Statement of Duties to be Performed:
A. Project Management (50%)
Participates each year, with a lead role, in the Country Operational Plan (COP) development process, providing key technical leadership on prevention and treatment strategies, quality improvement and quality management, aligning prevention and treatment strategies with supply chain and laboratory strategies, and community-level programming. Based on the COP strategic direction, provides direction and recommendations to partners and stakeholders to strengthen programs and enhance results.
Works with the agency grants or contracts office and partner representatives to ensure that the latest prevention and treatment protocols are integrated into signed agreements. Provides clear guidance and direction to grantees, program collaborators, and contractors regarding the implementation and execution of agreement activities, ensuring strict adherence to PEPFAR policies and guidance, as well as host country policy regulations.
Participates in the review of work plans for implementation of activities following awards or related to the COP strategic direction.
Working closely with host government ministry staff involved in public health programs, private sector providers, and implementing partners, incumbent is required to monitor all programs under his/her purview to assure that the specific objectives for the program are achieved and/or appropriate remedial activities are instituted.
Regularly monitors activities and collaborates with each partner organization to ensure program results are achieved. This involves regular site visits and meetings with representatives of each organization to review progress. Draws attention to organizational needs such as inadequate medical supplies, equipment, facilities, and staffing. In liaison with the Health Office Strategic Information (SI) Specialist, develops program evaluation strategies, methodologies, and indicators for monitoring HIV programs in accordance with standard guidelines and protocols.
In close collaboration with the SI specialist, leads regular site assessments to review program implementation. Based on the information collected during field visits, communicates findings and recommendations as appropriate, to PEPFAR Team, implementing partners and government counterparts. Reviews performance reports to ensure that partners are in compliance with bilateral agreements, and with the performance expectations outlined in their work plans and agreements with USAID. Prepares technical assistance requests to be sent to the U.S. Embassy PEPFAR managing body and/or designated agency leadership and develops scopes of work as needed for the requests.
In close collaboration with the SI specialist, oversees/conducts appropriate analyses of relevant quarterly data in order to strengthen implementing partners’ data collection, tracking, and reporting efforts.
Analyzes program results against targets and makes recommendations for corrective action, if required, on issues related to the technical areas of responsibility of the PEPFAR team. Provides advice and recommendations to the Senior HIV Advisor and Health Office Director on interpreting data for health objectives and indicators related to HIV programs.
Prepares oral and written reports on the progress of program activities. Readers of these reports include Agency and post management, other PEPFAR officials, and U.S. headquarters staff; reports are ultimately submitted to the U.S. Congress. Reporting responsibilities are monthly, quarterly, and annually.
The incumbent for this position is formally designated as the Agreement Officer’s
Representative/Contracting Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR) for PEPFAR-funded activities.
He/she holds a major technical role in development of Scopes of Work (SOW), Funding Opportunity Announcements, Requests for Application, or Annual Program Statements, review of applications, supplemental awards, and requests for extensions. She/he liaises with USG grant, contract, and cooperative agreement technical specialists at post and in the U.S. Once implementing agreements are in place, she/he oversees performance of cooperating partners/contractors, carries out technical reviews, reviews progress, identifies potential issues, and informs supervisor, recommending actions for amelioration.
B. Technical leadership and guidance (25%)
Develops documents related to the assigned area of responsibility, including directives, memoranda, policy statements, and proposals to introduce new initiatives and to recommend effective operations consistent with overall program objectives, in support of the PEPFAR prevention and treatment programs including, but not limited to preexposure prevention ((including HIV testing services and linkage to antiretroviral treatment (ART) for positives)); targeting key and highly vulnerable populations; prevention of the mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) cascade; the HIV treatment cascade in all populations; strengthening the linkage of individuals diagnosed with HIV to care and treatment; promoting the implementation of new HIV service delivery models to enhance the retention of PLHIV on ART; and addressing Tuberculosis and HIV coinfection. Serves as a technical advisor to the Ministry of Health (and other ministries or government/non-government entities as appropriate) in furthering the national HIV programs, focusing on non-duplication of services provided by USG agencies, implementing partners (IPs), and contractors. Works closely with host government Ministry of Health, international organizations, as well as partners funded by the government or Global Fund as relevant, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector entities, to influence other collaborating organizations engaged in HIV programming to adopt appropriate strategies to advance HIV program objectives.
