Personal Services Contract/Informatics Advisor

Description The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is seeking applications from qualified applicants for an Informatics Advisor position located in Maputo, Mozambique. The resultant contract shall be a Personal Services Contract (PSC). See PL 109-149, Section 215(1), Reference 22U.S.C.2669(c). SOLICITATION NUMBER: POSITION NUMBER: MZ-PSC-09 ISSUANCE DATE: 12/02/2008 CLOSING DATE/TIME: 12/17/2008 at 3:00PM Eastern Standard Time POSITION TITLE: Informatics Advisor BASIC SALARY: CDC PSC Pay Band B, $67,260 to $ 107,180 per year -- Final compensation will be based on individual salary history, work experience, and educational background. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One Base Year and Four Option Years PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Maputo, Mozambique SECURITY CLEARANCE: NACI (Non-sensitive) AREA OF CONSIDERATION: United States Citizens and residents and third country nationals. Citizens and permanent residents of the host country are not eligible for this position. The Informatics Advisor is responsible for coordinating and managing all health information systems activities funded through PEPFAR Mozambique, including the development of routine information systems for service delivery, national surveillance and reporting systems. The ITA is responsible for the expansion of hardware and connectivity infrastructure and software development activities. This position has the authority to develop, monitor, steer and prioritize informatics and applications development activities based on CDC and USG Mozambique team priorities and resources. This position is responsible for the development of scopes of work, functional specifications, and contracts, with clear deliverables for these activities. Management of informatics projects, including applications development - Tracks and monitors the progress of all PEPFAR-supported informatics activities in MOH and key USG implementing partners, to ensure that these activities are well planned and continue to reach set milestones. Using experience in informatics and team leadership, incumbent meets routinely with informatics partners to assess plans, progress, and priorities. Responsible for basic project management and tracking and applications lifecycle planning and supervision. Uses technical expertise to provide technical assistance and consultation to partners in order to facilitate the progress of these activities. Reports routinely to the CDC Strategic Information (SI) Team Lead and technical working group (TWG) leads on progress of relevant activities. 40% Coordination of health information systems strengthening activities - Develops and monitors all informatics and health information systems strengthening activities. Provides updates to the CDC and, as appropriate, other USG technical leads, on progress of these activities, and assists in the planning of future resource needs and activities. Facilitates information sharing across projects by convening routine applications technical working groups (TWGs), both nationally and specific to the relevant program area. Participates on national technical working groups and standards bodies to assure the creation and implementation of national systems development standards. Provides guidance to the PEPFAR Mozambique technical teams related to capacity for informatics at the MOH and key USG implementing partners, prioritization of resources and partners, partner selection, and budgeting for upcoming fiscal years. 20% Systems analysis and design - Conducts analyses of information systems operations and information flow, focusing on USG-funded partners including Ministry of Health. Periodically conducts an inventory to assess the capability of information systems used at MOH and key implementing partners to manage programs supported by PEPFAR. Uses judgment in identification of potential but practical improvements in both paper and electronic health information systems. Provides guidance on strategies for developing and implementing communication standards across systems. 20% Requirements gathering - Develops clear and methodical requirements documentation for each informatics project. Works closely with technical staff from the partner team and relevant program areas to ensure that each informatics project has a clearly defined set of requirements, timeline, and deliverables. Provides technical assistance to the partners in work plan development, with clear deliverables and program activity monitoring. 