The USAID-funded Global Health Technical Assistance and Mission Support Project (GH-TAMS) seeks public health candidates specializing in HIV/AIDS, for an upcoming PEPFAR Country Coordinator consultancy position in the Dominican Republic. The position will be full-time for six months and support and lead USAID’s PEPFAR program management and planning. Remote work may be initially authorized, with future travel to post when travel conditions permit.
*** Due to USG facility access requirements, the position is open only to U.S. nationals and qualified permanent residents ***
Overview
The PEPFAR Country Coordinator will serve as the coordination leader for activities funded under PEPFAR in the Dominican Republic. Active leadership from the PEPFAR Country Coordinator will be critical to maintaining an inter-agency, one USG programmatic approach while also focusing the team on achievement of targets and sustainable priorities. This position reports to the Deputy Chief of Mission.
With the U.S. Embassy and S/GAC leadership, the incumbent will coordinate the inter-agency process to establish a vision and strategy for responding to the country needs and context within the guidelines of S/GAC policy and U.S. diplomatic priorities. This also includes interaction and dialogue with Haiti PEPFAR counterparts per S/GAC guidance. The PEPFAR Coordinator will lead the USG PEPFAR inter-agency team in the Dominican Republic in the conception, formulation, and recommendation of initiatives in response to the epidemic profile in the Dominican Republic, and to the program operational realm, including: ensuring that the PEPFAR program fits within the regulations of the partner country government and aligns with USAID.
Responsibilities
Program Management and Implementation
Leads the USG PEPFAR inter-agency team in the Dominican Republic in the conception, formulation, and recommendation, of initiatives in response to the epidemic profile in the Dominican Republic, and to the program operational realm, including:
• Ensures that the PEPFAR program fits within the regulations of the partner country government and aligns with international policies and recommendations;
• Communicates USG policy and technical direction to implementing agency leadership;
• Coordinates and facilitates the inter-agency approach to PEPFAR within the USG;
• Coordinates and facilitates with PEPFAR implementing agencies the restructuring, reorienting and recasting immediate and long range goals, objectives, plans and schedules to meet substantial changes in policy, legislation, program authority and/or funding;
• Facilitates discussion with the inter-agency team regarding determinations of projects to be initiated, dropped or curtailed;
• Leads the development of annual country operational plans (COPs), reports, and responds to information requests from the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (S/GAC), the Chief of Mission, and others;
• Ability to use a wide variety of data bases for analysis, data presentation, financial management, and reporting (e.g., FACTS-Info);
• Oversees changes in organizational structure;
• Engages with the inter-agency process in-country in long range planning in connection with prospective changes in USG funding, policies, and programs.
• Establishes appropriate controls to ensure the integrity of financial, technical, and operational approach of all HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care programs implemented pursuant to PEPFAR.
• Facilitates discussion and decision making processes to inform how best to direct the funds allocated to the country for successful program impact. To properly manage the country budget, the Country Coordinator must understand the current levels of expenditures and pipeline, develop budgets, and ensure continued flow of funds necessary to implement the program;
• Ensures the use of data collection and knowledge-based program management in regard to all aspects (implementation, technology, costing) of treatment, prevention and care strategies; provides leadership, advice, and counsel to USG inter-agency leaders in-country in the implementation and monitoring of the PEPFAR program portfolio;
• Facilitates inter-agency decision-making to ensure program sustainability in a post-Emergency response with greater country ownership in the political ownership/stewardship, institutional ownership, capabilities, and mutual accountability;
• Analyzes the unique operational context of the PEPFAR program in country, which includes understanding the epidemic in Haiti and the contribution of migrants, particularly those of Haitian descent to the epidemic in the DR.
• Coordinates the inter-agency process to establish a vision and strategy for responding to the country needs and context within the guidelines of S/GAC policy and U.S. diplomatic priorities. For the PEPFAR program in Dominican Republic this includes: strengthening capacity and harmonization efforts to foster the development of strategies which build on the expertise and strengths of all USG agencies; ensuring accountability; and promoting human rights approaches. This also includes interaction and dialogue with Haiti PEPFAR counterparts per S/GAC guidance.
