US Embassy
DUE: 21 FEB 2023
DUTIES
This position is a senior program specialist and key public health technical advisor to the official responsible for HIV/AIDS Strategic Information (SI) activities within the agency in country. The Public Health Specialist (Surveillance) works under the supervision of the Strategic Information Branch Chief and serves as primary contact for the CDC Zimbabwe surveillance and epidemiology portfolio. This position works at a project management level with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC), implementing partners, non-governmental organizations, multi-lateral organizations, contractors, and grantees to coordinate the design and ensure appropriate, high-quality implementation and strengthening of surveillance systems as defined in the Country Operational Plan (COP). The individual will provides technical expertise and assistance to the MOHCC and other implementing partners and is responsible for coordinating, managing and facilitating all CDC Zimbabwe surveys and disease surveillance, activities funded through the President’s Emergency Pan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), including the design of routine disease surveillance activities with the MOHCCC and other relevant Ministries, conducting of large, complex surveys designed to measure HIV/AIDS prevalence, drug resistance and other indicators of importance to evaluating the impact of HIV/AIDS control programs.
This position works in cooperation with staff from the Government of Zimbabwe at all levels to apply disease-reporting procedures, population-based surveillance methodologies, and capacity building activities to ensure that the PEPFAR program objectives are met. They are responsible for the development of scope of work, project plans and timelines, and for reviewing protocols, questionnaires, and standard operating procedures for these activities. They will oversee budgeting, strategic planning, COP development, development of Notice of Funding Opportunities, and PEPFAR reporting in the informatics and surveillance technical areas
Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:
EXPERIENCE:
5 years of mid- to senior-level public health experience in the management and development of epidemiological surveillance, large scale surveys of HIV/AIDS/AIDS prevention, treatment or care programs, and health information systems are required.
JOB KNOWLEDGE
Job holder is required to have detailed knowledge of research methods and the collection, analysis, and presentation of surveillance data. A detailed specialist knowledge of HIV/AIDS public health programs, strategies, survey, methods, processed and techniques used to plan, develop, implement, and valuate results of surveillance data is required. The incumbent must have a detailed understanding of the structure and functions of PEPFAR, including detailed knowledge of the agency’s role and function in support of PEPFAR, participating agency and other USG policies, guidelines, and procedures for memoranda of understanding, administration of grants, contracts and cooperative agreements; and intra agency procedures for coordination with agency headquarters and Embassy management.
The job holder must have a detailed and broad knowledge of the host country public health operational environment, including a detailed knowledge of the structure and operations of the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Ministry of Education, and other host government ministries and offices, the environment for health care delivery at the national, regional, district and community level and the knowledge of routine disease surveillance systems available in country. Position must have a detailed understanding of the structure and function of endemic and international NGOs providing HIV/AIDS prevention and basic palliative care, as well as understanding of the work and current projects of other collaborating and donor agencies as to how overall HIV/AIDS/AIDS surveillance of the programs is being conducted and how data is being analyzed. The individual must be very familiar with both host country and CDC policies, procedures, and guidelines on HIV/AIDS surveillance and activities and must demonstrate high analytical and judgment abilities and be able to proffer solutions to identified challenges. This position must understand health informatics, translational and applied epidemiology in order to adequately carry out the required duties.
Education Requirements:
Master of Public Health (MPH or MSPH) public health policy, epidemiology, demography, or behavioral science is required.
Evaluations:
LANGUAGE:
Level IV English is required (fluency in speaking, reading, writing)
Level II Shona/Ndebele (Limited knowledge; speaking, reading & writing)
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Advanced overall computer skills (keyboarding with both speed and accuracy) and advanced skill level in use of at least one of the more common epidemiologic data analysis software (STATA, SAS, SPSS, R) is required. Advanced numerical skills for manipulating and reporting data is required via Excel. Advance analytical skills to readily understand and discuss new program design, management and implementation are required. This includes the development of survey designs, use of reliable and valid instruments, and methods for data collection, analysis and reporting. Strong management skills are required to operate independently with limited direct supervision of day-to-day activities and to lead results driven projects teams and workgroups. The incumbent will be expected to exercise tact in applying PEPFAR guidelines to unique and different public health activities.
Ability to persuade others, ingenuity and innovation will be required to influence collaborative organizations engaged in HIV/AIDS/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programs to adopt appropriate strategies for improving the surveillance, survey, and health information system process. This position is expected to execute several tasks and responsibilities both technical and managerial. The job is complex, requiring a highly level of analytical and judgment abilities. The job holder should be able to adapt to working in an environment with varying competing demands and be able to modify existing processes to achieve organizational objectives.
The position holder will function with a high degree of work plan independence and must be able to provide high quality judgment related to modification of activities when issues arise. High degree of innovation is required as the job holder will mentor the implementing partners and provide technical assistance to government and partners through the various capacity development stages.
This may be tested
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO): 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.
Qualifications:
All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.
Benefits and Other Info
Benefits:
Agency Benefits:
Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Harare may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.
For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.
The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.
Other Information:
HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS: Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below. Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.
HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER:
AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
AEFM / USEFM
FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **
* IMPORTANT: Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), equivalent documentation, or certification. A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.
** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link.
TO APPLY
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