Country Technical Manager – Panama (Central America PEPFAR HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Program) At Global Communities

Overview

Location: Panama City, Panama

Reports to: Regional Program Director (RPD)

Please Note: This position is contingent upon award and CDC approval with an anticipated start date of June 2025.

Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 35 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable global community. We work with government, non-government, private sector and community stakeholders to promote transparency, foster accountability and access the channels they need to make their voices heard, promote change and realize their full potential.

Global Communities is seeking a Country Technical Manager– Panama for the anticipated CDC PEPFAR HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Program in Central America. This five-year, $85M program will enhance the capacity of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama to address gaps in HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment and accelerate progress towards achieving the 10-10-10 prevention objectives and 95-95-95 care targets. The program is expected to provide technical assistance to ministries of health (MoH) and other relevant stakeholders to prevent new infections; increase knowledge of HIV status and early diagnosis; improve treatment outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and enhance skills of healthcare workers involved in HIV prevention, testing and treatment services.

The Country Technical Manager will design and oversee the implementation of strategic HIV prevention, testing, care and treatment activities in Panama. We are looking for passionate, dedicated professionals to help us build the world we envision: one of expanded opportunity, where crises give way to resilience and all people thrive.

Responsibilities

Working under the direction of the RPD, the Country Technical Manager– Panama will oversee the implementation and day-to-day management of comprehensive HIV prevention, testing, care and treatment interventions, with the objectives of: achieving and reporting PEPFAR indicators, increased HIV case finding and reduced late HIV diagnosis among key populations and partners of index cases, sustained negative HIV test results among individuals on PreP, improved public health response to clusters of active HIV transmission and improved viral load suppression. Their responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:

• Lead the contextualized application of technical approaches for scaling of comprehensive HIV testing and prevention services to increase access to HIV testing and yield among key populations and index case partners, improved public health response to active transmission clusters and consistently high (>95%) linkage to treatment. Approaches will leverage the HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Sentinel Surveillance and Control of STIs Strategy (VICITS/CLAM).
• Lead, in coordination with the Regional Prevention and Testing Lead, the local contextualization and implementation of testing and prevention methods, including but not limited to index testing, differentiated service modalities at key population testing facilities, PrEP provision, rapid recency testing and response to clusters of recent transmission. Activities will also include the implementation of a surveillance information system.
• Lead, in coordination with the Regional Care and Treatment Lead, the local contextualization and implementation of treatment methods, including but not limited to care registries, early treatment initiation, differentiated service delivery models, opportunistic infection diagnosis and treatment, lost-to follow-up reengagement, quality assurance in viral load networks and management of advanced HIV disease and drug resistance monitoring.
• Ensure that programming links at risk but HIV-negative populations to prevention services.
• Increase knowledge of HIV status and early diagnosis by improving access to HIV testing through case-finding strategies.
• Foster an enabling environment for provision of services to mitigate the risk of human rights issues, stigma, discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence.
• As required, coordinate with the CDC to fulfil their customized program of assistance to each country, including: primary prevention of HIV infection through expanded confidential counseling and testing programs linked with behavioral change; strengthening the capacity of countries to collect and use surveillance data and manage national HIV/AIDS programs and strengthening laboratory support and developing and/or evaluating public health programs to inform, improve and target appropriate interventions related to the prevention of HIV/AIDS, TB and opportunistic infections.
• Strengthen and leverage private sector partners and encourage country ownership to ensure program outcome sustainability.
• Develop sustainable activities by working with community-based organizations on prevention-, testing-, and treatment-related program planning, implementation, coordination, communication and reporting.
• Foster an enabling environment by supporting program efforts to integrate testing and prevention protocols into national guidelines and systems, supporting, as required, MoH and other above-site stakeholders to achieve this goal.
• Support efforts to prevent, detect, respond and treat infectious and non-infectious diseases that impact HIV and populations affected by HIV.
• Oversee training, mentorship, and support of front-line providers to ensure delivery of high quality, patient-centered HIV prevention, care and treatment services based on the most current guidelines.
• Coordinate with other implementing partners, CDC, MoH, civil society organizations, municipal governments and other national and international stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher (or significant practical experience) in Public Health, Social and/or Behavioral Sciences or a related field, with specific emphasis on community-level health promotion and/or education.
• Minimum of six (6) years of professional experience, with three (3) years of experience in implementing US government-funded HIV(with PEPFAR experience preferred) testing, care and/or treatment programs for key and priority populations in a similar context.
• Demonstrated knowledge of combination HIV prevention, testing, care and treatment interventions for key populations and approaches to addressing gender issues relating to HIV prevention.
• Prior experience in building capacity for staff, partners, healthcare providers and relevant stakeholders in improving health.
• Substantial experience in Panama is required.
• Demonstrated experience working with community-based organizations targeting key populations and PLHIV is preferred.
• Proven experience in a supervisory position.
• Evidence of effective communication skills, both oral and written; strong interpersonal and analytical skills.
• Languages: Full Professional Proficiency in spoken and written Spanish is required.
• A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities is required.
• Local Panama nationals encouraged to apply.