20% Long term strategic planning of staff. This means planning for an entire workforce in a large organization. This is not actual supervision or traditional line management of staff. None, although incumbent advises Sr. SI Coordinator for all major decisions regarding long-term strategic planning related to informatics issues for PEPFAR CDC in Mozambique. Also assists high-ranking officials from Ministry of Health (MOH) in developing strategic planning approaches, human resource needs and documentation. Incumbent is responsible for advising on the short- and long-term planning of health management information systems for CDC (and to some extent other USG) programs in Mozambique, principally HIV/AIDS. Incumbent is responsible for developing these plans for the 5-10 CDC and other key USG partners who implement health information systems. Line management of staff. This means full administrative and technical supervision of staff. Full supervision implies approval of leave, selection of new employees, applying discipline, and monitoring employee performance. Include the total number in the job holder's own - chain of command. Locally Employed Staff under Personal Services Agreement (PSA) and other PSC staff should be included here. None Project management. This implies management of people in a project setting, where the project has a defined duration. Exclude persons counted in - line management above. Incumbent has responsibility for 8-10 Informatics projects agreements. In this capacity will work with 8-10 teams of 4-6 each as the principal advisor for the direction and implementation of these informatics projects. These projects provide services to 8-10 prime partners and more than 60 staff throughout the country. Incumbent provides direction, technical assistance, and management of informatics activities being developed and implemented by CDC Mozambique or its partners. Incumbent provides technical guidance to CDC technical staff and staff of CDC-funded PEPFAR partners regarding information systems development and data management. S/he coordinates each activity by documenting data and information needs, electronic and manual data flow, detailed system level requirements, and hardware and software specifications. Incumbent is responsible for task allocation and coordination, as well as for setting and meeting development timelines. Contractors. This means persons outside the job holder's normal chain of command who may be outside or third-party contractors. This would not include PSA and other PSC staff. Incumbent provides technical oversight and guidance to contractors involved in PEPFAR informatics activities, to ensure that contract provisions are being followed. Incumbent also directs the work of short-term informatics contractors (6-10 per year) and manages all requests (including projecting needs far in advance for contract assistance) and contracts supporting the delivery of informatics services. As the focal point for all CDC-funded informatics activities, incumbent is responsible for informing contractors of their tasks as they relate to the development of information systems and other HMIS projects. Develops scopes of work, functional specifications, and contracts with clear deliverables, and schedules for PEPFAR partners to ensure timely project delivery. Incumbent will provides technical input into various contracted goods and services, including, but not limited to, database software, information applications, and software development companies. Training - delivery of training courses in a formalized learning environment. This means people managed by the job holder in relation to the job holder's role as a formal Teacher or Instructor. Incumbent collaborates with MOH officials and partners to assess the need for and to develop, provide, and evaluate both formal classroom and informal (workshop, seminar) training for PEPFAR, national and local agency staff in data collection, management, analysis, quality assurance, and storage. Incumbent frequently manages and supervises trainers delivering training courses on informatics programs. Incumbent oversees logistical and support arrangements for formal training courses. As necessary, incumbent develops and conducts formal short-course training sessions for PEPFAR Mozambique staff, MOH and other appropriate partners under cooperative agreements in the area of information systems, as applied to both HIV and general public health. A major portion of incumbent's training role includes provision of ongoing mentorship and non-formalized training to staff and partners. Incumbent provides formal or informal training for over 200 internal and partner staff annually. Work allocation - e.g. daily work guidance/supervision. Consider the job holder's role in giving out work assignments, or giving daily instructions to others, but for whom the job holder does NOT have full supervisory responsibility. Example: Team Leader or Work Leader role Assists partner organizations to prioritise, develop, and respond to systems development needs for multiple projects. Other partners to which incumbent provides oversight includes the MOH, National Universities, private sector software companies, and international NGOs and private sector partners. As a member of the PEPFAR Mozambique Technical Working Group on Strategic Information, the Informatics Technical Advisor may be required to provide daily work guidance to support staff, including TDY staff, for technical assistance consultancies, estimated at 4 to 8 per year. Other resources B 1.2 Equipment - personal use, repair and maintenance, security, safety, purchase decision, etc. Consider tools and equipment, including PCs. Define what the job holder does with the equipment (i.e. user, repairer, purchaser, etc.) This position has access and use of standard office equipment including computer, laptop, LCD, phone, printer, and fax. (Approximate value:$5,000). C 1.3 Expendable supplies - issue/receive, determine supplies levels, purchase supplies, etc. Consider office supplies or other work supplies, the way in which the job