Latest Job Adverts
TECHNICAL ADVISOR |
USAID |
Advert
Posted 2019-03-07 01:33:51
USAID/ZAMBIA
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT NO. AID-002-19 – TECHNICAL ADVISOR
OPEN TO: All
Interested Candidates
POSITION: Technical
Advisor
OPENING DATE: March
4, 2019
CLOSING DATE:
March 22, 2019
WORK HOURS:
Full-time; 40 hours/week
SALARY RANGE: FSN-11 (ZMK 450,209.84 p.a. — ZMK 704,098.28 p.a.)
The
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Zambia is seeking
eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Technical Advisor in the
Health Office in Ndola.
BASIC FUNCTION:
This
position is located in the newly-created USAID/Zambia Health Provincial
Offices. The Technical Advisor position provides expert technical
oversight and support at the site level (facility, community, district, and
province) as needed to improve implementation of USAID-funded U.S. President’s
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) activities. The incumbent will
review program level implementation plans, and track overall progress in
improving health status over time. S/he may be designated as Agreement or
Contracting Officer Representative (A/COR) or Activity Manager for select USAID
awards and government-to-government agreements. S/he will support the
technical staff serving as A/CORs from Lusaka and will review and monitor work
plans and performance monitoring plans and provide timely feedback to the
A/COR.
The
Technical Advisor will conduct Site Improvement through Monitoring Systems and
data quality assessments visits. S/he will work with A/CORs to guide
implementing partners, tracking progress against performance indicators as part
of the Mission’s Performance Monitoring Plan and semi-annual and annual
portfolio review processes. The Advisor will work collaboratively with
the Zambian government to build local capacity on implementation of special
initiatives (e.g. Accelerating Children’s HIV/AIDS Treatment, Determined,
Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS), Saving Mothers,
Giving Life (SMGL). S/he will work with the provincial technical leads
for HIV and maternal and child health programs to plan and monitor
implementation of activities within the province and ensure that
USAID-supported activities are responsive to the national strategies for the
areas.
Program Management/Technical Oversight (35%)
§
Oversees
implementation of health funded activities and ensures that Implementing
Partners (IPs) are in compliance with host-government agreements, and with the
performance expectations outlined in their work plan and in their
contract/agreement with the USAID Health Team. Based on personal observations,
assessment reports, performance statistics, and other available data, makes
programmatic recommendations to the designated A/COR and the Health Team.
§
Ensures
that IPs are in compliance with all relevant USAID regulations and
procedures. Applies a specific and in-depth knowledge of applicable USG
laws, legislative directives, and regulations.
§
Provides
expert technical guidance on HIV, maternal and child health and other related
areas to IPs and GRZ counterparts; sharing state of the art program updates and
providing support to translate these into action.
§
Provides
technical and programmatic guidance to implementing partners on linking
HIV/AIDS activities with maternal and child health, family planning and
reproductive health, and other Mission activities.
§
Communicates
current research and high impact practices to the PMO, DCMOs, and provincial technical
leads.
§
Reports
and documents “success stories†and challenges from the provinces.
§
Works
collaboratively with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and builds
capacity to implement special initiatives such as ACT, DREAMS, SMGL at the
provincial level.
Monitoring and Evaluation (30%)
§
In
collaboration with the Health monitoring and evaluation (M&E) team and
A/CORs, conducts field visits to monitor the activities of implementing
partners within the province; tracks progress against program descriptions,
implementation plans and annual work plans; assess progress and barriers to
achievement, recommends action to A/COR for improvement or modifications to
address problems, and documents and highlights results.
§
Conducts
SIMS visits to monitor capacity at facility, community and above-site levels to
provide high-quality HIV/AIDS services in all program areas. Facilitates
the use of these data and quality outcomes to improve services within the
province.
§
Performs
DQAs on indicators related to the Health Team and perform routine project
monitoring. Works with the Health M&E team and all A/CORs to ensure
adequate site visits are taken.
Activity Management (15%)
§
Serves
as A/COR or an activity manager as determined by the Health Office Chief,
providing day-to-day oversight,
as well as strategic and
technical input and direction on annual work plans and performance monitoring
plans.
§
Reviews
financial and performance reports to ensure that partner(s) are in compliance
with bilateral government agreements and with the performance expectations
outlined in their work plan and contract/agreement(s) with USAID.
§
Ensures
compliance with PEPFAR, GHI, USAID regulations and host government agreements
as they relate to the specific mechanisms managed.
§
Maintains
specific and in-depth knowledge of applicable USG laws and legislative
directives, as well as regulations regarding allowable use of funds (e.g.,
family planning, HIV/AIDS).
Developing Linkages and Coordination (20%)
§
Works
collaboratively with technical staff under the Clinical Care and Communicable
Diseases Specialists from the PHO to ensure activities implemented are
well-aligned with the national priorities and strategies.
§
Actively
participates in PHO and DCMO technical, planning, and supervisory meetings to
ensure alignment of activities.