Holds a leadership role in the PEPFAR Team in guiding the development of quality assurance/quality improvement plans for assigned prevention, care, and treatment partners; ensures effective implementation of the Site Improvement Monitoring System (SIMS) to improve treatment service delivery quality.
Provides updated technical information to partners as it becomes available. Responds to requests from NGOs, health care organizations, and medical professionals for information and technical assistance on HIV programming strategies.
Analyzes, synthesizes, and disseminates lessons learned and state-of-the-art practices on HIV prevention and treatment activities. Contributes to research operations, evaluating effectiveness, and identifying lessons learned from HIV programming. Provides recommendations to apply findings to future program and activity design, strategy, and project management.
C. Coordination, Partner and Representation (15%)
Develops working relationships with the IPs in-country to ensure effective coordination and collaboration across and along the clinical cascade. Promotes information and experience sharing regarding effective care, treatment, and support.
Strengthens collaboration with other development partners, particularly WHO and the GFATM, to reduce funding overlaps and increase synergy; ensures that program investments are consistent with international norms and standards; strengthens technical collaboration; and enhances the long-term sustainability of program activities.
As an expert on matters pertaining to HIV programming, the job holder represents PEPFAR Burundi at technical, policy, and strategic planning meetings, including meetings with collaborators, Ministry of Health Technical Working Groups (TWGs), and donor agencies. Briefs agency officials on the results of such meetings and prepares written reports for submission to interested parties.
Coordinates technical inputs and contributions for the USAID Burundi Health Office in discussing and developing funding proposals for HIV prevention and treatment programs at administrative and strategic planning meetings. This includes other agencies and the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD).
Serves as chair or rotating chair on TWGs to ensure effective coordination of work plan development, implementation strategies, and evaluation plans for all USAID Burundi prevention and treatment activities.
D. Administrative Management (10%)
Incumbent is responsible for reviewing budget requests for appropriateness, monitoring the use of funds for adherence to proposed activities; quarterly pipeline reviews/budget status reports, following up on irregular findings, and providing advice for realignment of budgets and accruals. Incumbent is also responsible for representing USAID Burundi in quarterly data and programmatic reviews and addressing suboptimal target achievement.
Job holder maintains files and records for activities/programs for which the incumbent is responsible. Job holder is responsible for data integrity and security of information in reporting databases that relate to HIV/AIDS infection (particularly as related to named individuals). Other program files include reports, meeting summaries or minutes, and copies of all grants/cooperative agreements/contracts, research determinations, panels, and awards. Whenever possible these records will be filed electronically and entered into the reference system. Prepares and presents briefings for VIP visitors, participates in making arrangements for visits and serve as spokesman as required on matters within technical expertise.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
a. Education: A bachelor’s degree in public health, Health Policy, Public Administration or other host country equivalent.
b. Prior Work Experience: Five years of mid-to-senior level public health experience in developing, implementing and evaluating HIV prevention and treatment programs that involve coordination with an international agency, Ministry of Health, and/or implementing partner required.
c. Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluency - speaking/reading/writing) English is required. Level IV (fluency speaking/reading/writing) in French is required.
d. Job Knowledge: Comprehensive knowledge and experience in HIV prevention and treatment are required. Detailed knowledge of U.S. government HIV programs and strategies is required. A detailed knowledge of the range of HIV programs, policies, regulations and precedents applicable to development and administration of national/international HIV programs is required.
e. Skills and Abilities: Comprehensive knowledge and experience in HIV prevention and treatment is required. Thorough public health knowledge of current HIV issues is required. Detailed knowledge of the host government health care system and structures, including familiarity with MOH policies, program priorities and regulations is required. Detailed working knowledge of USG HIV public health programs, strategies, methods, processes and techniques used to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate program results is required. Excellent oral and written communication skills to develop and maintain effective working relationships with national and international health partners are required. Good working knowledge of team management techniques to plan, organize, and direct multidisciplinary project teams and activities and overall administrative requirements, budgeting and fiscal management in support of contracts, and cooperative agreements are required. The ability to lead results-driven project teams and workgroups is required. Numerical skills for data analysis are required.
DEADLINE: AUGUST 30, 2024
