USAID Project Management Specialist (HIV)

Description

• Basic Function: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a leading development partner in Mozambique. USAID manages a comprehensive humanitarian and development assistance program totaling over $352 million in FY 2019 covering health, education, agriculture, economic growth, and democracy and governance sectors. Health is USAID’s largest and most expansive portfolio (over $250 million per year), which aims to improve health outcomes in country through support of the Government of Mozambique’s (GRM) Health Sector Strategic Plan
• USAID is a leading implementer of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in harmony with CDC, DOD, Peace Corps, and the PEPFAR Coordination Office. The goal of the United States Government (USG) for PEPFAR in Mozambique is to control the HIV epidemic via rapid adoption and application of evidence-based policies and interventions to drive progress and save lives, implemented through a partnership between the USG and the GRM that best supports host country leadership, ownership, and sustainability. PEPFAR achieves this goal by working with the National HIV Program, the National AIDS Council (Conselho Nacional de Combate ao HIV e SIDA, or CNCS), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNAIDS, civil society, and the private sector to target high impact interventions for populations at greatest risk in areas of greatest HIV prevalence
• The USAID Project Management Specialist (Pediatrics) will support the scale-up and improved quality of pediatric and adolescent HIV treatment and care. The incumbent will serve as the senior-most pediatric HIV specialist on the Mission’s Infectious Disease Team within the AIDS Free Generation Division of the Integrated Health Office (IHO). The Specialist will be responsible for the strategy, management, leadership, and technical direction on all aspects of pediatric and adolescent clinical care and treatment for HIV. This includes, but is not limited to, ART initiation, ART administration through both facility- and community-based modalities, ART retention and adherence, population-specific engagement interventions, TB co-infection, and viral load suppression
• The specialist will play a key role in providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in policy development and strategic design of host country developed and managed programs/projects/activities, reflecting best practices in improving pediatric and adolescent HIV care
• The job holder may be expected to perform work-related travel
• Subject: Solicitation for a Cooperating Country National Personal Service Contractor (CCNPSC) – USAID Project Management Specialist (HIV), FSN-11 Equivalent
• Dear Prospective Offerors:
• 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
• Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the attached information
• Solicitation No. 72065620R100031 opened to all Mission current employees and external candidates who meet the stated qualifications
• Point of Contact: Mission-Maputo-HR@usaid.gov
• Market Value: USD54,568– USD76,403 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 October 2020. Based on Agency need, the Contracting Officer may exercise additional option periods for the dates estimated as follows:
• Base Period: October 2020 – October 2021
• Option Period 1: +October 2021-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)
• 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: 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

Duties

Program/Project/Activity Management (60%)

• Assumes full responsibility for design, management, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring of all aspects of the pediatric and adolescent HIV care and treatment portfolio
• Provides technical assistance to USAID-funded implementing partners working in HIV care and treatment services for pediatrics and adolescents through regularly scheduled technical meetings, technical document review, and strategy and policy development
• Supports USAID-funded implementing partners to adhere to 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 on-going 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 pediatric and adolescent HIV care and treatment activities for USAID; budgets development for pediatric and adolescent programming within the annual PEPFAR Country
• Operational Plan; contributes to PEPFAR quarterly reports and high quality portfolio reviews (POART); and quarterly reviews and feedbacks on implementing partner reports as it relates to pediatric and adolescent HIV care and treatment
• Provides detailed-oriented oversight over implementing partner budgets as they pertain to pediatric and adolescent HIV care and treatment, ensuring that funds are utilized according to USAID policy/regulations and with a high degree of fiscal integrity in the program
• Performs the full range of COR/AOR duties when assigned contract responsibility when required

Technical Leadership (40%)

