USAID Development Assistance Specialist (HIV/AIDS Treatment)

Description

• 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
• General information:
• Solicitation No. 111/18 opened to all Mission employees and external candidates who meet the stated qualifications
• Closing Date for Receipt of Offers: October 5, 2018
• Position Title:  USAID Development Assistance Specialist (HIV/AIDS Treatment)
• Market Value: USD 40,263 – USD 56,367 equivalent to FSN-10 (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: One year. The contract will be renewed as long as there is a need for this position, funds are available, and subject to satisfactory performance
• Place of performance: Maputo, Mozambique
• Security Level Required: Employment Certification

Duties

Technical Leadership and Direction (60%)

• The Specialist provides technical direction and analysis for adult HIV treatment services to CORs/AORs, PEPFAR interagency colleagues, and PEPFAR implementing partners (IPs). Tasks may include:
• Contributions to the development of annual in-country guidance (informed by latest PEPFAR global guidance) for preparation of the Country Operational Plan (COP), and to development of semi-annual report and annual report guidance for adult HIV treatment investments
• Review, analysis, and synthetization of planning and budget documents submitted by USG partners for technical quality, and help to prepare adult HIV clinical treatment area narratives and summaries
• Makes recommendations to partners to strengthen performance, as well as to enhance linkages between community prevention, community retention, and facility-based service delivery activities, based on COPs and USG partner reporting data
• Providing sound technical direction to the Office, particularly the Controlling the HIV Epidemic Division on adult HIV treatment, clinical service delivery, quality improvement, and effective portfolio investments across Divisions and programs/projects/activities
• Helps ensure USG resources are effectively coordinated and optimally used to achieve PEPFAR/Mozambique goals and objectives, through participation in Interagency Technical Working Groups (both in-country and US-based)
• Providing strategic technical direction, and contributions, to a preparation of USG and GoRM strategy updates, program area analysis, presentations, and briefing materials focused on adult HIV clinical treatment in Mozambique
• Staying abreast of technical updates and global guidelines related to adult HIV treatment and high-impact interventions, in order to inform PEPFAR program/project/activity managers, and help guide in-country investments
• Providing technical guidance to other members of IHO Divisions to strengthen care and treatment efforts, identify synergies to integrate HIV treatment activities across IHO, when appropriate, including quality improvement, demand creation, and behavioral change communication activities
• Engages with Divisions across the Office to ensure adult HIV clinical treatment aspects are covered and addressed appropriately, with specific focus on: quality of care (quality assurance/quality improvement); adult, pediatric, and adolescent HIV treatment; integration of health services to enhance treatment outcomes; inclusion of diverse service delivery channels, including TB and MCH services across all settings; and, synergies with broader USG health sector investments, as well as ensuring the quality of facility-based prevention services
• Serves as alternative AOR/COR and technical advisor on strategic projects within the Division

Technical Liaison with Government, Donors, and HIV/AIDS IPs (25%)

• The Specialist serves as the liaison and a leader on adult HIV clinical treatment with GoRM and external counterparts; enhances coordination and alignment of USG HIV treatment, care, and retention activities with the GoRM through active engagement with key Ministry of Health technical focal points; ensures USG participation in appropriate technical working groups; establishes strong working partnerships at the national and sub-national levels with technical cooperating partners, IPs, and other donors investing in adult HIV treatment in Mozambique
• Participates and informs the development of national and subnational adult HIV treatment strategies, guidelines, plans, and technical priorities with the GoRM and other external partners, including donors, foundations, universities, and IPs in order to scale up adult HIV treatment access, retention, and bolster HIV treatment outcomes
• Provides technical and policy-level guidance to the USG PEPFAR Interagency Team, based on engagement with the GoRM, technical expertise, and knowledge of the country context, in order to enhance the effectiveness of USG programming for adults
• Guides Division and interagency USG PEPFAR investments to employ evidence-based adult HIV treatment approaches, informing service delivery approaches, sub-national plans, quality of care in the facility and community-based settings, and clinical training guidelines, as well as treatment modalities for adults for various USAID-supported programs/projects/activities implementing such activities across the IHO portfolio

