Reference No.: AID-15-24
Position/Salary Range: Malaria Program Specialist; FSN-11
Additional benefits include allowances for Housing, Transportation,
Meals, Family, and Miscellaneous; 13th and 14th month bonuses;
annual and sick leave and medical coverage
Open To: All DRC citizens
Location: USAID/Democratic Republic of Congo
Kinshasa, DRC
Opening: August 26, 2015
Closing: September 17, 2015
Work Hours: Full-Time; 40 hours/week
USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), an equal opportunity employer, seeks applicants for the above position.
Completion of a Master’s degree in Public Health, social science, international development or related fields and a fluency in French and English (Level IV) both in oral and written communication is a requirement for this position.
Basic Function of Position:
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is recruiting one person to serve as a Malaria Program Specialist (MPS). The job holder, in collaboration with the USAID and CDC President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) Advisors, will be part of the Mission’s Health Team and assist in overseeing the planning, management and monitoring of multiple projects and activities in the malaria control project within the USAID’s Mission in the DRC program portfolio. The position is based in Kinshasa.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Program Management
Job holder, in collaboration with the malaria team, is responsible for all aspects of agency malaria programs and activities: planning, organizing, implementing, coordinating, and monitoring for results. Serves as a consultant to host government and other in-country partners in matters related to national activities aimed at malaria services. Serves as a permanent member of the PMI/DRC Country Team. S/he shall consider the macro picture of the health portfolio while focusing on malaria activities and work with the entire health team to achieve maternal and child mortality reduction goals. Job holder will specifically focus on all malaria activities that are implemented in one of three focus catchment areas for the USAID/DRC PMI Program.
In carrying out these responsibilities, job holder:
1) Takes an active role in developing specific agency program goals and objectives for malaria initiatives. Incumbent prepares directives, memoranda, policy statements and proposals to introduce new initiatives and to recommend effective operations consistent with strategic objectives of the President’s Malaria Initiative and the agency’s PMI program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The annual agency budget for malaria programs in the DRC in fiscal year 2014 is $50 million. Works in close collaboration with other health program elements to ensure coordination and integration of malaria activities in the health portfolio. Participates in the development of planning documents such as the Malaria Operational Plan (MOP) and DRC Mission Project Appraisal Documents (PAD).
2) Works closely with senior and mid-level host government ministry officials, specifically with officials from the National Malaria Control Program, Global Fund partners, international and non-governmental organizations to: a) ensure sound management of malaria interventions implemented in the country writ large and through PMI;
b) coordinate outreach that raises awareness among civic and social organizations of malaria issues and services available; c) provide technical assistance to ensure that malaria activities are based on the latest relevant science and that scientific knowledge is translated into guidelines, practices and program change; and d) influence other collaborative organizations engaged in malaria programs to adopt appropriate strategies for their program activities. Specific technical areas may include but are not limited to: case management of malaria including diagnosis in health facilities and at the community level, distribution of malaria commodities and LLINs through health facilities, large-scale “universal coverage” campaigns, work with the private sector, intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women, and development of information, education and communications and behavior change communication (IEC/BCC) materials to promote the use of these interventions.
3) Monitors, provides guidance to and oversees results of activities funded through grants, contracts, cooperative agreements and other mechanisms to accomplish malaria program strategic objectives. Job holder monitors implementation activities and collaborates with each partner organization on a regular basis to ensure program results are achieved and all malaria-related study protocols meet human subject requirements and pass through ethical review with the appropriate Agency authority. This involves regular site visits and meetings with representatives of each organization to review progress.
Coordination of such activities involves close working relationships with senior to mid-level public health officials in the Ministry of Health (MOH), UN, NGO and civil society organizations, and other bilateral organizations to make sure that malaria programs and activities are carried out correctly and in a timely manner. Job holder presents findings and recommendations for appropriate remedial action to correct identified program deficiencies to the head of section.
4) Ensures that USG-supported activities conform to international and national guidelines as well as to agency technical strategies concerning all aspects of malaria programming, including integration of malaria services within existing maternal and child health programs and service provision protocols. Job holder supports host government and USG in efforts to enhance linkages and collaboration between malaria and other relevant technical areas, e.g. antenatal care, community-based services, laboratory. This includes partnering with agency and inter-agency colleagues in other health programs to ensure that collaborative service delivery networks include comprehensive malaria services and protocols.
5) Provides latest information either through written materials or briefings to implementing partner staff on data collection methodologies and monitors process and progress in collecting data. Job holder makes sure that appropriate malaria objectives are achieved by helping to develop systems for the collection, analysis, and reporting of malaria program activities data. Job holder assists the Strategic Information (SI) section in monitoring activity data collection integrity and reporting.
