MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Technical and Strategic Leadership (50%)
The Specialist provides a high-level technical guidance, including HIV/FP and RH integration recommendations, to the Mission and the Ministry of Health, counterparts and senior level officials; provides direction in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of HIV/FP and RH programs/projects/activities and interventions; and/ provides oversight to the HIV/FP and RH integration budget, ensuring costs remain within budget planning levels, and that efficiency is maximized. The Specialist works closely with other units within the Health Office, and across the USAID Mission, to optimize opportunities for inter office and cross-sectoral integration, and the leveraging of resources across the different program components; and, works closely with the Health Systems Strengthening Team to ensure adequate planning towards uninterrupted availability of key HIV /FP and RH commodities, including family planning contraceptives and commodities, antiretrovirals (ARVs), test kits, and essential laboratory reagents. The Specialist provides technical leadership in quality and performance improvement, working with key stakeholders to improve the quality of facility and community-level HIV /FP and RH integration, by applying evidence-based guidelines, approaches, and tools; and liaises with the other technical advisors and MOH staff to institutionalize and scale up quality improvement for HIV/FP and RH integration and service delivery.
Through literature review, research and regular communication with local and international stakeholders, the Specialist keeps abreast of emerging developments in the national and global HIV /FP and RH landscape, and advises accordingly on how policies, strategies, and technical guidelines can most effectively be incorporated to enable the Mission to maintain fidelity and relevance in its HIV//FP and RH integration programs. The Specialist provides advice and guidance to other Health Office, Family Health and HIV/AIDS Team colleagues on matters relating to HIV/FP and RH, and how best the other program components could contribute to ensure an effective service cascade.
The Specialist provides oversight and guidance to USAID IPs newly emerging and highly effective approaches to HIV/FP and RH integration program/project/activity implementation; with the Strategic Information Team, advise on the development of tools (dash boards, league tables, etc.) that support continuous learning and adapting to further improve and evolve the USAID knowledge base and data management capability related to HIV/FP and RH integration activities; and, advises on targeted analyses of HIV/FP and RH data to inform program/project/activity planning and implementation. In addition, the Specialist provides technical assistance to USG financial teams and technical working groups in completing any relevant funding allocation tools that are useful for planning processes.
B. Program/Project/Activity Management (30%)
The Specialist serves as a Contracting or Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR) for Mission HIV/FP and RH integration programs; keeps the supervisor informed regularly of program implementation progress, results, and issues/problems on a timely basis; perceives, determines, and arranges for procurement of Short Term Technical Assistance (STTA), ensuring that objectives and outcomes of the TA are consistent with and support the furtherance of the Mission HIV/FP and RH integration effort; participates in and ensures the effectiveness of field visits to improve service delivery quality, including provision of recommendations on HIV/FP and RH integration; and, organizes site visits and prepares orientation materials for delegations from OGAC, USAID Headquarters, the Department of State, and other agencies, and plays a leading role in advising other Health Office colleagues on quality assurance/improvement methodologies and techniques in order to improve the performance of all health service providers. The Specialist monitors and makes recommendations to resolve implementation obstacles to ensure judicious use of USG funds and effective implementation of HIV/FP and RH integration interventions. The Specialist contributes to and participates in HIV/FP and RH related program evaluations to document and scale up proven best practices, identify and address challenges, improve program performance, and ensure continuous learning.
C. Representation and Reporting (20%)
The Specialist represents USAID and PEPFAR at designated national, regional, and international meetings, in particular those relating to HIV/FP and RH integration, including regular participation in national-level HIV/AIDS, FP/RH technical working groups and related committees; represents USAID on the inter-agency USG PEPFAR Inter-Agency Technical Team, along with the Team Leader; represent USAID at meetings outside of the HIV/FP and RH field, as requested by the Mission Director, Health Office Chief, or the Team Leader; responds to a wide range of work-related requirements as a member of the PEPFAR and FP/RH Team, including responding to requests for information from USAID Washington, OGAC, and the Congress; establishes strategic working relationships with senior host-government officials at the national and district level, donor agencies, civil society organizations, private-sector health counterparts, and Medical Associations in order to enhance the sharing of information on HIV/FP and RH integration, including changes in key policies, and legal and regulatory environments that could affect the implementation of USAID programs/projects/activities; and, serves as a USAID representative on inter-agency forums related to HIV/FP and RH.
