Introduction
The USAID Lesotho Country Director (Country Director) serves as the principal focal person and manager of the USAID PEPFAR portfolio and program in Lesotho. S/he represents USAID to the U.S. Embassy and other USG Agencies, to Government counterparts, and to USG implementing partners. S/he leads the strategic development, management, and implementation of the USAID portion of the PEPFAR program and has direct responsibility for day-to-day coordination, technical, operational, and administrative management of the USAID PEPFAR portfolio in Lesotho.
Duties and responsibilities include program planning and strategy development for USAID programs, supervision of USAID staff, and overall management of USAID grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to ensure that all activities contribute to measurable results and are implemented in accordance with USAID regulations, PEPFAR strategic objectives, international ethical guidelines and standards for public health care. S/he works closely with and reports to the Foreign Service Officer (FSO) Director of the USAID/Southern Africa Regional Health Office (RHO). The USAID PEPFAR Country Director oversees a diverse staff of 14, composed of four Third Country Nationals (TCNs) and eight Cooperating Country Nationals (CCNs). Lesotho’s PEPFAR Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator are US PSCs hired through USAID, therefore the Country Director will be involved in discussions and processes involving the two positions
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
To be considered for the position, an applicant must have the following minimum qualifications:
Education:
• A master’s degree in public health, international development, social sciences or other relevant fields is required.
Prior Work Experience:
• A minimum of twelve years of progressively responsible, professional experience in the design and management of public health programs preferably in Southern Africa or similar context, with a focus on HIV/AIDS. At least 5 of those years should be at a senior management level.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, policy formulation providing organizational leadership in a complex and fast paced environment is required. Experience working in PEPFAR required.
• Demonstrated experience and proficiency in at least one technical domain within HIV/AIDS programming.
Skills:
• Demonstrated interpersonal, oral, and written communication and computer skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams, work collaboratively in a team environment and to proactively build consensus.
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with multiple U.S. and host-country government agencies, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, and the private sector.
• Proven ability to interpret and coordinate implementation of complex and evolving policy and programmatic guidance in a developing country context.
Language:
• Level IV (fluent) English writing and speaking ability is required
Duties and Responsibilities:
(a) Technical Direction and Management - USAID PEPFAR Program (40%)
The Country Director is fully responsible for the entire USAID Lesotho PEPFAR program. S/he is responsible for USAID’s contributions to the development and implementation of annual Country Operational Plans (COPs), ensuring the COP is planned and programs are designed according to USAID’s strategic advantage and sufficient funds are allocated to reach goals. S/he initiates new programs in accordance with PEPFAR and USAID public health program goals, objectives, and policies, as well as the GoL and Ministry of Health priorities. This includes playing a lead role in strategic planning and program development through the provision of direct technical assistance, and well executed program planning with partners.
(b) Interagency Coordination and Representation (30%)
The Country Director represents USAID at technical, policy and strategic planning meetings, including meetings with collaborators and donor agencies. S/he is a key member of the PEPFAR Lesotho Senior Management team, ensuring coordination of work plan development, implementation strategies, and evaluation plans for all USG agency activities in Lesotho. In coordination with the PEPFAR Senior Management team, s/he keeps the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission up to date on the status of the program through regular briefings and written communication. S/he serves as the first point of contact to the U.S. Ambassador to Lesotho for all HIV-related USAID issues, partners, and programs and also as a point of reference for other USAID programs beyond PEPFAR (Democracy and Governance, Food Security, Economic Growth, etc.). S/he contributes PEPFAR specific information to cables, speeches, editorials, and other written materials produced by the U.S. Embassy as needed, in consultation with the RHO Director and the USAID/Southern Africa Mission Director.
The Country Director represents USAID in all official activities and on Embassy committees, e.g., ICASS, housing, space and office construction, donor working groups, etc. S/he also represents USAID in all PEPFAR official functions, at host country government functions, and activities organized by civil society.
(c) Operational and Administrative Management (30%)
The Country Director is responsible for the day-to-day management of the work of the USAID office in Lesotho. This includes the overall supervision over a diverse staff of 14, and coordination of additional technical assistance as needed to support USAID activities in Lesotho. The incumbent orients new employees and supports employees to develop annual training plans, provides coaching as needed, monitors progress, and formally evaluates the performance of employees. S/he manages staff workloads to meet peak demand in order to ensure that program goals and objectives are met. The incumbent prepares technical assistance requests, develops scopes of work, and oversees the performance of external technical assistance service providers as required.
The Country Director oversees the planning and monitoring of the overall USAID PEPFAR budget, which entails working closely with RHO to monitor the movement of COP and special initiative funds through the PEPFAR and USAID systems. S/he ensures funds are allocated according to an approved COP, tracks obligations, outlays, and pipelines across all implementing mechanisms, and prioritizes funding actions based on need. The incumbent coordinates annual and ad hoc reprogramming exercises. S/he is responsible for the operational management of the USAID office in Lesotho and must develop and maintain productive working relationships with several U.S. Embassy sections. S/he monitors ICASS, and other services and facilities occupied by USAID employees and recommends purchases and communicates action requests to relevant regional mission offices. S/he works with technical specialists in the U.S. Embassy and in the RHO Office to oversee the development, implementation, controlled access, and ongoing maintenance of technical and administrative filing systems for the program
DEADLINE
19 August 2024
