JOB ADVERT: Program Management Specialist
The U.S. Mission in Yaounde, Cameroon is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual for the position of Program Management Specialist in the Cameroon field office of USAID/West Africa.
CLOSING DATE: 5/18/2016
WORK HOURS: Full-time, 40 hours/week
SALARY RANGE: FSN-11 (FCFA 23,079,980 – FCFA 36,925,964 p.a.) depending on qualification and experience.
BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION
The incumbent of this position is a senior project manager and the key public health advisor on treatment, care, and support to the USAID/West Africa Senior Health Advisor who also serves as Team Leader for the Cameroon field office. Job holder provides expert advice and recommendations to ensure successful linkage of services across the continuum of treatment, care, and support for USAID-funded (and if required, other U.S. Government agencies) projects. Under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Responsibilities include day-to-day program management and development, monitoring, reporting and close collaboration with PEPFAR partners to ensure implementation is carried out in accordance with program strategic objectives and internationally recognized best practices in treatment, particularly community linkages. As delegated by the Contracting Office, s/he will serve as Agreement Officer/Contracting Officer Representative (AOR/COR) or activity manager for HIV/AIDS treatment, care, and support activities, providing technical and financial oversight.
S/he will participate in national meetings/technical working groups tasked with evaluating, creating, and/or updating existing national policies on HIV/AIDS care and support, pediatric and adult treatment, and other relevant policies. Jobholder represents USAID/West Africa's Cameroon field office on AIDS issues related to clinical quality improvement and community linkages at technical, policy and strategic planning meetings, including meetings with collaborators and donor agencies. Partners include other PEPFAR agencies, host government organizations (including the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), the National AIDS Control Committee (NACC) and other relevant Departments, Ministries and Agencies), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, International Organizations (IO) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) involved in HIV/AIDS activities in Cameroon.
This position is currently located at the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon and will require some travel (30-40%) within and outside the country.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical Advice(40%)
- Incumbent serves as a public health expert technical advisor for the development, implementation and monitoring of USG-supported HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support activities. S/he will address emerging issues in need of USAID (and as necessary, other U.S. Government agency) support and guidance in the continuum of HIV clinical and community-based services. This includes providing guidance on innovative approaches and best practices to expand access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) for hard-to-reach populations (e.g. key populations); linking community based and clinical services to promote comprehensive care for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and OVC; mentorship, training, and capacity building of lay health workers, including GRC-funded community relay agents.
- Coordinate the SIMS clinical site monitoring program for referral sites to the Key Population program and liaise with other (non-USAID) PEPFAR clinical partners to ensure that improvements are put in place.
- Participate in related government meetings, technical working groups, international workshops, and other platforms dealing with HIV/AIDS as they relate to treatment, care, and support issues. This may include technical guidance in the development and revision of adult and pediatric care and support technical guidance policies.
- Provide recommendations to the Senior Health Advisor on care and support program directions, including participating in technical design of new projects (preparation of project appraisal document, etc.). Job holder provides technical evaluation of assigned proposals, working with representatives to make sure that the most current treatment protocols are included, and recommends amendments/approval to the Senior Health Advisor.
- Job holder is the Care and Treatment Program Technical Advisor to GRC, partners and NGOs in the implementation of Care and Treatment programs and activities through one or more PEPFAR grants/cooperative agreements and contracts, as well as partners funded by the government or Global Fund as indicated.
Program Management for PEPFAR-funded Clinical Projects(40%)
- Designated formally as the Assistance/Contracting Officer's Representative (A/COR) or alternate, incumbent is expect to manage annual budgets ranging from $1.5 million to $4 million. In this capacity, takes a major technical role in development and approval of work plans, supplemental awards, and requests for extensions. Liaises with the agency grants and cooperative agreements technical specialists at post and in the U.S. award management. Serves as Activity Manager and main point of contact for field support mechanisms ranging from totaling approximately $1 million per year, incumbent oversees performance of cooperating partners, carries out technical reviews, reviews progress, identifies potential issues and informs supervisor or A/COR, recommending actions for amelioration.
- Incumbent provides technical guidance and direction to grantees, program collaborators and contractors on management and implementation of activities to be consistent with PEPFAR policies and guidance and host country policies and regulations.
- Incumbent works closely with host government organizations, IOs, NGOs, and private sector providers to make sure PEPFAR treatment programs are being carried out as designed. In liaison with the CDC staff working on Strategic Information, the incumbent develops program evaluation strategies, methodologies and indicators for monitoring programs in accordance with standard guidelines and protocols. Job holder monitors activities by each partner organization on a regular basis to ensure goals and objectives are being met and treatment protocols are followed. This involves periodic site visits and meetings with representatives of each organization to review progress and provide updated technical information. Reviews and gives feedback on all data generated by partners on a quarterly/semi-annual basis. Develops partner specific strategies to address challenges in implementation based on the data reviews. Collaborates with local partners to make sure that program results are achieved and that all appropriate programmatic activities and study protocols meet human subject requirements and pass through ethical review with the appropriate agency authority.