holder deals with them. Estimate the value of goods held at any one time. Example: orders monthly office supplies of $250 per month Incumbent monitors and projects informatics technical supply needs, for ad hoc and ongoing informatics projects. Required to develop consolidated supply inventory and requests for all PEPFAR-supported informatics partners. Annual estimated cost of expendable supplies is $30,000. D 1.4 Buildings/land - security, maintenance/refurbishment, sell/purchase decision, etc. N/A E 1.5-1.7 Financial matters - handling cash, formulating, monitoring or managing budgets, etc. Consider the role of the job holder with respect to cash, funds, budgets or accounts. Define the role and the amounts involved. Incumbent is responsible for preparation of the $5 million PEPFAR informatics portion of the annual CDC-Mozambique program budget. Duties require management, tracking, and financial analysis of 8-10 informatics project budgets for these activities. Informatics project budgets range from $10,000 to $2.5 million annually in FY 2008. F 1.8 Information - upkeep, access/security, management of information resource, etc. Consider the job holder's responsibility for files, databases, records or controllable information items. Provide examples of the type and volume of information resources used, maintained or managed. Incumbent is responsible for the security of the data files and informatics systems developed. These systems are collected from various collaborating agencies to support monitoring and evaluation of the progress and impact of program activities funded by PEPFAR cooperative agreements and grants. Incumbent must be able to design secure information systems inasmuch as much of this information is sensitive and must follow appropriate CDC or USAID protocols G 1.9 Contracted out goods and services - contract support, management, negotiation, etc. Does the job holder have a responsibility for contracted out (outsourced) goods and services? Define the role responsibility and the amount involved. Example: Serves as COTR for window cleaning service contract. Incumbent has responsibility for providing assistance in developing contracts totalling approximately $100,000 per year with national and international consultants for informatics services, including defining requirements, development of deliverables, and project monitoring and evaluation. Incumbent frequently advises selection committees for the open and competitive procurement of technical assistance. Incumbent then manages contractors and ensures that they are meeting deadlines and providing quality work related to informatics. H 1.10 Freedom to Act (1) Supervision received and from whom in the organization. Discretion over own work area and the work of others. Please describe and provide samples if the position has the freedom to act/take decisions on own work area, the work of others, liaison with external organizations, ability to veto actions of others. As an internationally recognized informatics expert, incumbent works independently to provide technical consultation on informatics program activities of ongoing or proposed public health programs funded by PEPFAR. Incumbent has the discretion to plan and adjust not only own work, but also the work of others related to the delivery of quality informatics services in Mozambique. Incumbent discussrs development of informatics technical services activites, including designing technical indicators and collection instruments, interpreting results, and making recommendations for program improvement, with senior staff of MOH and other SI partners throughout the country. Incumbent has freedom to independently take action and make decisions on work area and to work with implementing partners from national and local public health agencies. (2) Discretion to resolve problems/situations encountered. Please describe and provide samples if the position is required to resolve problems/situations encountered. Incumbent's knowledge, expertise and experience in informatics technical and program management demand the ability to resolve even the most difficult informatics-related problems independently. As a recognized expert in the science and technology of informatics, provides scientific advice and consultation in devising solutions to critical problems by developing approaches consistent with current best practices. Incumbent has the discretion, authority and ability to manage these projects, to make day-to-day decisions on direction and approach and adjust plans to meet emerging issues. (3) Project control. Please describe and provide samples if the position is required to control projects. Please include project information in terms of type, time, cost, and number of people involved and the role of the jobholder on the project. Incumbent is responsible for providing overall direction and technical assistance in the development of a long-term national informatics strategy. This includes building the capacity to develop budgets totaling up to $100,000 per year, work plans, determining and adjusting work priorities, and resolving routine and complex problems for projects as they arise. 