Implementation Science Technical Advisor

Job Description

SUSTAINING TECHNICAL AND ANALYTIC RESOURCES

FELLOWSHIP TITLE: Implementation Science Technical Advisor

HOST ORGANIZATION: Research, Technology and Utilization Division, Office of Population and Reproductive Health, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development

LOCATION: Washington, DC

POSITION LEVEL: Mid-Career Technical Advisor

STAR-P2-091

TRAVEL: 25% estimated travel

STAR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) is a project of the Public Health Institute (PHI) supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Global Health (GH) Bureau. Its purpose is twofold: (1) Through individual fellowships, STAR will help strengthen the capacity of diverse American and low-and-middle-income country (LMIC) health professionals at all levels to make innovative contributions to global health (GH); and (2) STAR will create ground-breaking opportunities for both US and LMIC GH academic institutions and other groups, including professional associations, to create systems for open-access knowledge sharing, resulting in effective partnerships. STAR’s individual and institutional participants are contributing to the development of self-sustaining systems and tools that will produce global citizens with the full spectrum of relevant health competencies. STAR is managed by the Public Health Institute and implemented in partnership with Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH).

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

The STAR Fellowship is a two-year global health and learning opportunity with:

• Individualized, tailored support to enhance the fellow’s achievement personal and professional goals
• Personalized learning plans and access to learning resources (courses, conferences, mentoring) based on fellow’s learning style and preferences.
• Access to broad professional networks to enhance peer learning and knowledge sharing.

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Background:

The Bureau for Global Health (GH) serves as USAID’s primary source of technical expertise, leadership, and donor coordination for the health sector, including HIV and AIDS, infectious diseases, child and maternal health and nutrition, family planning and reproductive health, and health systems strengthening and reform. GH is responsible for advancing field-relevant, state-of-the-art research and the transfer of new technologies and approaches to field programs. Through its staff, programs and country teams, GH provides critical support to USAID missions and field programs in more than 70 countries. The Office of Population and Reproductive Health (PRH) advances and supports voluntary family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) programs worldwide to reduce unintended pregnancy and foster improved reproductive health behaviors. PRH provides strategic direction, global technical leadership and support to field programs; ensures responsiveness to Congressional and Administration priorities, directives and restrictions; and, provides information on USAID’s FP/RH programs to a range of stakeholders. PRH provides critical support to the achievement of the goals of GH’s signature initiatives, including Family Planning (FP) 2020, AIDS Free Generation (AFG) and Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths (EPCMD).

Introduction:

The objectives of USAID’s research program in FP/RH are to provide new and/or improved contraceptive technologies; improve the quality, accessibility and cost-effectiveness of FP and related RH services; strengthen developing country institutional capabilities to use research to diagnose and solve service delivery problems; and enhance the dissemination and utilization of research results.

The Implementation Science Technical Advisor (Advisor) will be an integral part of the team that pushes the field to meet FP 2020 goals and beyond. The Advisor will serve as an integral member of the PRH Front Office and provide technical expertise to the staff of Research, Technology, and Utilization (RTU) Division, PRH and USAID missions on implementation science methodology and design and utilization of evidence-based practices to improve program performance.

The Advisor will support shape the refinement of the global research agenda for family planning. The Advisor will support the design of activities in implementation science and provide technical leadership to the Division’s research utilization activities. S/he will liaise between the Office and other donors, academic institutions, governments, and partners on issues related to implementation science, other programmatic research, and knowledge management.

Reporting structure:

The Technical Advisor will be based in the Research, Technical and Utilization (RTU) Division. They will work closely with the Office of Population and Reproductive Health and receive technical guidance from the RTU Division Chief, who will serve as their onsite manager.

Essential Duties and Outcomes:

Strengthen the ability of USAID Missions, Regional Bureaus, and Global Health Country Teams to accelerate use of evidence in country and regional FP/RH programs:

• Provide technical assistance to USAID Missions for project design, strategy development, and program assessments to strengthen evidence-based bilateral programming in family planning and reproductive health.
• Provide technical advice to Global Health Country Teams on implementation science methodology and design and utilization of evidence-based practices for one or more of USAID’s PRH priority countries.
• Work closely with Regional Bureaus and USAID Country Teams to promote and leverage country resources, including field-support funding, for integration, institutionalization and scale-up of evidence-based FP/RH practices.
• Participate in the advancing of efforts across divisions and the PRH office to strengthen implementation science technical assistance in FP/RH to USAID priority countries.
• Contribute research utilization and implementation science expertise to collaborative initiatives across the RTU Division, PRH Office, and GH Bureau that respond to USAID country needs and priorities.

Strengthen RTU’s institutional capacities to support evidence-based design, implementation and management of key FP/RH projects:

• Provide advice for design of new implementation science project(s) in FP/RH, including the research utilization and knowledge translation components of related PRH project(s).
• Serve as lead Technical Advisor and key member of the technical management team for flagship and/or other large and complex projects in the PRH/RTU Division.
• Develop country-specific project plans in collaboration with implementing partners, ministries of health, donors, and other national or regional stakeholders to mobilize resources and respond to PRH priority country needs.

Advance USAID’s excellence in implementation science by serving as a technical advisor and FP/RH resource for research utilization, research to practice, and knowledge translation:

• Write and provide technical review for evidence syntheses and technical briefs on implementation science topics, such as monitoring and evaluation of scale up and evidence-based practices in family planning.
• Participate and present at communities or practice, technical consultations, and other fora to disseminate and promote utilization of key PRH project results.
• Make presentations to RTU colleagues, other PRH divisions, USAID Bureaus, Missions and partners on key topics in implementation science, research utilization and knowledge translation.

Anticipated learning outcomes: * Required 10% time

• Demonstrate proficiency across the core global health competencies defined as development practice, cross cultural awareness, communication, capacity strengthening, ethics of public health, health equity, gender equality and global burden of disease that is necessary for persons practicing in global health.
• Apply family planning and reproductive health knowledge to strengthen program.
• Apply and distinguish international standards within technical/content area to support programming.
• Cultivate leadership skills based on the STAR GH mentorship curriculum to effectively facilitate capacity building and knowledge sharing activities amongst staff and peers.
• Expand access to knowledge and resources through networking and collaborative practice within global health.

FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Required:

• MS or PhD in public health or a related social science filed.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant research experience with a master’s degree or a minimum 9 years of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree.
• Strong knowledge of implementation science methods and analysis.
• Strong quantitative and program research skills.
• Strong experience designing and implementing research in reproductive health in developing countries.
• Strong background in family planning, contraceptive methods, and family planning programs.
• Expertise in research in population and reproductive health, family planning, other proximate determinants of fertility, and gender.
• Ability to represent well in public for host organization, including US Congress, country Ministries of Health, and other senior leadership arenas.
• Knowledge of USAID’s population program, and knowledge of the work of other international donors and programs in this field.
• Excellent communication skills including writing and presentation; good computer skills including PowerPoint, Excel and other software relevant to presentations.
• Ability to work under pressure, individually and as part of a team.
• Ability to travel internationally.
• US citizenship or US permanent residency required

TO APPLY:

All applicants are required to apply for this position through STAR’s online recruitment system at https://www.ghstar.org/, which allows you to store your CV/resume and separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All online applications must be submitted by March 4, 2020 by 5:00 pm Eastern time.

Public Health Institute is proud to be an EEO/AA employer.

About the Organization

Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) is a five-year project of the Public Health Institute, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). STAR’s overall goal is to strengthen the capacity of global health professionals, organizations, and companies so they can implement stronger programs, achieve better results, and make a bigger impact in the global health field.