Program Specialist - Orphans & Vulnerable Children (OVC) at the U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Specialist - Orphans & Vulnerable Children (OVC) - All Interested Candidates

Announcement Number: Abuja-2021-135
Location: Abuja
Series/Grade: LE - 0550 11
Promotion Potential: LE-11
Hiring Agency: Embassy Abuja
Work Schedule: Full-time - 40 hours per week

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
  • For USEFM - FP is 5/1.  Actual FP salary determined by Washington D.C.
  • All Interested Applicants / All Sources
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period.

Summary

• The work schedule for this position is: Full Time (40 hours per week)
• Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (6 weeks) of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances / certifications or their candidacy may end.
• Supervisory Position: No
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required:
  • 25% or less
  • Job holder is required to travel outside of the City regularly via automobile, exposing him/her to road hazards of rural travel.

Duties
Basic Function of the Position:

• The incumbent under the supervision of the Team Lead, Community Care and Treatment for CDC Nigeria Office (Abuja) will be responsible for providing project support to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), contributing to the planning of a national program of care and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), with emphasis on Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). 
• She/he will assist in the development and coordination of assessment activities and will establish the program’s guidelines, procedures and strategies.
• This position provides the CDC office with the necessary management, psychosocial, community mobilization and social services expertise to apply to the management of CDC-sponsored supportive care activities aimed at mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS on children and their families in an integrated and holistic manner.
• She/he ensures collaboration among CDC and other USG partners involved in OVC Care and Support (C&S) programs and takes the lead in promoting the use of internationally recognized best practices in care and support for OVC households among CDC-sponsored programs in Nigeria.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years progressively responsible professional work experience in planning, coordinating and conducting community based service provision and delivering services to children and their families.
• A minimum of 3 of these years must be with HIV/AIDS orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) programs in the planning, developing, managing and evaluating child development or social protection activities in the community with donor organizations, government and non-governmental organization is required.

Job Knowledge:

• Comprehensive knowledge of current HIV/AIDS issues with emphasis on care facilities for orphans and care / treatment of vulnerable children, with some project management skill is required.
• Advanced knowledge of Nigeria’s health care system and structures including familiarity with Ministry of Health policies, program priorities and regulations, health disparities, techniques, principles and methods of health care policy analysis is required.
• Specialist knowledge of HIV/AIDS public health OVC programs, strategies, monitoring and evaluation systems, data analysis and use, and field experience in processes and techniques used to plan, develop, implement and assess OVC projects are required.
• Incumbent must have a strong understanding of social welfare and HIV/AIDS structures and systems in host country, particularly as related to OVC.

Education Requirements:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Nursing, Psychology, Public Health, Development Studies, Public Diplomacy, International Relations, Medicine, Demography / Statistics or Business related fields is required.

Evaluations:

• This may be tested. Please specify in your application your level of proficiency in the language listed.

Language:  

• Level IV (Fluent) Speaking / Writing / Reading English is required.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong oral and written communications skills are required to develop and maintain effective, sustainable working relationships with partners, government officials and other stakeholders.
• Ability to lead project teams and work groups and to develop effective working relationships with partners; to consult and collaborate effectively with all levels both within and outside their organization.
• Ability to exercise considerable ingenuity in applying guidelines to unique and different settings, as the work is highly complex and can be threatening to stakeholders.
• Good computer skills with experience in word processing and spreadsheets is required.

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 Lagos, Nigeria 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.

Marketing Statement:

• We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

Salary
NGN15,890,203 (USD58,767) Annually.

Application Closing Date
24th December, 2021.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Important Information

• All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Public Trust clearance.
• To apply for this position click the "APPLY TO THIS VACANCY” button at the top of the page. Click on the “Submit Application” button to complete your application process. For more information on how to apply visit the Mission internet site.

Required Documents

• In order to qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested diploma and / or transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you will not be considered for this position.
  • Residency and/or Work Permit (if applicable)
  • Degree (not transcript)
  • NYSC Certificate
  • Certificate or License
• For EFMs, in addition to the above:
  • Copy of Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
  • DD-214 - Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
  • SF-50 (if applicable)

Next Steps:

• Applicants who are invited to take a language or skills test, or who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email.
• For further information - the complete position description listing all of the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, etc. may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Office.
• Thank you for your application and your interest in working at the U.S. Mission in Abuja, Nigeria.