Global Communities positively welcomes and seeks applications from all sections of society. We are committed to a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of everyone and offers equal opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

Global Communities holds strict safeguarding principles and has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. In the process of recruitment, selection, and appointment, Global Communities will conduct robust reference and background screening checks, including international vetting as a signature of the Global Misconduct Disclosure Scheme to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded, and abuse is prevented. The incumbent is required to carry out their duties in accordance with Global Communities Safeguarding policy and the Standards of Conduct.

Gerente Técnico Nacional -Panamá

Programa de prevención, atención y tratamiento del VIH (América Central)

Localización: Panamá City, Panamá

Depende de: Director Regional del Programa (DRP)

Nota: Este puesto depende de la adjudicación y la aprobación del CDC con una fecha de inicio prevista de junio 2025.

Visión general:

Global Communities trabaja en la intersección de la ayuda humanitaria, el desarrollo sostenible y la inclusión financiera para salvar vidas, promover la equidad y garantizar un futuro sólido. Apoyamos a las comunidades que están al frente de su propio desarrollo en más de 35 países, asociándonos con líderes locales, gobiernos, la sociedad civil y el sector privado para lograr una visión compartida de una comunidad mundial más justa, próspera y equitativa. Trabajamos con las partes interesadas gubernamentales, no gubernamentales, del sector privado y de la comunidad para promover la transparencia, fomentar la rendición de cuentas y acceder a los canales que necesitan para hacer oír su voz, promover el cambio y desarrollar todo su potencial.

Global Communities busca un Gerente Técnico de País – Panamá para el anticipado Programa de prevención, cuidado y tratamiento del VIH de los CDC PEPFAR en América Central. Este programa de cinco años y 85 millones de dólares mejorará la capacidad de El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá para abordar las deficiencias en la prevención, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento del VIH y acelerar el progreso hacia el logro de los objetivos de prevención 10-10-10 y de atención 95-95-95. Se espera que el programa proporcione asistencia técnica a los Ministerios de Salud (MdS) y a otras partes interesadas para prevenir nuevas infecciones, aumentar los conocimientos sobre el estado serológico y el diagnóstico precoz del VIH, mejorar los resultados del tratamiento entre las personas que viven con el VIH (PVVIH) y mejorar las aptitudes del personal sanitario que participa en los servicios de prevención, pruebas y tratamiento del VIH.

El Gerente Técnico Nacional diseñará y supervisará la ejecución de actividades estratégicas de prevención, pruebas, atención y tratamiento del VIH en Panamá. Buscamos profesionales apasionados y dedicados que nos ayuden a construir el mundo que imaginamos: un mundo de oportunidades ampliadas, donde las crisis den paso a la resiliencia y todas las personas prosperen.

Responsabilidades:

Trabajando bajo la dirección del DRP, el Gerente Técnico de País -Panamá supervisará la ejecución y la gestión diaria de las intervenciones integrales de prevención, pruebas, atención y tratamiento del VIH, con los objetivos de: alcanzar y reportar los indicadores del PEPFAR, aumentar la detección de casos de VIH y reducir el diagnóstico tardío del VIH entre las poblaciones clave y las parejas de los casos índice, mantener los resultados negativos de las pruebas del VIH entre las personas en PreP, mejorar la respuesta de salud pública a los grupos de transmisión activa del VIH y mejorar la supresión de la carga vírica. Sus responsabilidades incluirán, pero no se limitarán a:

• Dirigir la aplicación contextualizada de enfoques técnicos para la ampliación de los servicios integrales de pruebas y prevención del VIH con el fin de aumentar el acceso a las pruebas del VIH y el rendimiento entre las poblaciones clave y las parejas de casos índice, la mejora de la respuesta de la sanidad pública a los grupos de transmisión activa y la vinculación sistemáticamente alta (>95%) al tratamiento. Los enfoques aprovecharán la estrategia de vigilancia centinela del VIH y las infecciones de transmisión sexual y de control de las ITS (VICITS/CLAM).
• Dirigir, en coordinación con el Responsable Regional de Prevención y Pruebas, la contextualización local y la aplicación de métodos de pruebas y prevención, incluidos, entre otros, las pruebas índice, las modalidades de servicio diferenciadas en los centros de pruebas para poblaciones clave, el suministro de PrEP, las pruebas rápidas de recencia y la respuesta a grupos de transmisión reciente. Las actividades también incluirán la puesta en marcha de un sistema de información de vigilancia.
• Dirigir, en coordinación con el Responsable Regional de Cuidado y Tratamiento, la contextualización local y la aplicación de métodos de tratamiento, incluidos, entre otros, los registros de atención, el inicio temprano del tratamiento, los modelos diferenciados de prestación de servicios, el diagnóstico y tratamiento de infecciones oportunistas, la reinserción de los pacientes perdidos durante el seguimiento, la garantía de calidad en las redes de carga vírica y la gestión de la enfermedad avanzada del VIH y la vigilancia de la farmacorresistencia.
• Garantizar que los programas pongan en contacto a las poblaciones de riesgo pero seronegativas con los servicios de prevención.
• Aumentar el conocimiento del estado serológico y el diagnóstico precoz mejorando el acceso a las pruebas del VIH mediante estrategias de detección de casos.
• Foster an enabling environment for service delivery that mitigates the risk of human rights issues, stigmatization, discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence.
• As needed, coordinate with CDC to implement its tailored program of assistance to each country, including: primary prevention of HIV infection through expansion of confidential counseling and testing programs linked to behavior change; strengthening country capacity to collect and use surveillance data and manage national HIV/AIDS programs; and strengthening support for laboratories and the development and/or evaluation of public health programs to inform, improve, and guide appropriate interventions related to the prevention of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and opportunistic infections.
• Strengthen and leverage private sector partners and foster national ownership to ensure sustainability of programme results.
• Develop sustainable activities by working with community organizations in planning, implementing, coordinating, communicating and reporting on programs related to prevention, testing and treatment.
• Foster an enabling environment by supporting the programme’s efforts to integrate evidence and prevention protocols into national guidelines and systems, supporting, as needed, the MoH and other upstream stakeholders to achieve this goal.
• Support efforts to prevent, detect, respond to and treat infectious and non-infectious diseases affecting HIV and populations affected by HIV.
• Oversee training, mentoring and support to frontline providers to ensure delivery of high-quality, patient-centred HIV prevention, care and treatment services based on the most current guidelines.
• Coordinate with other implementing partners, CDC, MdS, civil society organizations, municipal governments and other national and international stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or higher (or significant practical experience) in Public Health, Social and/or Behavioral Sciences, or a related field, with specific emphasis on community-based health promotion and/or education.
• A minimum of six (6) years of professional experience, with three (3) years of experience implementing U.S. government-funded HIV testing, care and/or treatment programs (preferably with experience in PEPFAR programs) for key and priority populations in a similar context.
• Demonstrated knowledge of combined HIV prevention, testing, care and treatment interventions for key populations and approaches to address gender issues related to HIV prevention.
• Previous experience in training staff, partners, healthcare professionals and stakeholders in health improvement.
• Extensive experience in Panama is required.
• Demonstrated experience working with community-based organizations targeting key populations and PLHIV is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in a supervisory position.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills, both oral and written; strong interpersonal and analytical skills.
• Languages: Full professional competence in spoken and written Spanish is required.
• Passion for the mission and values ​​of Global Communities is required.
• Local citizens of Panama are encouraged to apply.

Global Communities welcomes and seeks applications from all sectors of society. We are committed to a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of all people and provides equal opportunities. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment.

Global Communities maintains strict safeguarding principles and has a zero tolerance policy for sexually exploitative, abusive and harassing behaviour. In the recruitment, selection and appointment process, Global Communities will carry out robust reference and background checks, including international vetting as a Global Misconduct Disclosure Scheme signatory to ensure the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and the prevention of abuse. The incumbent will be required to carry out their duties in accordance with Global Communities’ safeguarding policy and standards of conduct.