Project Management Specialist (Testing and Linkages) at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking to employ a suitable and qualified candidate for the position below:

Job Title: USAID Project Management Specialist (Testing and Linkages)

Solicitation No.: 72062019R10008
Location: Abuja, Nigeria with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Work.
Period of Performance: Five (5) years renewable
Security Level Required: Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU)

Basic Function of the Position

• The USAID Project Management Specialist (Testing & Linkages) (PMS T&L) reports to the Supervisory Project Management Specialist - Prevention in the Office of HIV/AIDS & TB.
• S/he ensures the quality implementation and scale-up of HIV/AIDS testing services and interventions among priority populations and key populations.
• This includes supporting implementing partners to effectively manage and monitor day-to-day HIV testing services.
• S/he serves as an Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) as assigned. The job holder is required to perform work-related travel.

Major Duties and Responsibilities
Technical Support (35%):

• The PMS T&L leads the design and oversight of HTS activities for the Community Linkages team focused on priority and key populations in close collaboration with the HTS lead from the Care and Treatment team.
• The job holder provides technical expertise to improve the uptake of HTS across priority and key populations and to ensure that those who test positive are linked to antiretroviral treatment.
• S/he contributes to development of key indicators to track progress toward achieving program results, and ensures that indicators are regularly reported, reviewed used to monitor IP performance as well as overall program performance.
• The job holder serves as a key technical resource for the PEPFAR inter-agency team, regularly attending technical working group meetings and reviewing monitoring data across inter-agency IPs.
• S/he provides specific, strategic guidance on how to correct course when needed; when and how to scale up proven HTS interventions; and how to work effectively with Government of Nigeria (GON) counterparts to implement national- and state- level HTS programs.

Project Management (35%):

• The PMS T&L serves as the Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR), or contracting officer’s Representative (COR) for assigned activities. This includes ensuring that IPs report required financial, programmatic and indicator reports on time; reviewing those reports; and following up on performance issues as needed.
• S/he ensures that performance monitoring systems for HTS programs are in place and that periodic, reliable indicators of program/project impact are established.
• The job holder manages IP performance by regularly reviewing monitoring data and providing technical feedback and direction to ensure results. This includes monthly reviews, particularly of indicator data; quarterly and annual reviews of routine IP reports; and review of other reports as and when needed.
• The job holder conducts regular site visits to monitor and review program implementation both of USAID IPs as well as PEPFAR inter-agency activities.

Representation & Analysis (30%):

• The PMS T&L provides technical analysis and other input on HTS and bi-directional referral linkages for priority and key populations to the PEPFAR HTS technical working group as required in preparation for Nigeria PEPFAR Country Operational Plan (COP); monthly, quarterly and annual USG reporting requirements; and internal USAID monitoring, reporting and strategic planning needs.
• S/he monitors and reports on relevant aspects of GON policies, laws and regulations as it relates to HTS and to overall HIV/AIDS & TB development issues as relevant.

Supervisory Relationship

• The PMS T&L works under the direct supervision of the Supervisory Project Management Specialist – Prevention who provides overall objectives and expected results to be achieved, assigns specific tasks, provides suggested approaches to consider and reviews completed reports and assignments. Assignments are made orally and in writing. Achievements are regularly reviewed and feedback provided.

Supervisory Controls

• Full supervision of other USAID staff is not contemplated. The exercise of administrative supervision and technical guidance to technical office staff on testing and linkages is contemplated.

Area of Consideration:

• Offerors must be Nigerian citizens.

Physical Demands:

• The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Minimum Qualifications Required for this Position
Education:

• Minimum of Bachelor's degree in Public Health; Epidemiology; Health Care Management; or other related discipline is required.

Prior Work Experience:

• A minimum of five years of progressive professional level experience in HIV/AIDS and/or TB public health programming is required.
• This must include at least two years of experience working with HIV/AIDS key populations; and at least two years in HTS or TB diagnostics program design, planning, coordination and implementation.
• Experience managing HIV/AIDS and/or TB programs in a decentralized health systems context is required.
• Experience in HIV/AIDS or TB program design, strategic planning, program management, implementation and evaluation, particularly with regard to testing and diagnostic services, is highly desired.