6) Ensures technical and financial reports on PMI implementation are prepared and submitted as required. Prepares regular and frequent oral and written reports (including feedback on technical and program reports) to the chief of party/country director, inter-agency PMI committees and other interested parties on the progress of specific malaria program activities. Independently summarizes, and writes up findings of research and other malaria program findings to be used for reports, proposals, publications and presentations at national and international meetings. Job holder provides advice and recommendations to chief of section and/or supervisor and other agency officials in interpreting data on health objectives and indicators related to malaria.
7) As Contract/Agreement Officer’s Representative and/or Program Manager of one or more activities, carries out management responsibilities for cooperative agreements, grants and contracts associated with malaria services. Job holder provides technical direction for proposals that result in a grant, contract and/or cooperative agreement for malaria programs. This ensures consistency with PMI policies and host country policies and regulations.
8) Job holder oversees the public health technical aspects in development of the Scope of Work, Funding Opportunity Announcement, Request for Application, or Annual Program Statement and reviews applications, supplemental awards, and requests for extensions for activities under his/her purview. Once grant/cooperative agreement/contract is in place, participates with implementing partners in the development of work plans for implementation of activities, oversees performance of cooperating partners/contractors, carries out technical reviews, reviews progress, identifies potential issues and informs supervisor, recommending actions for amelioration.
Coordination and Liaison Services 15%
As a specialist on matters pertaining to malaria programs, job holder represents USG at technical, policy and strategic planning meetings, including meetings with collaborators and donor agencies. Briefs senior agency officials, PMI and U.S. Mission country team and interested officials of other USG agencies as appropriate on the results of such meetings and prepares written reports for submission to other interested parties.
Job holder participates as an agency representative at inter-agency administrative and strategic planning meetings where recommendations for countrywide financial commitment targets for malaria programs are developed.
Such meetings may include representatives of PMI implementing agencies: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and USAID.
Job holder may serve as an agency representative on inter-agency technical working groups (TWGs) for purposes of: a) assessing existing in-country assets and activities supporting the minimum package of malaria services and developing approaches to strengthening such activities with minimal overlap and unnecessary duplication; b) ensuring effective coordination of work plan development, implementation strategies, and evaluation plans for all USG agency malaria activities in DRC; c) assessing program needs and issues at the local level and develop strategies for communicating these needs/issues to the national level; and d) based on information received in the national committees, recommending revisions to the USAID Mission and PMI team program policies and guidelines for malaria services.
Establishes and maintains working relationships through participation in meetings, seminars, receptions and similar types of activities with U.S. Embassy staff, various host government, private sector and non-governmental representatives to further the ability of the incumbent to gain insight into evolving issues and concerns of interest to USAID. Liaises with State (Embassy and Washington-based staff) to communicate progress and achievements of USAID malaria programs and advance coordination. Provides input to organization of site visits, drafting of memos for high-level USG officials from Washington and for the Ambassador.
Administrative Management 20%
Incumbent is responsible for providing oversight and monitoring the budgets allocated to implementing/cooperative agreement partners within the job holder's portfolio. This includes reviewing budget requests for appropriateness; monitoring use of funds for adherence to proposed activities; quarterly pipeline reviews/budget status reports; following up on irregular findings; providing advice for realignments of budgets; and accruals.
Job holder maintains files and records specific to the activities/programs for which incumbent is responsible. Working closely with the Strategic Information (SI) team, job holder is responsible for data integrity and security of information specific to malaria. Job holder maintains other program files that include reports, meeting summaries and minutes, copies of all grants/cooperative agreements/contracts, research determinations, panels, and awards. Whenever possible these records will be filed electronically.
Job holder prepares and occasionally presents briefings for Congressional and Executive delegations, industry leaders and other high-level visitors; participates in making arrangements for visits and serve as spokesperson as required. S/he serves as control officer for site visits for agency and inter-agency PMI senior-level officials.
Other Tasks as assigned by office director or his/her designee
Required Qualifications at the Full Performance Level:
Education:
A Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, International Development or in related fields.
Prior Work Experience:
At least 5 years of experience progressively responsible professional-level experience in the management and implementation of regional and/or national level health programs in malaria control, with an emphasis on preventive public health programs is required. At least 3 years of this experience should be in public-health related work with other donor organizations, host government organizations or private sector institutions in the developing world, and preferably in the DRC or neighboring countries.