• Serves as USAID’s pediatric and adolescent HIV care and treatment expert to the USG inter-agency health team, the USAID headquarter team, USAID implementing partners, and MoH’s National HIV Program
• Provides technical leadership and direction to institutions at national, provincial and district levels to ensure that all implementing partners are well coordinated and that implementation of pediatric and adolescent case identification, linkage to ART, retention, adherence, and viral load suppression activities is successfully executed
• Keeps current on all new developments and PEPFAR priorities in pediatric and adolescent HIV treatment, care and support, with an emphasis on case identification, linkage to ART, retention, adherence, and viral load suppression in order to advise and/or lead the 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 pediatric and adolescent HIV care and treatment as well as contributes to the development and review of existing guidelines and policies for these populations
• Develops and maintains ongoing support for pediatric/adolescent HIV epidemic control 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 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) 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, including but not limited to PMTCT, OVC, cervical cancer, and nutrition
• Supervisory Relationship: The incumbent works under the supervision of the Infection Disease 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 IHO and Mission portfolio. Some technical direction may come from other senior managers in IHO. In general, the Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable autonomy, professionalism, judgment, and responsibility
• Supervisory Exercised: None
• Available Guidelines: Available administrative guidelines establish a broad pattern of operation that requires frequent need to exercise judgment and interpretation and provides an opportunity for initiative and innovation. Relevant guidelines include the USAID Automated Directives System (ADS), PEPFAR Guidelines, Country Operational Plans, the Mozambique Five-Year Strategic Plan, Mission Orders, and other directives
• Exercise of Judgment: Substantial judgment (discretion) is used daily in providing technical opinion and guidance to USG, USAID, GRM, and implementing partners. Management decisions over certain implementing partners 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 will exercise the authority given to Activity Managers and Contracting Officer Representatives/Agreement Officer Representatives (CORs/AORs-COTRs) when required and may make administrative arrangements consistent with ADS guidance and Mission and IHO policy. The incumbent takes action and establishes priorities based on available guidelines and professional judgment. Guidance is sought when needed, and the supervisor is informed of activity and project status. Within the scope of the authority delegated, the incumbent may indicate to ranking counterparts and implementing partner colleagues that they will make a recommendation to USAID on a specific activity, issue, or problem. The incumbent has no independent authority to commit the USG to the expenditure of funds but may negotiate ad referendum for the supervisors. Per ADS 103.3.1.1b(4), s/he will not be authorized to sign (1) obligations that require a warrant, and (2) grants to foreign governments and public international organizations, thereby prohibiting s/he from obligating USG funds in these instances
• Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The Specialist has a full range of contacts within the Mission, at all levels, and maintains contact with implementing partners in the sector. Within the Embassy, contacts are with counterpart staff, and with senior management as needed. Local, provincial, and national host government contacts vary widely with the type of activity being implemented, and may be at any level - including Ministerial, Deputy Minister, etc. Frequent and substantive contact with senior-level GRM officials and with other donors, private sector actors, and civil society leaders will be required for the purpose of explaining and defending PEPFAR and USAID policies, objectives, and procedures, and to transmit and interpret GRM and private-sector concerns to senior USAID officials
• Time Expected to Reach Full Performance Level: One year
• Post Entry Training: The Specialist will receive on-the-job training (formal and informal). The incumbent will be expected to quickly obtain a clear understanding of USAID and PEPFAR policies, procedures, and regulations, including the ADS, Mission Orders, and PEPFAR planning and reporting databases. The incumbent shall attend mandatory annual ethics trainings conducted at the Mission by the Regional Legal Officer. If the incumbent is not already versed in USAID implementation, auditing, and financial management procedures, such training will be provided. Other courses, seminars, and conferences in fields related to the position’s function are subject to availability of funds CCN PSCs may participate in temporary duty (TDY) travel to USAID/Washington and other Missions in order to participate in the Foreign Service National Fellowship Program described in ADS 495maa
• Physical Demands: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands

Requisites

• Education: Nursing degree with a master’s degree in public health, or medical degree (MD) required
• Prior Work Experience: At least five years (5) of professional experience in implementing, managing and monitoring pediatric health programs. This must include progressively responsible experience in the field of clinical care, with a focus on maternal and child health services. 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 in both English and Portuguese (fluent speaking/reading/writing) required. (This will be tested)
• Job Knowledge: In-depth professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate to pediatric and adolescent HIV care and treatment in Mozambique is required. The Specialist must have knowledge and understanding of the economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics of Mozambique, including how they relate and impact HIV care and treatment services for pediatrics and adolescents. This includes a profound understanding of resource constraints and overall development prospects and priorities for Mozambique. Knowledge of, or the potential to quickly acquire knowledge of: USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to pediatric programming; and, USAID programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation is required. Thorough knowledge of the latest pediatric HIV science and/or research related to pediatric ART initiation, retention, adherence, and viral load suppression is required. Must understand the organization and respective roles of the different levels of GRM, in order to enhance effective communication and to develop consensus on program/project/activity strategy and implementation
• Skills and Abilities: The Specialist must have strong medical/clinical skills in maternal and child health service provision. Exceptionally strong technical, management, and interpersonal skills and abilities to work in a multi-cultural team with large and complex integrated interventions to manage are required. Demonstrated ability to work across organizations and/or agencies, and with high level senior-ranking host country government officials is required. Strong computer, verbal, and writing skills are required. Must be able to facilitate meetings and make oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior officials and partners in a multi-cultural context. Must be able to produce concise, clear reports, and utilize word processing, spreadsheet and database programs. Able to work independently, take initiative, and can function under a complex, highly demanding, and frequently changing environment. Must be able to interpret complex programmatic data and translate learnings into programmatic improvements

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 - 05 points
• Prior Work Experience - 30 points
• Language Proficiency - 05 points
• Job Knowledge - 30 points
• Skills and Abilities - 30 points
• Maximum Points: 100 points

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• 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. USAID/Mozambique reserves the right to solicit references from other sources as deemed appropriate
• To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission
• Only interviewed candidates will be informed in writing of the Selection Committee’s final decision
• Physical Demands: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands
• Per this scoring, Prior Work Experience, Job Knowledge and Skills and Abilities are the most important factors, followed by 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 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