Monitoring and Evaluation of HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Activities (15%)

• The Specialist provides direction and analysis, working closely with the Strategic Information Team and Project Management Team in the monitoring and evaluation of adult HIV treatment activities, ensuring that the monitoring and evaluation of activity outputs and impact are analyzed regularly, and the data is used to support CORs/AORs and Activity Managers in guiding IP performance
• Analyzes program/project/activity results against targets, and provides recommendations for corrective action; if required, assesses potential barriers to achievement of results, and recommends modifications to address problems
• Conducts regular field visits to monitor activities of IPs within her/his portfolio, and assesses progress; identifies implementation problems, and works with CORs/AORs and Activity Managers to guide IPs to make the most effective use of available program resources, and to adhere to best practices in adult HIV treatment programming
• Analyzes synthesize, and disseminates "lessons learned and best practices" from partner activities, applying findings to future program/project/activity design and strategy, informing project management teams and preparing reports documenting findings; ensures reports are effectively communicated and disseminated, including through peer-reviewed journals or technical conference abstracts
• Supervisory Relationship: The USAID Development Assistance Specialist (HIV/AIDS Treatment) works under the very general supervision of the Controlling the HIV Epidemic Division Chief and/or his/her designee, and the closer but general supervision of the Infectious Disease Team Leader, and the day-to-day guidance of the higher-graded HIV/AIDS Treatment Specialist
• Assignments are made orally and in writing. Most assignments occur in the normal course of the work, but the Job Holder is required to determine those that must be coordinated with the supervisor. The supervisor provides a review of the assignment, the goals, and objectives to be achieved, and the results expected. The Job Holder will seek advice and assistance as required. Work is reviewed in terms of results achieved
• Supervisory Controls: Continuing supervision other Team, Division, Office, or Mission staff is not contemplated

Area of Consideration

• 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. The selected applicant is required to undergo and successfully pass a medical and security clearance. This position is open to all Mission employees and external candidates who meet the stated qualifications
• Physical Demands: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands
• Point of Contact: Mission-Maputo-HR@usaid.gov

Evaluation and Selection Factors

• Candidates will be evaluated based on relevant education, prior work experience knowledge, language, skills and abilities demonstrated in their applications, tests, and interviews. This is a local position and compensation will be in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan

Requisites

• A US-equivalent University Degree in medicine, nursing, public health, or a closely related field is required. Application must include a copy of the required university degree for eligibility purposes
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in HIV programming (design, implementation, and management), of which at least three (3) years have been in a developing country context
• Experience working in Mozambique and/or other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly on HIV treatment, care, and retention, as well as experience and/or familiarity with donor-funded health and HIV programs
• Level IV English and Portuguese, fluency in speaking and writing is required. (Language proficiency will be tested)
• The Specialist must have well-developed knowledge of adult HIV care and treatment issues, best practices, and innovations; a good knowledge of the Mozambican public health, social, cultural, economic, and political contexts, as well as in-depth knowledge of the health system in Mozambique; good knowledge and understanding of the organization and respective roles of the different departments in the GoRM, in order to enhance effective communication and to develop consensus on program/project strategy and implementation; and, a knowledge of the GoRM system of adult HIV care and treatment services delivery
• The Specialist must have specialized knowledge and demonstrated expertise in the areas of adult HIV/AIDS treatment and care, including: Clinical knowledge of adult HIV treatment and care, including high-impact clinical treatment approaches, quality of treatment, and approaches to promote adherence to treatment in a variety of settings and service delivery outlets
• Knowledge of adult HIV clinical service delivery in a variety of settings, including facility, rural health clinics, hospitals, and community-based settings
• Knowledge and understanding of the impact of human resources for health, considerations for working in a clinical context, training of health care workers, task shifting, and treatment protocols in low-resource settings
• Understanding of commodities associated adult HIV treatment, and familiarity with the fundamentals of supply chain management
• Understanding of programmatic considerations for adult HIV treatment services; and, excellent computer skills, particularly with Microsoft Office software (word processing and spreadsheets)

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• Please note that USAID and the U.S. Government NEVER require payment of any money in connection with a job application
• The U.S.  mission is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status