The Specialist provides strategic and technical leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents, including the Country Operational Plan, Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justifications, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, and Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports; and, supports the annual PEPFAR budget preparation processes.
POSITION ELEMENTS
a. Supervision Received: The Specialist works under the very general supervision of the Health Office Chief and reports to the Maternal and Child Health/Family Planning/Reproductive Health (MCH/FP/RH) Team Leader. The supervisor makes assignments in terms of overall objectives and resources available. Completed work is reviewed in terms of achievement of program/project/activity goals, effectiveness in meeting host-country and USAID objectives, and integration with other initiatives in the Health Office and Mission portfolio. Some technical direction may come from other professionals in the Office; in general, however, the Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable autonomy and best judgment in discharging the duties of the assignment.
b. Supervision Exercised: Continuing supervision of other Health Office and/or Mission staff is not contemplated. Oversight of short- and medium- term technical contractors and TDYers is contemplated, requiring the Specialist to prepare interim performance assessments for long-term TDYers and contractors. The Specialist provides mentoring and coaching in key areas of HIV/FP/RH integration, especially on newly emerging evidence and approaches to foster common knowledge across the portfolio.
c. Available Guidelines: Available guidelines include USG program/ project/ activity guidance, rules, and requirements; USAID Mission Orders, Mission strategy, and other relevant reports; the Automated Directives System (ADS); USAID Mandatory and Standard Provisions, and the FAR and AIDAR; and, Emergency Plan guidelines, Country Operational Plans, the Mission and Host Government Five-Year Strategic Plans, and other published and unpublished guidelines. Guidelines are often general in nature and not specific to the situation at hand, requiring considerable interpretation.
d. Exercise of Judgement: Substantial judgment (discretion) is used daily in providing technical opinion and guidance to USG, USAID, and host-government colleagues, to IPs, and in representing USAID in stakeholder forums. Management decisions over certain IPs are at the discretion of the Specialist. Independent judgment is required for developing, implementing, and managing assigned programs/ projects/ activities, for reporting, and for other assignments. Substantial judgment is required in analyzing and determining whether or not to recommend approval of proposed programs/projects/activities, in choosing among alternative proposals, and in evaluating data for reliability.
e. Authority to Make Commitments: The Specialist exercises the authority given to CORs/AORs and activity managers and may make administrative arrangements consistent with ADS guidance and Mission and Health Office policy. The Specialist takes action and establishes priorities based on available guidelines and professional judgment. Guidance is sought when needed, and superiors informed of activity and project status. Within the scope of the authority delegated, the Specialist may indicate to ranking counterpart and IP officials that they will make a recommendation to USAID on a specific activity, issue, or problem. The Specialist has no independent authority to commit the USG to the expenditure of funds but may negotiate ad referendum for the supervisor.
f. Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The Specialist has a full range of contacts within the Mission, at all levels, and maintains contact with IPs implementing USAID-funded programs/projects/activities in the sector. Within the Embassy, contacts are with counterpart staffs, and with senior staff as needed. Host-government, local, and other, contacts vary widely with the type of activity being implemented, and may be at any level – including Ministerial, Deputy Minister, etc. Frequent and substantive personal contacts with senior-level officials of the host government, and with the private sector, are for the purpose of explaining and defending PEPFAR and USAID policies, objectives, and procedures, and to transmit and interpret host-government and private-sector attitudes and concerns to senior USAID officials. In addition, the Specialist provides technical assistance and guidance on HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment best practices to USG staff, and host government and NGO partners.
g. Time Expected to Reach Full Performance Level: One year (12 Months).
How to apply
How to Apply
Step 1: Register in MyJobsInKenya at www.myjobsinkenya.com
Step 2: Qualified Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages), a copy of your most recent Performance Evaluation Report, and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents as one attachment and upload to MyJobsInKenya.
OR
External Applicants/Not Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages) and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents as one attachment and upload to MyJobsInKenya.
Note to Applicants:
- Applications must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted through myjobsinkenya.com as stated in Section IV.
- Submissions will only be accepted through www.myjobsinkenya.com. Late and Incomplete applications (those that do not contain the applicant’s most current and up to date detailed CV and relevant education certificates) will not be considered for the position. The closing date for receipt of applications is indicated above.
3. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Any form of canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification.**
- USAID provides equal opportunity and equitable treatment for employment of all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status or sexual orientation.
5. USAID DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING) AND DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.