval of advances and payments; tracks all disbursements to IPs and other implementers; and prepares and amends GLAAS documentation, Action Memoranda, SOWs, proposed budgets, and other requirements for assigned programs, projects, and activities in a timely and efficient manner, consistent with USAID regulations and policies. Assumes full responsibility for design, management, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring of all aspects of the OVC portfolio
• Provides technical assistance to USAID-funded implementing partners (IPs) working in OVC through regularly scheduled technical meetings, technical document review, and strategy and policy development.
• Supports USAID-funded implementing partners to adhere to Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines and policies, while sharing lessons learned for improved implementation from inter-agency discussions.
• Performs routine site visits to support quality implementation of best practices, and to rapidly identify and support resolution for ongoing site-level performance challenges
• Conducts frequent program analyses using age-disaggregated data to determine site-level issues requiring immediate action while supporting implementing partners to execute and track remediation plans. This includes monthly granular site-level analysis to identify programmatic gaps
• Ensures monitoring and reporting on OVC activities for USAID; budgets development for OVC programming within the annual PEPFAR Country Operational Plan; contributes to PEPFAR quarterly reports and high-quality portfolio reviews (POART) and quarterly reviews, and provides feedback on implementing partner reports as they relate to OVC programming
• Provides detailed-oriented oversight over implementing partner budgets as they pertain to OVC, ensuring that funds are utilized according to USAID policy/regulations and with a high degree of fiscal integrity
• Provides technical advice to strengthen USG program policy on OVC, based on an in-depth knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention and risk mitigation, as well as HIV/AIDS care and treatment, social protection, and case management for children, families, and communities that care for OVC; develops, often in collaboration with IPs and other partners, detailed plans, goals, and objectives for long-range implementation of OVC programs; provides expertise in planning program focus and developing program orientation; exercises considered judgment and discretion in resolving program-, project-, and activity related issues and conflicts; and collaborates with other members of the HIV Prevention Team, the Infectious Disease Team, and with Contracting and Agreement Officer Representatives (CORs/AORs) in other IHO Divisions in order to coordinate programs based in the same region, district, or community

Technical Leadership - 40%

• Serves as USAID’s OVC expert to the USG inter-agency health team, the USAID headquarters team, USAID implementing partners, and the MOH’s National HIV Program.
• Provides technical leadership and dire direction to institutions at national, provincial and district levels to ensure that all implementing partners are well coordinated and that implementation of OVC prevention, treatment, and retention activities are successfully executed.
• Keeps current on all new developments and PEPFAR priorities in OVC and pediatric HIV programming in order to advise and/or lead Mission and inter-agency teams on technical priorities and implementation approaches.
• Actively participates in GRM-led Technical Working Groups and national dialogue with other donors associated with OVC, and contributes to the development and review of existing guidelines and policies for these populations.
• Develops and maintains ongoing support for OVC activities to key GRM Ministerial counterparts, including non-Health ministries, to support multi-sectoral responses and inclusive country-led action plans
• Works closely with the Pediatric HIV Specialist as well as the Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Specialist to ensure strong collaboration across programs to support children and adolescents living with HIV in a comprehensive, patient-centered approach. The incumbent will represent USAID in the PEPFAR interagency space and in MOH-led Technical Working Groups and other maternal and child health related activities
• Supervisory Relationship:
• The Specialist works under the very general supervision of the IHO Chief, as well as the closer but 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, and activity goals, effectiveness in meeting host-country and USAID objectives, and integration with other initiatives in the IHO and Mission portfolio. The OVC Project Management Specialist will also work closely with other subject area specialists and the Infectious Disease Team. 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

Requisites

• Education: Completion of University Degree, in Child Development, Social Work, International Development, Community Development, Community or Public Health, or the equivalent in a job-related field is required Prior Work Experience: A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in providing community-based services, with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS, Child Development, Social Welfare, Child and/or Social Protection, which includes at least five (5) years of planning, developing, managing, and evaluating programs and community activities with donor organizations, host-country organizations, and/or non-governmental organizations. The Specialist must also have experience analyzing program data and presenting findings in written and oral form. Demonstrated experience working with host country counterparts, in-country program managers, policy makers, and a broad array of international health service providers and community leaders is required
• Language Proficiency: Level IV English and Portuguese (fluent proficiency), in both written and spoken English and Portuguese, is required
• Job Knowledge: The Specialist must have in-depth, professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate to managing OVC activities in Mozambique, as well as 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 the OVC and health sectors in Mozambique and the region; and the resources, resource constraints, and overall development prospects and priorities of Mozambique and the region. The Specialist must demonstrate a strong understanding of HIV adherence and retention services among pediatric and adolescent populations. The Specialist must have the potential to quickly acquire knowledge--of USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to OVC 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 Government of the Republic of Mozambique (GRM) in order to enhance effective communication, and to develop consensus on program, project, and activity strategy and implementation
• Skills and Abilities: The Specialist must have a good knowledge and demonstrated experience in the programming of OVC and HIV programs, projects, and activities, as well as the role of OVC within both preventive and comprehensive models, especially individual and family-centered care and treatment of people living with HIV. The Specialist should be able to facilitate and link culturally appropriate assessments, counseling, and related issues to social protection and food security programs, including water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion. The Specialist must be able to use data for decision making. The Specialist must be able to provide technical leadership in OVC and apply this knowledge to advance programming in Mozambique and the region. The Specialist must have: the ability to work effectively with diverse teams with a high degree of judgment and ingenuity to interpret strategy; to analyze, develop and present work; and to monitor and evaluate implementation of OVC programs and the ability to work in interagency environments and train, mentor, and coordinate with others; the ability to interpret regulatory directives and related guidance; excellent computer skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, database software, E-mail, and the internet; strong management skills, including financial management, administrative, and monitoring skills used to track the performance of IPs; the ability to present information, analyses, and recommendations in clear written and oral formats; 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

• Education - 10 points
• Prior Work Experience - 30 points
• Language Proficiency - 10 points
• Job Knowledge - 30 points
• Skills and Abilities - 20 points
• Maximum Points: 100 points

Notes

• Available Guidelines: Available guidelines include USG program, project, and activity guidance, rules and requirements; USAID Mission Orders, Strategies, and other relevant reports; the Automated Directives System (ADS); USAID Mandatory and Standard Provisions, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR); Emergency Plan guidelines; the Country Operational Plans (COP); 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 GRM 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, and 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, and 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. The Specialist seeks guidance when needed and informs superiors of activity and project statuses. 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, and activities in the sector. Within the Embassy, contacts are with counterpart staff 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 GRM and with the private sector are for the purpose of explaining and defending USAID policies, objectives, and procedures, and to transmit and interpret GRM and private-sector attitudes and concerns to senior USAID officials. In addition, the Specialist provides technical assistance and guidance on OVC best practices to USG staff and GRM and NGO partners
• Submit a cover letter in English with CV/Applicant Resume in English
• 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
• To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission
• Only candidates selected for interviews will be informed in writing of the Selection Committee’s final decision
• Any application received in Portuguese will not be considered. Only English applications will be considered
• 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. Only the short listed candidates will be invited for a language test
• Candidates successfully passing the language exam will be invited for an oral interview Final selection will be based on the application package, language abilities, and oral interview. This is a local position and compensation will be in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan
• 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
• Per this scoring, Prior Work Experience and Skills and Abilities are the most important factors, followed by Education, Job Knowledge and Language Proficiency. 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 an oral interview. Candidates successfully passing the oral interview will be invited for a language exam 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, reference checks and written test. 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