Collaboration Among Major Non-USG Stakeholders
• Ensures coordination and linkage of USG bilateral assistance with other bilateral donors, non-governmental organizations, and international multilateral organizations engaged in the fight against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Fund. Collaborates and shares information with multilateral partners, other donors, and S/GAC relevant to the success of broad efforts to mitigate the impact of the HIV epidemic in country and the contribution of migrants particularly of Haitian descent to the DR epidemic;
• Liaises with these development partners, and in particular, with the Country Coordination Mechanism of the Global Fund, to ensure complementarity between the USG investments and other donors. May act as the USG representative member on the local Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM);
• Along with other USG PEPFAR implementing agency leadership, establishes appropriate protocol for collaboration with the partner government, including providing oversight and developing the vision of USG interaction with the partner government on all aspects of HIV/AIDS, including the various executive branch bodies from the health sector to social welfare systems to finance;
• Promotes alignment with and understanding of the partner government priorities and policies among USG staff implementing the PEPFAR program;
• Evaluates the relative need, local conditions and capability of the designated country to develop or improve their infrastructure and programs necessary to provide or strengthen the quality, availability and sustainability of HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and care services;
• Leads discussions, as appropriate, about the timing and planning for transition from USG resources toward other types of funding for sustainable HIV responses;
• Ensures outreach to and engagement of private-sector partners, including advocacy groups, faith- and community-based organizations, and businesses in the HIV/AIDS response;
• Encourages the engagement of these groups by all USG agencies responding to the epidemic in-country.
Program Representation
• Assists in assuring the accountability of PEPFAR and other HIV/AIDS programs supported by the USG to Administration officials, members of Congress, and the general public through the development and communication of appropriate statements, reports, and representation. In collaboration with various PEPFAR implementing agencies, serves as the representative of the USG, and the Ambassador’s office in particular, in country-level and, when appropriate, international-level fora such as working groups, country coordinating mechanisms, steering committees, with a focus on responding to the HIV epidemic and to integration of HIV services into broader health efforts in the designated country;
• Counsels and advises the S/GAC and U.S. Embassy staff on relevant HIV/AIDS policies and issues that emerge in various settings with stakeholders. As requested by S/GAC and the U.S. Embassy, speaks on behalf of the USG about specific country HIV/AIDS epidemic needs based on a comprehensive knowledge of the overall country, regional, and global context, in-country HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programs, and the current status of implementation of PEPFAR. Supported by a Country Support Team Lead (CSTL) at S/GAC, communicates field-based and headquarters priorities upstream and downstream. With the CSTL, facilitates inter-agency dialogue between the field and headquarters inter-agency teams, facilitating timely responses on emerging issues in the country;
• In collaboration with PEPFAR leadership from other USG agencies, serves as the representative of the USG at international meetings, conferences, etc., whose sponsors or attendees may include donors and others with significant equities and other contributors in the fight against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic;
• Recommends and promotes positions and views for the USG on strategies, initiatives and current programs that aim to improve the prevention, treatment and care of HIV/AIDS. In coordination with PEPFAR leadership from other USG agencies, plans and directs the identification, development, implementation and monitoring of outreach and/or liaison activities and initiatives with USG representatives, including Congressional staff, the partner government, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and regional donors to foster greater leadership, commitment and resources on their part in the global fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Qualifications
Education: An advanced degree (master’s or higher) in a relevant professional discipline, such as Public Policy, Public Health, Business Administration or related subject, is required.
Work Experience: At least 5 years of progressively senior level experience managing HIV/AIDS, health or other development programs, preferably in a developing country context, with at least 3 years of experience in managing and implementing HIV/AIDS programs. At least 5 years of proven experience working with large, complex international or domestic programs. Demonstrated experience operating in his/her non-native cultural environment. Demonstrated strong knowledge and understanding of PEPFAR policies and programming parameters. Extensive knowledge of the technical issues related to HIV/AIDS, including knowledge of the principles of monitoring and evaluation. Demonstrated strong ability to manage complex programs with cooperation among multiple parties with sometimes competing priorities and demands.
Language Ability: The incumbent must possess excellent communication skills. English fluency (Level IV) coupled with excellent written and spoken English language skills are critical for job success. A high level of Spanish proficiency/fluency, both written and spoken, is equally critical as stakeholder discussions and engagement with inter-agency colleagues will predominately take place in the Spanish language.
