HIV PREVENTION LEAD at I Choose Life

I Choose Life – Africa (ICL) is a youth-focused organization that seeks to empower youth in Kenya and across Africa as the foundation for sustainable development. Registered in 2004 and working closely with Government, ICL has over 17 years of experience implementing evidence-based adolescents and youth programs in over 345 institutions (Primary, Secondary, and Higher learning institutions) across 26 Counties in Kenya. The organization implements programs in Health and Nutrition, Education, Economic Empowerment, and Leadership and Governance Sectors. To ensure maximum impact in these sectors, ICL utilizes a multi-sectoral approach, the Quadra Helix development approach (which brings together the Government, Private sector, Academia, and Civil society) to foster innovative and sustainable transformation in communities.

Vision & Mission: ICL’s Vision Statement: Healthy Africa, Empowered People!

ICL’s Mission Statement: To empower the youth by increasing their life opportunities for sustainable development.

Job Purpose: ICL seeks an HIV Prevention Lead for an anticipated CDC-funded PEPFAR opportunity in Kenya. The Activity is expected to be a five-year contract to advance Sustainable Implementation of Comprehensive HIV Prevention and Treatment Programs in Faith-based and Private Sites in Nairobi, the Coast, and Western Regions.

This position is contingent upon an award from the CDC.

Job Summary: Reporting to the Principal Investigator, The HIV Prevention Lead will optimize the coverage and quality of HIV prevention programs at national and sub-national levels. The position will provide overall technical leadership and support in the design, planning, and implementation of all HIV prevention programs (including HIV testing services, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission program, key population program, Adolescent and young people program, PrEP program, Voluntary Medical Male circumcision program, and condom program) as well as integration of HIV prevention with sexual and reproductive health and other health and non-health sector. The position will collaborate closely with HIV prevention program leads at NASCOP and NACC and other relevant stakeholders to achieve HIV prevention targets utilize evidence and data to inform program strategy to address gaps.

Job Responsibilities

• Oversee technical and programmatic approaches for scale-up of comprehensive HIV prevention services to ensure that target at-risk populations for HIV infection are reached, tested, and effectively linked to high-quality prevention and treatment services.
• Lead HIV prevention-related program design, planning and management, implementation, coordination, communication, and reporting with partners
• In partnership with other partners, create an enabling environment for the provision of KP and PP services to address human rights issues stigma, and mitigate discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence
• Lead-in the integration of the three components of HIV Prevention, including biomedical, Behavioural, and Structural Interventions
• Oversee training, mentorship, and support of front-line providers to ensure delivery of high quality, patient-centered HIV prevention services based on the most current guidelines
• Support all partners to ensure comprehensive implementation of HIV prevention services to the target population and follow stipulated plans such as work plans, CQIs, Monitoring frameworks, etc
• Support coordination of HIV prevention response by activating and facilitating regular meetings of national-level coordination committees and ensuring technical strategies and program performance is discussed.

Minimum qualifications

1. Master’s degree or higher in Public Health, Social and/or Behavioral Sciences or a related field, with specific emphasis on community-level health promotion and/or education.
2. Minimum of twelve (10) years of professional experience, with five (5) years of experience in designing and implementing large-scale US government-funded HIV prevention and support projects for key and priority populations in a similar context
3. Proven experience in project development, planning, and facilitating technical training

Knowledge and skills

• In-depth knowledge of the Kenyan public health sector and clinical settings, including governmental and non-governmental settings
• Demonstrated experience with a mix of practical technical skills in HIV prevention necessary for strengthening service delivery at the national, county, or community level.
• Clinical management and training experience and ability to understand the full range of issues around the prevention of HIV
• Interpersonal skills and ability to work well in teams and other stakeholders outside the organization
• Demonstrated management and team-building skills, including relevant experience in direct supervision of professional staff
• Articulate and communicate in a clear, professional manner with clients and staff.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the social, political, ethical issues surrounding HIV infections and population-based programming
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage a high-volume workflow, adhere to timelines with minimal supervision, and lead and work collaboratively with others.
• Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) are essential.
• Fluent in written and spoken English and Kiswahili.

Child Safeguarding: In line with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCRC), ICL strives to keep children safe in all its undertakings. The successful applicant will be required to read, understand, and commit to abide by ICL Child Safeguarding Policy and guidelines. The individual will sign the policies to indicate an understanding of and commitment to follow the policy requirements.