1.11 Major operational decisions. Please describe and provide samples if the position is required to take any of major operational decisions, i.e. determine significant changes to operations, implement significant changes to operations, decide on limited changes to organization policy/strategy. Incumbent has the authority to develop and adjust long-range strategic plans with senior level MOH officials, to counsel and guide them in setting priorities necessary to make substantive changes in thinking related to delivery of informatics services, particularly as it relates to developing and refining the National Health Management Information System. This is a long-term project that requires the formulation of detailed proposals for the development of a national informatics and SI policy and the development and dissemination of technical and administrative guidance documents. Incumbent is central to this project and is required to monitor and evaluate progress, to make adjustments of project impact and outcome, and to carefully document the results. I 1.12 Advice / recommendations Provide highly technical and strategic advice to PEPFAR colleagues, MOU and implementing partners related to development and monitoring of informatics systems for management tracking, supervision and evaluation of PEPFAR programs progress. Provides technical input to the formulation of annual and strategic plans for overall program direction. Develops and provides guidance for technical documents related to program evaluation and monitoring, such as policies, protocol manuals, ect. For PEPFAR Mozambique Interagency Task Force and CDC Country Director: Provides advice on informatics; strategic information; monitoring; SI systems training requirements; improvement of program quality through development of informatics protocols, procedure manuals and quality assurance instruments; and, identification of consultants for specific informatics program activities. For other PEPFAR partners: Reports to TWG on the progress and outcomes of program data and information and makes suggestions to ensure a highly effective integrated approach. Since informatics is a cross-cutting area for all prevention, care and treatment programs, data this program collects and analyzes shows the effectiveness of program interventions, such as referral systems, to other services offered by other programs. Advice and recommendations are made in order to improve overall program quality as well as effective supervision and quality assurance. For subordinates and colleagues: Provides advice and recommendations on improving informatics program quality, including training, implementing and monitoring of field activities. As an example, provides advice and suggestions, when finding out from monitoring and quality assurance (Q/A) visits that provincial and district staff do not understand the importance of accurately collecting, collating, analyzing and presenting program data in a way that can assist them in identifying problems, and from their negotiations suggests solutions to ensure a high quality program. For National and international organizations: As the nationally recognized expert on informatics systems, provides recommendations on the development of state-of-the-art methods and practices. Major decisions related to informatics program changes will be formulated based on the advice, counsel and guidance provided by incumbent. J 1.13 Impact Please indicate the level of impact the job has on the internal organization, including internal or closely affiliated clients or customers within the CDC Country Program, CDC HQ/Atlanta, or other USG agencies at post (e.g., USAID or U.S. Embassy officials). Consider the level of the position within the organization and its ability to influence the way the organization operates. Please provide samples. Incumbent provides technical support on informatics-related aspects of prevention, care and treatment projects, as well as provides valuable information needed for improvement of program implementation. This support has a high level of impact on PEPFAR and CDC activities in Mozambique. For example, incumbent works with the 6-8 technical working groups organized in the PEPFAR Mozambique structure to assure that effective program indicators for laboratory testing and training requirements are incorporated into their programs. 1.14 Please indicate the level of impact the job has on the organization's external clients/customers relations. - External refers to clients/customers outside of the CDC Country Program and U.S. Embassy, including host country, international organization, and NGO officials. Consider the level role, its ability to share the organization's dealing with outside world and the proportion of external contacts it can affect. Please provide samples. Incumbent has a significant impact on the formulation and delivery of informatics services within Mozambique. The need for strengthening the delivery of informatics services of MOH and partners will require an individual with strong persuasive skills who is recognized and respected for their professional skills in informatics systems development. Factor 2: Knowledge Consider the essential education, training, experience and skills that a person must possess in order to do the job. This may be different from those that the incumbent actually possesses. Think about the - know-how requirements as if the position were undergoing recruitment. Consider the minimum requirements to perform job duties at a fully successful level In the first column, please specify the minimum required qualifications that a successful job candidate must possess and below which a job candidate will not be considered. If additional knowledge, skills, or experience are useful or desired but not essential for the successful performance of the position's basic duties or which might be gained on-the-job after entry on duty, please specify these in the second column. A 2.1 Knowledge of the organization, external environment and/or specialist field 1. What does the job holder have to know about the agency/Mission/Section? 