- Incumbent is responsible for developing evaluation strategies in order to collect data and prepare reports as required on monthly, quarterly, annual basis. Manages the data collection process, ensuring personal data integrity and security of information in the reporting databases (FACTS Info and DATIM) is carefully guarded.
Interagency Coordination(20%)
- As expert on matters pertaining to care and clinical HIV issues, job holder represents USAID at technical, policy and strategic planning meetings, including meetings with collaborators and donor agencies. Briefs senior agency officials on the results of such meetings and prepares written reports for submission to other interested parties.
- Contribute to the development of annual Country Operational Plans (COP) and other PEPFAR reporting requirements. This may include representing USAID in developing financial commitment proposals for HIV treatment programs, and discussing these at meetings. This includes all USG agencies (Departments of State, Defense and Health and Human Services, and Peace Corps). Participates in internal and external technical working groups and serves as the primary liaison on care and treatment (particularly community linkages) with other country teams.
- Other duties as assigned may include organizing and participating in field visits by external parties that highlight USAID and USG treatment, care, and support activities; preparing briefings for VIP visitors; and serving as spokesman as required on matters within his/her technical expertise.
Note: This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his or her agency.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE
Applicants must address each required qualification listed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.
a. Education:
- Minimum of a bachelor's degree in medicine or nursing is required, with additional education in public health desirable.
b. Prior Work Experience:
- At least five (5) years of professional experience in technical oversight, design, and implementation of HIV/AIDS care programs that vary in size and scope of $1.5 - $4 million per annum. Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate experience implementing one or more programs in the following areas: - community-based programming for PMTCT, PLHIV and OVC; pediatrics and adolescent care; experience working with key populations.
c. Language Proficiency:
- Must be fluent in English (Level IV) with the ability to draft and read complex technical documents. Working knowledge of French (Level III), which includes ability to understand and conduct technical discussions with GRC counterparts.
d. Job Knowledge:
- Specialized knowledge and demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas of HIV/AIDS care and support: clinic/home/community care; PMTCT, pediatric and adolescent care; (4) psychosocial care; spiritual care; clinical monitoring and management of opportunistic infections and other HIV/AIDS related complications; nutritional information and facilitation of linkages to food security programs, knowledge of clinical and ethical issues involved in HIV/AIDS programming in Cameroon; Comprehensive knowledge of the host government health care system and structures including familiarity with MOPH/GRC policies, program priorities and regulations is required. Good working knowledge of USG
- HIV/AIDS public health programs, strategies, methods, processes and techniques used to plan, develop, implement and evaluate results of treatment programs is an advantage. 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/cooperative agreements/grants/purchase requisitions is required.
e. Skills and Abilities:
- Strong oral and written communications skills are required. Ability to analyze, understand and discuss new program design, management and implementation approaches is required. This includes the development of evaluation designs, use of reliable and valid instruments, and methods for data collection, analysis and reports. Excellent organizational skills in order to multitask and stay organized in a complex, frequently changing environment. Ability to lead project teams and workgroups and to develop effective working relationships with national and international working partners is required. The incumbent will be expected to exercise considerable ingenuity and tact in applying guidelines to unique and different settings, as the work is highly complex and can be threatening to stakeholders. Considerable innovation will be required to influence other collaborative organizations engaged in HIV/AIDS treatment programs to adopt appropriate strategies for their program activities. Intermediate user level of word processing, spreadsheets and databases is required. Strong skills with interpretation of program monitoring and evaluation of data are required. Ability to operate independently with limited direct supervision of day-to-day activities.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested individuals should submit a signed cover letter, relevant certificates, CV with references to:acpersonnel@usaid.gov
Note: When submitting your application, start the subject line with the position title. Failure to state this and submit signed letter with relevant documents will disqualify applicant.
NOTE: ALL U.S. AND NON-CAMEROONIAN CITIZENS, WHO ARE NOT FAMILY MEMBERS OF USG EMPLOYEES OFFICIALLY ASSIGNED TO POST AND UNDER CHIEF OF MISSION AUTHORITY, MUST ATTACH COPIES OF THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO THEIR APPLICATIONS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. NO RELOCATION EXPENSES ARE PROVIDED TO THE JOB LOCATION: YAOUNDE, CAMEROON. IF TRANSPORTATION TO YAOUNDE IS REQUIRED, IT WILL BE THE EMPLOYEE'S RESPONSIBILITY.
ONLY SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs. The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation. Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.
USAID/West Africa anticipates awarding one Personal Services Contract (PSC) regarding this announcement. Please note that this does not constitute any guarantee that a PSC will be awarded as result of this announcement.