Epidemiologist

Job Description

Position Overview:

The contractor will serve as an Epidemiologist on the USAID/South Africa SI Team. The incumbent will be responsible for applying empirical data and complex analytical approaches to HIV/AIDS programming challenges. These include data analyses, policy analyses, and application of mathematical models to optimize the use of resources for HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment. S/he serves as Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) or activity manager for selected USAID/Southern Africa contractors and grantee partners. The incumbent will identify and analyze public health issues and their impact on policies, health data systems, or scientific studies or surveys. They will serve as a technical expert on all phases of statistical interpretation relating to epidemiologic topics under consideration and will engage with stakeholders and subject matter experts at USAID, PEPFAR implementing partners, National Department of Health (NDoH), and other partners in the development and prioritization of data analyses. The Epidemiologist will serve as a technical expert on all phases of statistical interpretation relating to epidemiological topics and develop relevant single and multi-data stream analytics to be used to assess PEPFAR’s program efficiency, effectiveness, and impact.

Position Title of Direct Supervisor: The incumbent will report to the Health Office Director or Deputy at USAID/Southern Africa Mission.

Supervisory Controls: S/He is expected to work independently in carrying out responsibilities and is expected to develop annual work objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Advance the understanding of HIV/AIDS data and epidemiological models (30%):

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of survey and surveillance data, epidemiological literature, and mathematical modeling literature and analyses relevant to HIV/AIDS epidemiology and relevant programmatic applications.
• Analyze, synthesize, and disseminate key findings from epidemiological and modeling literature relevant to HIV/AIDS programs.
• Prepare and deliver presentations, reference materials, and reports on epidemiological and programmatic topics relating to HIV/AIDS.

Enhance the utilization of epidemiological data and mathematical models in HIV/AIDS program and policies (30%):

• Conduct epidemiological reviews and analyses and interpret survey, surveillance, and intervention program data to monitor and identify results of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs.
• Organize, analyze, and report on HIV/AIDS epidemiological and program data.
• Conduct reviews and secondary data analyses to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of intervention programs and strategies.
• Ensure that up-to-date epidemiological data are adequately utilized in the strategic planning process and that the USG strategic approaches and programmatic guidance are in line with epidemiological needs and program goals.
• Make recommendations regarding program design and program revisions based upon epidemiological evidence.
• Evaluate project/study data collection, quality control, and/or data utilization methods to estimate program saturation, completion and estimation of subpopulations at high risk for HIV (VMMC clients, AGYW, Key populations (KP)) and to target program services.
• Assist in planning and designing surveys, surveillance, and health management information systems and implementing strategies to enhance data availability and quality.
• Develop statistical and technical summary reports based on survey and program data.
• Advise on the design and implementation of epidemiological and program data, including appropriate data collection methods, to guide the development and refinement of HIV/AIDS programs.
• Provide technical assistance to a broad range of partners to implement patient tracking systems along with HIV prevention and treatment cascades.
• Help assess various research and evaluation priorities for epidemiological and programmatic relevance.
• Serve as point of contact for USAID/South Africa and key stakeholders on surveillance data, epidemiological studies and modeling literature.

Improve reporting of HIV/health data to guide policy and program decision making (15%)

• Provide advice and assistance to NDoH, USG, and other partners in formulation, implementation and evaluation of unique identifiers and biometrics for clients/ patient tracking services (in KP, DREAMS, care and treatment programs).
• Provide guidance to stakeholders on implementation of HIV surveillance activities, including recency testing activities and surveillance data analysis, interpretation and use.
• Lead or co-author scientific products including peer-reviewed manuscripts, presentations and communicate scientific findings.

Project Management (15%):

• Serve as Activity Manager, COR and/or AOR for contracts and/or agreements in the USAID/Southern Africa HIV treatment portfolio, including all administrative, financial, and technical management responsibilities.
• Meet with the implementing partners on a regular basis, review and track activity progress, identify potential issues before they become problems, and keep the Care and Treatment team lead informed of performance.
• Review acquisition and assistance requirements, including obligations, accruals, expenditures, burn rate and pipeline, ensuring that appropriate levels of funding are available.
• Prepare timely and accurate documents for Mission reporting, administration, and planning needs; including the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justification, technical notifications, and portfolio reviews.

HIV/AIDS Activity Quality Improvement and Assurance (10%)

• Participate in quality improvement and assurance work under the umbrella of Siyenza/Phuthuma (initiative names may change but work will not be altered substantially) to include facility visits; development of facility improvement plans; use of daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly data to inform programmatic changes and course corrections
• Liaise closely with leadership of facility, sub-district, district, province and implementing partner as needed and relevant to ensure coordination of facility quality improvement plans, especially as they pertain to interventions beyond the facility (i.e. district or provincial-wide changes)

Other Duties:

• Provides technical advice and serves as an outside resource to organizations involved in implementing PEPFAR, including the Department of State Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (S/GAC), USAID Headquarters and the SAG.
• Establishes and maintains contact with counterparts in the South Africa National AIDS Council, the NDoH, and its various HIV/AIDS-related programs, UN Agencies, other bilateral donor partners and implementing partners working in HIV/AIDS.
• Provides assistance, in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy and/or USAID Public Affairs Officers, and contributes to the development of press releases, interviews, talking points or other material in preparation for, or as part of, Congressional Delegations, technical working group reviews or similar such visits in the development of site sheets and fact sheets for visitors.
• Prepares correspondence and cables relating to implementation, management, and evaluation of HIV/AIDS activities.

QUALIFICATIONS: In order to be considered for this position a candidate must meet the Required Minimum Qualifications listed below. Consideration and selection will be based on panel evaluation of these minimum qualifications, desired qualifications and evaluation factors. Additionally, interviews and writing samples may be requested. Applicants are encouraged to write a brief appendix to a resume, OF-612 to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training addresses the Minimum Qualifications and Evaluation Factors listed below:

A. Required Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree epidemiology, statistics or a related field.
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in epidemiology, data management, public health monitoring and evaluation with field-based applications, and experience working in technical oversight, design, monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS programs in developing countries.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with USAID or equivalent procurement, financial, and other systems.

B. Desired Qualifications:

• Specialized knowledge and demonstrated expertise in the demography and epidemiology of HIV and AIDS.
• Specialized knowledge and demonstrated expertise in understanding the current evidence base as it applies to HIV and AIDS program design, management, and evaluation.
• Strong familiarity with HIV and AIDS modeling of incidence and prevalence and the ability to interpret modeling results in a meaningful way to a layperson audience.
• Strong quantitative, analytical and reasoning skills, verbal skills and ability to communicate technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical colleagues.
• Experience with data management and analytic software such as EPI-INFO, SPSS, SAS, STATA and/or R.
• Experience with data visualization software such as Tableau.
• Excellent management, interpersonal and teamwork skills with experience in operating effectively in a cross-cultural environment and working within an interagency setting.
• A thorough working knowledge of U.S. Government operations, rules, regulations, procedures, policies and programs and previous relevant working experience with the USG, particularly USAID and OGAC.
• The ability to obtain the necessary security clearance.
• A high degree of judgment, maturity, ingenuity, and originality to interpret technical and political opportunities and constraints.
• Prior budget or financial management experience.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability in dealing effectively and diplomatically with multiple U.S. and host-country government agencies, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, and the private sector.

CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: November 9, 2020