Specialized experience in malaria or other health program management is desired in areas including but not limited to vector control, entomology, and epidemiology. Prior work experience with other donor organizations or multilateral organizations, in areas of program management, implementation and administration is highly desirable.
Language Proficiency:
Level IV (fluent) in written and spoken English, and French is required. Level III ability in one more Congolese Languages is desirable (e.g. Lingala, Swahili).
Knowledge:
Job holder must possess comprehensive knowledge of health programs, policies, regulations, precedents, protocols and ethical considerations applicable to the development and administration of health development programs in DRC. A detailed working knowledge of host government and international public health systems is required.
Job holder must have a good working knowledge of a range of U.S. Government public health programs and strategies and a detailed understanding of the President’s Malaria Initiative. Good working knowledge of team management techniques and a detailed technical working knowledge of administrative, budgeting and fiscal management systems in support of funding mechanisms such as contracts, cooperative agreements, grants, and purchase requisitions is required.
Evaluation Criteria and Weights:
Education/Weighted 20% based on initial application review;
English Language Skills/Weighted 15% based on application review, written assessment and interview;
Prior Work Experience/Weighted 20% based on application review and interview;
Knowledge/Weighted 25% based on written assessment and interview; and
Skills and Abilities/Weighted 20% based on written assessment and interview.
How the selection will be made:
The successful candidate will be selected based upon
A preliminary review of the applicant's submitted package to establish that minimum educational and English writing fluency requirements are met.
Tests to include an English writing skills test, a Microsoft Office proficiency test that might include any of the following: Word, Excel, PowerPoint; and any technical skill test that might be deemed appropriate.
A personal or telephone interview.
Reference checks.
USAID/DRC’s Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) and Human Resources Section will perform the preliminary review (Step 1 above) to eliminate those applications that do not meet the minimum educational and written English language requirements.
The TEC will review each of the applications which meet the minimum qualifications against the established evaluation criteria to develop a shortlist of applicants to be tested and possibly interviewed. Applicants will be contacted for testing (Step 2) and interviews. Based on the results of the tests, however, an applicant otherwise identified for interview could be dropped from the interview list.
Following the interview (Step 3) during which the applicant will be evaluated against the established criteria, the TEC will make a preliminary determination of candidates to be considered for employment and forward that list to HR. HR will conduct and document the reference checks (Step 4) prior to advising the TEC of the results of these checks. Please note that references may be solicited from current as well as former supervisors in addition to the references you provide in your application package.
References will only be solicited for those interviewed applicants who are being considered for ranking.
Based on this final input, the TEC will make its final decision on which candidates to rank order, prepare a Selection Memo for review and approval by the Contracting Officer, after which an offer of employment will be made to the successful candidate, and unsuccessful candidates who were interviewed will be contacted and advised of their non-selection.
As positive medical and security clearances are a condition of employment, the selected candidate will undergo stringent investigation prior to employment with USAID/DRC.
USAID/DRC reserves the right to hire an applicant who does not meet the required experience level at a trainee level. However, an applicant who does not meet the minimum educational requirements cannot be hired at either a trainee or full performance level.
Compensation:
The position will be compensated in accordance with the U.S. Embassy’s Local Compensation Plan (LCP). The successful candidate’s salary level will be based on prior job-related experience and salary history.
To Apply:
ONLY applicants who meet the minimum educational and fluency in French and English requirements as stated in the solicitation document will be considered. Interested applicants who do not meet these requirements are encouraged NOT to apply since these applications will not be considered.
A complete application package consists of the following:
Application for U.S. Federal Employment, DS-174 - Job Application Form. The form can be found in the US embassy website (http://kinshasa.usembassy.gov/opportunities/jobs.html)
A cover letter demonstrating how prior experience and/or training address the minimum qualifications and selection criteria,
A current resume or curriculum vitae (CV), and
Names and contact numbers of three professional references.
Ensure that all communications (including your Cover Letter) include the Announcement Reference Number (AID-15-24) and the Title of the Position(s) for which you are applying (Malaria Program Specialist).
Submit the complete application package via email, to [email protected]
Failure to comply with these instructions may result in your application being considered “non responsive” and eliminated from further consideration.
Point of Contact:
Sandra Kiyanga: [email protected]
Only short-listed candidates will be acknowledged.
DEFINITION:
Foreign Service National (FSN): A host country national employed at a U.S. Mission abroad, who is not a U.S. citizen, nor a family member of a direct-hire Foreign, Civil, or uniformed service member under Chief of Mission authority.
Closing date for this position: September 17, 2015.
The U.S. Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo provides 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. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also strives to ensure equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.