§
Perform
other duties as assigned by Senior Technical Advisor.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE:
A. Education: A Master’s degree in development, social sciences, public
health, health care management or other relevant field is required.
B. Prior Work Experience: At least five years of relevant
experience in implementing public health programs in developing countries.
C. Post Entry Training: Through on-the-job training (formal, informal and
self-taught), the Technical Advisor will become familiar with USAID systems and
requirements of the overall Health portfolio. The Job holder will need
COR/AOR training. S/he will obtain a clear understanding of USAID,
PEPFAR, PMI, SMGL, GHI, FTF and other health initiative policies, procedures
and regulations, including the Automated Directives System (ADS), Mission
Orders, and the annual planning and reporting databases. Training in USAID
implementation, auditing, and financial management will be provided as needed.
D. Language Proficiency (level and
specialization): Level IV – excellent English
communication skills, both oral and in written, are essential. Candidate
must have the ability to present information, analysis, and recommendations in
clear written and oral formats.
E. Knowledge: Sound knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention,
care and treatment, maternal and child health, and public health service
delivery programs and systems in Zambia; and a good understanding of Zambian
social, cultural and political contexts is required.
F. Skills and Abilities: 1) Demonstrated ability and
experience in the conceptualization, design, management, and performance
monitoring of complex development programs. 2) Excellent interpersonal
skills, required to establish and maintain a wide range of working-level
contacts with Health programs in government, non-governmental, and
private-sector circles. 3) Demonstrated ability to work effectively
within team and interagency environments. 4) Strong management and
analytical skills to strategize, develop and implement effective
USAID-supported Health programs. 5) Strong financial management and
administrative skills used to track the performance of implementing
partners. 6) Demonstrated ability to interpret, apply, and explain
program policy, guidelines, regulatory directives and related guidance.
7) Demonstrated ability to organize and present information and to draft clear,
concise documents. 8) Excellent computer skills, including ease in using
database, word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software applications
and email.
POSITION ELEMENTS:
A. Supervision Received: The Technical Advisor is directly supervised by the
Senior Technical Advisor. Desired results are outlined in broad terms.
Possible alternative approaches to achieve these results may be discussed, but
the choice of alternatives is often left to the discretion of the
employee. Problems of unusual difficulty or those not commonly associated
with the professional specialization or activity are discussed and resolved as
they arise. The Advisor’s performance is periodically reviewed with
regard to progress toward objectives, soundness, and effectiveness of decisions
and actions, and conformance with policies and regulations.
B. Supervision Exercised: None
C. Exercise of Judgment: A variety of successful examples exist in the development and
implementation of Health activities, but they do not always clearly indicate a
course of action. As a result, experienced judgment is required to analyze,
interpret and adapt prior experience, and to be innovative. The Technical
Advisor exercises substantial independent judgment in planning, managing,
monitoring and evaluating program activities, in reporting results, and in
other important aspects of the position. The work involves many different,
complex, and interrelated processes. The political environment requires a high
degree of sensitivity and diplomacy in establishing dialogue and developing
interventions to encourage improved Health programs in a sustainable manner.
The position requires managing for results in collaboration with a wide range
of Zambian government organizations, training institutions, NGOs, FBOs, CBOs,
international PVOs, and other international organizations.
D. Authority to Make Commitments: The incumbent will have no
independent authority to commit funds on behalf of the U.S. Government or
USAID/Zambia.
E. Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The Technical Advisor provides
professional technical leadership, advice, and guidance that is vital to the
achievement of PEPFAR, PMI, SMGL, FTF, and GHI goals and targets in
Zambia. S/he is a team and implementing partner resource for HIV and other
health expertise. S/he provides expert technical advice and guidance to
U.S. Government Foreign Service National (FSN) staff, who manage implementing
partners whose primary activities are within the province, as well as managing
other multi-activity cooperative agreements as assigned.
F. Available Guidelines: Available
administrative guidelines establish a broad pattern of operation that requires
frequent need to exercise judgment and interpretation, and provides an
opportunity for initiative and innovation. Relevant guidelines include
the USAID Automated Directives System (ADS), PEPFAR, and PMI guidelines,
Country Operational Plans, Malaria Operational Plans, Health Investment Plan,
Country Development Cooperation Strategy, National Health Strategic Plan,
Mission Orders and other directives.
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT:
Subject
to availability of funds, this will be a five-year contract, with an option to
extend, depending upon continuing need of the services.
BENEFITS:
The
position has been classified at a FSN-11 levels. The actual salary of the
successful candidate will be negotiated within that range depending on
qualifications and previous earnings history.
APPLYING:
Qualified
candidates should send:
1. A formal application letter or
cover letter;
2. A current CV;
3. Photocopies of all professional
certificates and degrees;
4. A fully complete application
form DS-174 (available online at https://eforms.state.gov/forms/ds174.pdf);
5. Contact information for at least
three professional references.
SUBMIT ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS TO:
EXOZambiaHR@usaid.gov (E-mailed applications required.)
The email subject heading must read: Application: Technical Advisor – Ndola, AID-002-19
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.