2. What does the job holder have to know about the host country/region? 3. What kind of subject matter knowledge is required, independent of internal procedures or USG policies? Essential Education, Training, Experience and Skills Knowledge of organizational and operational concepts and practices applied by public, private, or non-profit agencies and organizations engaged in health-related endeavors, especially as it relates to public health prevention programming. Broad perspective and thorough knowledge of the principles of public health programs and practice. Useful or Desired Education, Training, Experience and Skills Incumbent should have, or be able to acquire, a thorough knowledge of the Mozambican health system. Incumbent should have good knowledge of existing clinical information systems found in settings such as Mozambique and have worked collaboratively with NGOs, government and/or donors in job-related efforts. Incumbent should be able to understand how information systems operate at multiple levels (central, provincial, and clinic levels). B 2.2 Education Academic credentials, including the required/desired level and type. Examples: Completion of secondary schooling in general studies; Bachelors Degree in Nursing Essential Education, Training, Experience and Skills BA/BS degree in computer science, software engineering, statistics, biostatistics, mathematics or related field and five years of work experience, or three years of experience with a Masters degree in computer science or software engineering. Useful or Desired Education, Training, Experience and Skills PhD degree in computer science or software engineering C 2.3 Training / membership of professional body What kind of occupational training is required/desired? Include specialized job training. Examples: safe driver training, word processing training, software applications training, procedural training (Consular or Admin training), cashier training, etc. Incumbent is expected to possess the necessary technical training and skills required to perform the duties and responsibilities required of the position. Essential Education, Training, Experience and Skills Post-entry training will be focused primarily on PEPFAR- and HHS/CDC-established policies, procedures and regulations that govern specific activity management, including monitoring and program assessment/evaluation, and procurement systems. Necessary post-entry training will be provided on-site or at Regional or Atlanta-based facilities. D 2.4 - 2.5 Previous experience Specify the required/desired minimum months or years of prior job-related experience, and the type of experience. Examples: 3 years trades and crafts; 5 years accounting; 1 year general clerical, etc. If prior supervisory experience is required, specify the minimum number of months/years required that is beyond job related experience: Example: 1 year previous supervisory experience in addition to 3 years journeyman level experience. Essential Education, Training, Experience and Skills Five years of progressively responsible experience with BA/BS degree in computer science, software engineering, statistics, biostatistics, mathematics or related field Three years of progressively responsible experience with a Masters degree in computer science or software engineering At least two years of the above must include supervision and management experience with responsibility for interacting with supervisors, subordinates and professional staff from other institutes or organizations. Experience with the HIV/AIDS response in Sub Saharan Africa and knowledge of the related institutional environment. Experience working on Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) in Southern Africa or similar settings. Experience in the setting of computer software development standards, specifications, and guidelines as well as experience working within already set standards to implement IT solutions. E 2.6 Language skills Specify the required/ desired minimum host country language and English language requirements in order to perform job tasks at fully successful level. Level 1: Rudimentary; Level 2: Limited Knowledge; Level 3: Good working knowledge; Level 4: Fluent; Level 5: Credentialed Professional Translator/Interpreter Essential Education, Training, Experience and Skills English language fluency at level 4 required Useful or Desired Education, Training, Experience and Skills Portuguese language fluency at level 4 is desired. However, this advisor will be expected to develop skills in speaking, reading, writing and understanding Portuguese. F 2.7 Other skills Specify additional essential skills required/desired for the job, i.e., manual; keyboard/data entry; mechanical operation; numerical; driving; security equipment; IT hardware; IT software. Please also specify level of required skill(s), i.e. Basic, Standard, and Advanced Essential Education, Training, Experience and Skills Ability to readily analyze, understand, and discuss new program design, management, and implementation approaches. Demonstrated ability to identify priority actions, and to generate and complete work plans within short time frames. Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines. Ability to establish effective working relationships with individuals and official representatives of public health organizations, particularly those representing the MOH and other international organizations. Strong computer literacy and aptitude to rapidly acquire and apply additional skills. Strong oral and written skills and ability to clearly communicate new program and technical concepts to technical and non-technical counterparts. Strong interpersonal communication and negotiation skills in achieving results with a wide range of program partners. F 2.8 Time required for a qualified outside job holder to perform the full range of duties and responsibilities of the job after first entry into the position. Essential Education, Training, Experience and Skills Six months Factor 3: Intellectual skills Considers the extent to which the position demands the analysis and evaluation of information in order to formulate conclusions, ideas or judgments. Please indicate the types of problems the position has to solve, the degree of future planning required and the need for innovation. Please provide examples. A 3.1 Information Environment. Indicate the level of complexity of the information (i.e. policies, procedures, regulations, guidelines, instructions, manuals, technical designs, etc) which the job holder must absorb and understand in order to do their job, including the available guidelines that job holder will need to refer to in order to properly perform the job. As the senior informatics expert for the PEPFAR Mozambique Interagency Task Force, incumbent is responsible for developing, disseminating, and evaluating the impact of highly complex informatics technical policies, procedures, regulations and guidance meant to assure a high quality of program delivery. These policies, procedures, etc., come in the form of manuals, technical guidance and informal and formal training. A. 3.2 Role complexity Role Framework. Indicate the level of complexity of the job (i.e. little interpretation required, adapt and modify to cope with daily circumstances, relatively straight forward, in-depth analysis of the options, highly complex requiring a highly developed analytical ability and judgment). Please provide samples. The work is highly complex, covering a multitude of projects undertaken by different implenting partners. For example, incumbent must be able to successfully balance differing perspectives while positively influencing the development of a comprehensive national informatics system. Strong analytical skills, excellent judgment and highly developed negotiating skills are frequently required to arrive at a determination of best options. Problem solving. Identify the typical problems that the job holder is expected to resolve independently. Provide examples of most common problems solved by job holder regularly, and a few examples of most difficult problem solved. Problems encountered are complex and vary considerably. Incumbent frequently must exercise exceptional judgment when dealing with PEPFAR government partners, other international organizations and donors, in order to project a professional and collaborative atmosphere. Incumbent is responsible for setting computer software development standards, specifications, and guidelines as well as experience working within already set standards to implement IT solutions. Incumbent provides technical assistance to the MOH and USG implementing partners, and must therefore assist in problem solving in relation to technical issues, including analysis, design, specifications, development, piloting/testing, implementation and evaluation of activities. Incumbent also must work and coordinate all collaborators to reach multi-party health systems solutions that benefit Mozambique and are consistent with USG objectives. Most common problems: The most efficient methods for providing appropriate informatics services in resource and infrastructure constrained sites; scheduling conflicts between the need to participate at technical working group meetings to address informatics systems implementation issues and agree on an action plan, and responding to urgent requests from PEPFAR Mozambique Interagency Task Force for critical program-related information; and requests for ad hoc assessments/evaluation, frequently with very limited time deadlines. Most difficult problems solved: Developing long-term, sustainable capacity within partners to manage their informatics systems; moving from PEPFAR-controlled to host nation-controlled and owned systems. C 3.3 Planning ahead. Think about the job holder's work horizon, i.e. how far in advance the job holder must plan his/her own activities? Example: - The technician plans own work at least 3 days in advance; The Accounting Chief must plan the work unit ...