Language Proficiency:

• Level IV fluency in English for speaking, reading and writing is required.

Job Knowledge:

• Detailed professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts and practices, especially as they relate to HTS or TB diagnostics and to public health and HIV/AIDS and TB priorities and programming in Nigeria, is required.

Skills and Abilities:

• The job holder must have strong verbal communication skills and diplomatic skills in order to form good working relations with high level GON officials, other development partners and external stakeholders.
• Verbal communication skills must be sufficient to explain complex data analyses and interpret PEPFAR attitudes, priorities, and concerns.
• Writing skills must be sufficient to prepare and edit regular and ad-hoc reports in keeping with Agency and PEPFAR requirements.
• The job holder must have advanced ability to use IT software specific to health programs and must be proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word and email platforms.
• S/he must have strong capacity to manage activity goals and achievements, both technical and financial; must have skills in project programming and strategy development; and must be able to work effectively in a team environment to achieve consensus on policy, project and administrative matters.
• The job holder must have capacity to acquire knowledge of US Government legislation, policy and practice relating to development assistance; programming policies, regulations and procedures; and to the objectives, methodology and documentation of assigned activities.

Evaluation and Selection Factors

• After the closing date for receipt of applications, all applications will initially be screened for adherence to application instructions and conformity with minimum qualifications expressed in Section II, and a short list of applicants will be developed.
• Following this initial review and short listing, a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) will be convened to review eligible applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation factors. Applications from candidates which do not meet the minimum requirements will not be scored. Those applications from qualified offerors meeting the required minimum qualifications will be assessed based on the following selection/evaluation factors:
  • Education (10 points)
  • Prior Work Experience (20 points)
  • Language Proficiency (10 points)
  • Job Knowledge (30 points)
  • Skills and abilities (30 points)
• Total Possible Points: 100 points.

Benefits, Allowances/Market Value
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits, allowances and market value:
Benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Annual Salary Increase (if applicable)
• Annual and Sick leave
• Annual Bonus

Allowances (as applicable):

• Transportation Allowance
• Meal Allowance
• Miscellaneous Allowance
• Housing Allowance

Market Value:
N11,335,349.00 - N17, 089,363.00 equivalent to FSN-10; 40 Hours per week. In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of United States Mission, Nigeria (Effective July 8, 2018). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

Application Closing Date
15th April, 2019.

• Application for US Federal Employment (DS - 174) ; or a current resume or curriculum vitae that provides the same information as a DS - 174;
• Any documentation that supports or addresses the requirements listed above (e.g. transcripts, degrees, NYSC certificate/exemption etc.).
• A type-written and signed application letter specifically applying for this position, and addressing the minimum requirements as advertised. Please reference the job title and announcement number on the application letter.
• Limit all electronic (e-mail) submission to one entry/email not larger than 5MB. Please submit attachments in PDF and Word formats, not pictures. E-mails received without the appropriate subject line and incomplete applications will not be considered.

Submit Applications package to: [email protected]

Click here to download the Position Descriptions (PDF)

Click here to download Application Form for Employment as a Locally Employed Staff or Family Member (DS-174) (PDF 1.78 MB)

Click here to download the Instructions for Completing DS-174 (PDF 2.40 MB)

List of Required Forms for PSC Hires
Once the CO) informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms:

• Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)
• RSO Security Questionnaire
• BI Guide Questionnaire 
• THOR Enrollment Intake Form

Taxes

• The Mission emphasize to its employees of the fact that they are obliged to observe Nigerian Laws, including those concerning income and related tax obligations. Payment of such taxes is a matter between the individual employee and the Nigerian Government. In the absence of a specific international agreement, the U.S. Government will not withhold local taxes from an employee’s salary.

Note

• Applications determined to be competitively ranked may be further evaluated based on interview performance, written assessments and/or satisfactory professional reference checks.
• USAID reserves the right to interview only the highest ranked applicants in person or by phone OR not to interview any candidate.
• Reference checks will be made only for offerors considered as finalist.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.
• Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified above.
• To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.